Is A Drink Driving Charge Listed On A Criminal Record?

The short answer to this question is ‘yes’. If you are charged with an offence and are convicted by a Court, then it will appear on your criminal record. If you have been convicted by a Court for a drink driving offence, and you are asked by a potential employer, for example, if you have a criminal record, then you should answer ‘Yes’. A police check will show a conviction for drink driving. However, convictions for offences may eventually become ‘spent’ in particular circumstances. If you want some advice on when a prior conviction will become spent, you should contact a criminal defence solicitor.

The only way to avoid a criminal record for an offence for which you have to go to court is to receive a non-conviction order, such as, a dismissal or a conditional release order without conviction. It is often challenging to receive one of these orders when facing a drink driving charge. The Court’s paramount consideration in sentencing drink-driving offenders is protection of the public and deterring others from drinking and getting behind the wheel.

If you have been charged with a drink driving offence and are worried about whether you will receive a criminal record, do not hesitate to contact First Offence Legal. We can guide you through the process and get the best possible result for you.

Always remember, make First Offence Legal your first defence!