LANSING (WWJ) -- An estimated 200,000 Michiganders who have DUIs could have their records expunged under bills passed by state legislators.
The Michigan League for Public Policy is applauding the vote by Lansing lawmakers to give one-time drunk drivers a chance to set their convictions aside.
In a statement, League External Affairs Director Alex Rossman says these bills allow hundreds of thousands of Michigan drivers to move on from their "momentary mistake."
"With this new law, policymakers continue to open new doors to opportunity for state residents and acknowledge -- and relieve -- the problematic consequences of a criminal record long after a sentence is served, a lesson is learned and a behavior is changed," Rossman said.
Similar expungement bills were previously "pocket" vetoed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer back in January.
The latest legislation, which passed on Tuesday in a 92-16 vote in the Republican-led House, will now go back to the governor, who is expected to sign off.
While DUI convictions would still be kept a non-public record by law enforcement, an expungement would otherwise clear the public record of a conviction.
That means the DUI would not appear in a background check, and people would no longer need to disclose it on job applications or other forms.
To be eligible, those convicted of driving under the influence can only have one offense, and it cannot have caused another person's death or injury.
