Friday, January 25, 2013

When You Party too Hard: Tips for Sealing Travel Arrests

By Armstrong Kriegberg


Being a good traveler also includes understanding what to do when your travels unfortunately bring you in contact with the police. Most travelers will never experience the criminal justice system from the inside, but mistakes sometimes happen, especially in party cities. Prevention is the best medicine, but even after the fact you can make your situation better. This article gives advice for travelers who party a little too hard.

Take for example the party destination of Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike most cities in the world, you can buy liquor in Vegas 24 hours a day. There is no last call, no dry Sundays. You can get a drink when you want, where you want, any hour of the day. Even moderate drinkers may be overwhelmed by all the opportunities for a cocktail. When the tap never turns off, it can be hard to determine when you've had one too many. Some travelers find out the hard way they went too far when they are arrested in Las Vegas.

Whatever the mistake, you take care of it. You hire a lawyer, appear in court, pay a fine and resolve the matter. You go back home, get on with your life and time passes. You are ready to forget about your little vacation mistake. Unfortunately, you can't forget.

Your little mistake means that you now have a criminal record. Every time you apply for a job or complete an application, you are reminded of what happened. You are constantly faced with the questions, "Have you ever been arrested?" and "Have you ever been convicted of a crime." Just because your one vacation got a little out of hand, you have to answer yes to these questions over and over again. You have to reveal that you have a criminal history.

The need to disclose this information never expires. Weeks, months, years, decades can pass and yet the details about a criminal background must be supplied to potential employers, government agencies, and other sources. Fortunately, there is an system by which this information can become private once more.

It seems only fair that since Las Vegas in part caused the problem, Las Vegas should provide some solution. Living with a criminal record can be a huge burden. It limits job options. With reduced choices for work, a person also faces less choices in where to live and how to support themselves. That can be a tough pill to swallow for something you did on vacation in another state. Faced with the never ending penalty of a criminal record, many people decide to seal their Nevada criminal records.

How does record sealing work? First you need to get copies of your entire record from the various state agencies that keep it. With the record, a petition can be made to the court to seal your criminal background. If the district attorney's office does not object, a judge will sign the order and seal your records.

Could sealing your arrest record be the solution to finally allow you to put what happen on your vacation in the past? Yes. Record sealing is a legal process that wipes your past history clean. When potential employers perform a background check, they will find an empty record with no trace of your vacation arrest.

If you enjoy an excellent party while traveling, it is good to know that the morning after there is something you can do to minimize the damage. If you found yourself on the wrong side of law at your last destination, talk to lawyer in that city to find out all your legal options.




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