The Garza Law Firm, PLLC

1.888.540.8300

East Tennessee DUI  Defense Lawyers Protecting Your Future

550 Main St, suite 340

Knoxville, TN 37902

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys

The Garza Law Firm, PLLC defends Tennessee Driving Under the Influence and Tennessee Boating Under the Influence charges, as well as other Personal Injury and Criminal Defense cases, across the State of Tennessee.  The Garza Law Firm serves the following cities and counties, including but not limited to:  • Alcoa • Anderson County • Athens •  Blount County • Bradley County • Campbell County  •  Chattanooga • Claiborne County • Cleveland • Clinton • Cocke County • Cookeville • Crossville • Cumberland County • Dandridge •  Englewood • Etowah • Gatlinburg • Grainger County • Greene County • Greeneville •  Hamblen County • Hamilton County • Hancock County • Harriman • Hawkins County • Jefferson City • Jefferson County • Johnson City •  Knoxville • Knox County • Lenoir City • Loudon County • Madisonville • Marion County • Maryville • Maynardville • McMinn County • Meigs County • Monroe County• Morgan County • Morristown • New Market • Newport • New Tazewell • Oak Ridge • Oliver Springs • Overton County • Pigeon Forge • Polk County • Putnam County • Rhea County • Roane County • Rutledge • Scott County • Sequatchie County • Sevier County • Sevierville • Sullivan County • Sweetwater • Tazewell •  Tellico Plains • Unicoi County • Union County • Vonore • Wartburg • Washington County

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website should not be construed as legal advice. Any information submitted by our online intake form does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Garza Law Firm, PLLC, until you sign a contract of representation. Although we cannot guarantee that information sent over the internet will not be intercepted, we will keep the information confidential once it is received by our office.

Garza Law Firm © 2011  All rights reserved.

Driving Under the Influence Expungment; Expungement of DUI

One of the most common misconceptions by citizens charged or convicted of a Tennessee DUI is that a Tennessee DUI conviction is not permanent.  Many Tennesseans believe that after a certain amount of time:  3 years, 5 years, 10 years, etc., that their Tennessee DUI will “fall off” or drop from their criminal history or record.

Some citizens with Tennessee DUI charges or convictions believe that if you fill out the proper paperwork or “expunge” the charge or conviction from your record, that the DUI will no longer show up when applying for a job or security clearance.  

These common misconceptions are incorrect.  Once a person charged with a Tennessee DUI or other crime either pleads or is found guilty, he or she will almost undoubtedly have that conviction on his or her record for the rest of their life.  

Therefore, many of our callers are very disappointed when they learn that they cannot get their Tennessee DUI removed from their record later.  The only chance to keep a Tennessee DUI off your record to is successfully defend the charge in the first place.  Therefore, it is extremely important that your hire a Tennessee DUI attorney early-on in the process, before you consider pleading guilty to anything, in order to discuss the options in defending your Tennessee DUI or other criminal charge.

Expungments can be completed in cases where citizens are found not guilty or in cases where they have agreed to some kind of Pretrial Diversion or Judicial Diversion.  Please call if you feel you have a charge that has been dismissed, “nollied,” or was part of some kind of diversion.  You may be eligible for an expungment.  However, please do not plead guilty to your DUI in hopes that you can one day just expunge it from your record.  Tennessee DUI charges are specifically excepted from Pretrial Diversions and Judicial Diversions, and therefore, once your plead guilty or are found guilty of DUI in Tennessee, the conviction will likely remain on your permanent criminal history forever.

Call 888-DUI-CALL (888-384-2255) today in order to discuss the options available in defending your Tennessee DUI charge.  The call is free and the first appointment is free.