Nanny with a DUI..expungement advice

[kaiyla]

In March 2006 I got a DUI/OUI in Massachusetts I did a plea bargain thing and it was a "Continued without a Finding." I moved to California a few months later. I know you guys probably hear this a lot, but aside from this one incident, I have never been in trouble, never been arrested, have a college-degree, have always held a job, etc. I even nannied for a high-profile celeb out here for about a year. She has moved away and now I am back in the job search. She told me she never did a background check, but I have a feeling my next prospective employer will.
So my question is, how do I (still living in Cali) go about getting a Massachusetts DUI expunged from my record? What exactly does my record show with a CWOF on it? Just an arrest? I guess I never really understood my situation and my court appointed lawyer was no help in assisting me that way.
About how much does it cost to get a DUI expunged and what does the record read after an expungement?
Thanks to anyone willing to help!!

[fatamerican]

You can honestly state that you've never been convicted of anything - CWOF is not a conviction. Was your license suspended? I would start by getting a copy of your present DMV abstract (California?). Prospective employers might do the same. See if it's on there. If it is, it will stay there - you can't expunge from a DMV record. You could also get a criminal background check on yourself. You can use an online service. I don't know about Mass. but in NJ you can request one yourself through the State Police. See what your DMV abstract and background check show before you proceed.

[kaiyla]

I'm going to do all of those things, thank you. My license was suspended for three months. I did a 24D program, where I paid lots of fines and had to enroll in a DUI class.
To get an "abstract," I just have to go to the DMV and request one? Sorry, I'm so clueless when it comes to this stuff.

Yes, I live in California, but the DUI happened in massachusetts. Will that make a difference?

[fatamerican]

Originally Posted by kaiyla

To get an "abstract," I just have to go to the DMV and request one? Sorry, I'm so clueless when it comes to this stuff.

Easier to do it by mail. here's the link to get your DMV record: [url]www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/genfaq.htm#BM2547[/url]

Originally Posted by kaiyla

Yes, I live in California, but the DUI happened in massachusetts. Will that make a difference?

hopefully. If it's not on there you got lucky. But if it's on there, there's really nothing you can do about it. Probably best to handle this candidly & openly in an interview - take responsibility for it, indicate that you take it very seriously, let them know you learned from it (hopefully you did).

The CWOF might not show on a criminal background check. But that's probably irrelevant to you if the DMV record shows it. Let us know how you do. Good luck.