If I Was Charged With Possession Of Drugs When I Got Pulled Over, Will That Stay On My Driving Record?

Yes, if you are pulled over and the officer finds a drugs or drug paraphernalia in your vehicle, this charge of possession will stay on your driving record permanently. Unless you hire an experienced lawyer to negotiate some sort of deal with the prosecuting attorney to get the drug charges reduced to a lesser charge. Because if you simply pay the fine and associated costs, then this infraction will stay on your record permanently.

There are a few driving-related convictions that stay on your record permanently, such as a drug- or alcohol-related offense, DUI/DWI, driving without insurance, driving without a license, or driving on a suspended or revoked license, to name a few. Having such convictions on your permanent record can have a very negative effect on your future. Whenever you apply for a job, or fill out a rental application, or even request a line of credit from the bank, you may very well be asked if you have ever been convicted of one of the offenses listed above. And this can have a measurable impact on whether or not you get the job or the apartment.

But an experienced attorney can help you tremendously in this kind of situation. Let’s say you are pulled over for speeding. Once the police officer begins to write the ticket, he notices a bag of marijuana or a pipe. Not only do you get a ticket for driving in excess of the posted limits, you could also be arrested for drug and/or drug paraphernalia possession. But as mentioned above, your lawyer can work with the prosecutor to get the charges lowered to a lesser offense, for both the drugs (down to something like ‘littering’) and the speeding ticket (down to some sort of non-moving violation like ‘excess noise’). Making sure that these infractions are amended to a lower charge is not only a good idea for your future, it can save you quite a bit of hassle and headache in the short term as well.

If you have already plead guilty to the charges, and paid the associated fines, it is still a possibility for an attorney to file a motion with the court to have your plea withdrawn. If the court allows this to happen, your lawyer can at that point negotiate with the prosecutor to get the charges reduced. The affordable St. Louis traffic ticket and criminal defense lawyers at The Bankruptcy Company have been assisting people with their traffic and criminal issues for years. Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for you, so that you will have the cleanest record possible. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call today to learn more.