Finding New Hampshire DWI Records

A New Hampshire DWI is a serious moving traffic offense that results is harsh penalties. Your license can be revoked, you will be fined for hefty amounts, imprisonment, will have to render community service (mandatory), attend DUI School and a permanent scar on your driving record for an indefinite period of time. First three offenses of DWI are of misdemeanor type in New Hampshire are misdemeanors but fourth and subsequent are felonies. If drunk driving causes collision between two cars, serious physical injuries or death in the first offense, then it is considered a felony. The laws have been made so harsh and strict so that the rate of accidents due to alcohol and other ill-factors are reduced.

New Hampshire DWI Records

The DMV maintains the records of driving history of every individual and keep them permanently. Driving records are the public records thus can be accessed by anyone. If anybody other than you requests for the record, for example, employer of a commercial driver, landlord or insurance companies, the sensitive information including your Social Security Number or contact address are not divulged. Also, Division of Motor Vehicles has concerns about identity theft as well. So, your driving record is released only after getting your approval.

If you want your New Hampshire DWI record, you will need to request for your driving history from Division of Motor Vehicles. This record is called Motor Vehicle Record. All you need to do is fill up a request form and that can be downloaded online from http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/forms/dsmv505.pdf. Send the filled up form at Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles, Driver Record, 23 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305. Mention the kind of abstract you need that is certified, non-certified or insurance copy. Enclose the fee of $15 for each in check with the mail. You can also call the office of Driver Record Section at (603) 271-2322. Usually, the request takes a minimum of ten business days to process. The record will hold all information related to traffic rule violations, revocation and suspension of license, arrests made, sentence type, arresting agency, court of conviction.

Expungement of New Hampshire DWI Records

The record of New Hampshire DWI remains in the criminal database indefinitely. Though there are myths regarding their disappearance over years if the offender does not repeat it again, but the fact is that only way to omit a DWI record is to seal it or expunge it.  Any DWI case in New Hampshire that had taken place after 2003 will need a wait time of ten years to apply for expungement. Obviously, an easy way to get New Hampshire DWI record sealed or expunged is to hire a lawyer with specializing in the DUI and DWI laws of the state, but you can do it yourself too. You will need to get the forms from the clerk of the court and submit it at the court of conviction, that is, the court where you had been sentenced.

So, the expungement procedure starts with the District Court. Once you file petition, the District Court Judge sends report to the prosecuting attorney, DMV and the agency that had arrested you and wait for thirty days for any objection that they can come up with. If such a report comes, a date of hearing is set and depending upon the result of the hearing, approval is determined. If no objection comes from any of the three parties, the report is sealed and it remains out of public view. You need not to mention of New Hampshire DWI conviction henceforth, if you are applying for a job. Also, the record is eligible to be sealed if the offender had been a juvenile and no subsequent offenses have been reported after that. In such cases, the record is either destroyed or sealed on his or her 21st birthday.