Home > Research Legal Advice > DUI / DWI > Can a dwi felony be expunged if probation was successfully completed and...
Asked about 4 years ago - Houston, TX
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It was the 3rd dwi. No arrests whatsoever since the arrest and conviction. It's been over 12 years. Clean and sober for 12 years and no trouble whatsoever. The first dwi doesn't appear on the record, only the 2nd and 3rd.
No one was injured/harmed in any of the dwi's. Just drinking and driving and got pulled over by the patrolman.
The probationary period for the 3rd dwi was 8yrs. Those 8 plus staying clean and trouble-free for the past 4 equals 12 years total.
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No. Expunction is not available for a felony conviction. Successful probation completion is irrelevant and there is no deferred for DWI, in Texas. If you were placed on probation, after 1982 for a DWI, it is a final conviction and not expungable. The only way to get it cleared from your record is to obtain a pardon from the Governor of the State of Texas.
You could not have had a deferred adjudication on the 3rd DWI as deferreds have not been available in Texas for DWI since either 1982 or 1984.
Moreoever, you cannot seal a record of a DWI. It is one of those types of cases excepted from the rule.
You are lucky if the priors are not showing up. Perhaps you got deferreds on those & whoever enters the records was just confused.
Congratulations on your success in staying clean & sober, though. That is a huge deal - many people do not realize how hard that is on a daily basis.
I'm sorry there is nothing more (other than an unlikely pardon) that can be done to clear your record.
If you mean that you successfully completed your deferred adjudication period for your DWI, then yes - you are eligible for something called Non-Disclosure.
A third DWI in Texas is a felony. Non-Disclosure is available for certain Felonies ONLY if the you have successfully completed your deferred adjudication period (also known as community supervision). If the period of deferred adjudication was successfully completed, you can petition for an Order of Non-Disclosure, available after FIVE years from date of discharge and dismissal (i.e. successful completion of deferred adjudication).
