Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Arkansas
Whether a DUI or DWI conviction can be expunged or sealed in Arkansas, and what to do instead if it can't.
Short answer: Yes, in some cases. ACIC has a separate petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction for driving or boating while intoxicated; Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-111(b)(1), (c)(1); ACIC Petition to Seal DWI/BWI (7/27/2021)
| DUI / DWI convictions | Yes, in some cases. ACIC has a separate petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction for driving or boating while intoxicated; the form requires that the sentence is complete, costs, restitution and license reinstatement requirements are satisfied, and more than ten years have passed since the person's first DWI or BWI conviction. |
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| How to apply | Choose the ACIC uniform petition and order that match the record (felony, misdemeanor, DWI/BWI, drug possession, arrest, dismissal/acquittal, pardon, first offender, drug court, veterans court). File the sworn, notarized petition in the circuit or district court where the person was convicted (or where the arrest or dismissal occurred) and serve a copy on the prosecuting or city attorney and the arresting agency. Anyone opposing has 30 days to object; felony petitions require a hearing. After a denial, most petitions cannot be refiled for one year. Once the judge signs the order, the clerk forwards it to ACIC, which has 30 days to process it. ACIC cannot help choose the correct form. |
Where to get help in Arkansas
More Arkansas expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Arkansas Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Arkansas
- How to File for Expungement in Arkansas
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Arkansas
- All Arkansas expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
Can a DUI be expunged in Arkansas?
Yes, in some cases. ACIC has a separate petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction for driving or boating while intoxicated; the form requires that the sentence is complete, costs, restitution and license reinstatement requirements are satisfied, and more than ten years have passed since the person's first DWI or BWI conviction.
How do you file for expungement in Arkansas?
Choose the ACIC uniform petition and order that match the record (felony, misdemeanor, DWI/BWI, drug possession, arrest, dismissal/acquittal, pardon, first offender, drug court, veterans court). File the sworn, notarized petition in the circuit or district court where the person was convicted (or where the arrest or dismissal occurred) and serve a copy on the prosecuting or city attorney and the arresting agency. Anyone opposing has 30 days to object; felony petitions require a hearing. After a denial, most petitions cannot be refiled for one year. Once the judge signs the order, the clerk forwards it to ACIC, which has 30 days to process it. ACIC cannot help choose the correct form.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.