Clearing a DUI From Your Record in District of Columbia
Whether a DUI or DWI conviction can be expunged or sealed in District of Columbia, and what to do instead if it can't.
Short answer: DUI, commercial-vehicle DUI and operating while impaired are excluded from automatic sealing. The motion-based sealing section does not list DUI among its exclusions, so a DUI conviction may be considered for sealing by motion after the misdemeanor waiting period if the court finds it is… D.C. Code §§ 16-805(b)(15)-(17), 16-806(a)(1)(B)(ii), (a)(3)
| DUI / DWI convictions | DUI, commercial-vehicle DUI and operating while impaired are excluded from automatic sealing. The motion-based sealing section does not list DUI among its exclusions, so a DUI conviction may be considered for sealing by motion after the misdemeanor waiting period if the court finds it is in the interests of justice. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
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| How to apply | File a written motion in D.C. Superior Court stating all of the person's unsealed citations, arrests, charges and convictions known to the person, the grounds for eligibility, and supporting facts, and serve a copy on the prosecutor (who need not respond unless the court orders it). The court may deny a motion that is plainly ineligible, may order a response, and decides whether to hold a hearing. It weighs the person's interest in sealing and rehabilitation against the community's interest in access to the records, and must rule in writing with reasons. A person need not seek relief for every eligible record at once. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
Where to get help in District of Columbia
More District of Columbia expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your District of Columbia Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in District of Columbia
- How to File for Expungement in District of Columbia
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in District of Columbia
- All District of Columbia expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
Can a DUI be expunged in District of Columbia?
DUI, commercial-vehicle DUI and operating while impaired are excluded from automatic sealing. The motion-based sealing section does not list DUI among its exclusions, so a DUI conviction may be considered for sealing by motion after the misdemeanor waiting period if the court finds it is in the interests of justice.
How do you file for expungement in District of Columbia?
File a written motion in D.C. Superior Court stating all of the person's unsealed citations, arrests, charges and convictions known to the person, the grounds for eligibility, and supporting facts, and serve a copy on the prosecutor (who need not respond unless the court orders it). The court may deny a motion that is plainly ineligible, may order a response, and decides whether to hold a hearing. It weighs the person's interest in sealing and rehabilitation against the community's interest in access to the records, and must rule in writing with reasons. A person need not seek relief for every eligible record at once.
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.