Recent Blog Posts
Operation Dry Water Combats Boating While Intoxicated Nationwide
As the summer solstice quickly approaches, set to reach the western hemisphere on June 21 at 12:24 a.m., those in temperate regions look forward to welcoming the warmth of sun-filled longer days. For boaters, in particular, it signifies yet another enjoyable season on the open water but perhaps not without consequences. At last count, more than 88 million U.S. adults participated in recreational boating but owning or operating a recreational watercraft comes with responsibilities. When a boat operator is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, serious personal injuries, fatalities and possible criminal charges can shorten the longest of summer days.
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that, in 2014, there were 5.2 boating fatalities per 100,000 registered recreational vessels nationwide. Many of these deaths were attributed, at least to some degree, to operators choosing to boat while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. To combat these alarming statistics, the partners of Operation Dry Water (ODW) work diligently to promote awareness of the dangers of boating while under the influence or BWI.
How Such An Odd Word Can Safeguard Your Future: Understanding Expungement Laws in Texas
Expungement can be considered such a strange word, but it is one that could make all the difference when facing your future without the stigma of a juvenile criminal conviction, unjust arrest, DUI charge, or criminal prosecution acquittal. From Arizona to Washington, 20 states in all, including Texas, offer some form of expungement (also known as expunction) and nondisclosure of records procedures for both misdemeanor and felony relatable charges.
If you reside in Texas and want to learn more about the expunction of criminal records, under Texas Title 1, Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 55 Expunction of Criminal Records, the following summary may provide insight as to how you and your expungement attorney can legally safeguard your future.
Defining Expungement
The law may recognize that a first offense is not entirely indicative of a person’s character or if the defendant was unjustly arrested and later acquitted of all charges. Texas courts may also warrant nondisclosure or the expungement of all related records. A judge can do so by either sealing the records or by destroying all records held by penal institutions, law enforcement agencies, and court records, leaving the former defendant free of all criminal charges.
