DWI Lawyer in Ballwin, MO
DWI Lawyer in Ballwin, MO. Being pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the biggest fears a Ballwin-area motorist can have. Not only will you be stripped of your driving privileges for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a hefty fine, your insurance premiums will drastically increase, and have points on your license for years to come. To make matters worse, your status among friends and neighbors will take a sizable impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as countries such as Canada bar travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Ballwin?
Having an effective and aggressive Ballwin, MO DWI lawyer on your case can be — and often is — the difference between pleading guilty to DWI and facing all its punishments, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our seasoned St. Louis DWI lawyers fight relentlessly for all our Ballwin, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been stopped for any violation or if you have faced DWI charges before, our firm will give your Ballwin DWI case the personal attention you deserve and create a legal strategy that is made to get you the optimal results.
Our track record of success for those accused of DWI is unmatched, and we are committed to total client satisfaction in everything we do. After you have been arrested for DWI, make (314) 900-HELP your first call. Initial consultations are always free, and Combs Law Group will work with you no matter any financial difficulties you might have to help you beat your St. Louis DWI charges.
What Should I Do After I’m Pulled Over For DWI?
After you have been pulled over by a police officer who believes that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s natural to be nervous. Being pulled over by law enforcement for any moving violation is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having tried a substantial number of Ballwin-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you take the following course of action if you are ever stopped for DWI:
- Find a secure place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, stop there, or stop at a nearby parking lot. Try to avoid parking on grass.
- Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own record of your Ballwin DWI stop can greatly improve your case and find potential differences between the police report and what actually occured. Police officers are mandated to follow a specific procedure in every DWI stop, and any wrong or skipped step can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a password, as well: courts have ruled that police can search and detain unlocked cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a cop will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. Kindness does you a lot of good when stopped for DWI.
- Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but nothing more. Cops are on the lookout for for any reason to find probable cause and arrest you, so do not give them one.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breath test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically revokes your driver’s license for 12 months if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only is in effect after you have been arrested for DWI. Portable breathalyzers are not always reliable and are only used as a way for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
- If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Your discussion with an attorney is 100% confidential and privileged under Missouri law. Getting advice from an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a BAC test at the station, any complications that arose in your stop, or other questions you might have can be the difference between paying substantial fines and your case possibly being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Ballwin, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two components: a criminal side and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are stiff. Even a first Ballwin DWI offense could lead to the following consequences under Missouri law, as it is classified as a class B misdemeanor:
- 8 points on your driving record
- Up to 6 months in jail
- Up to a $500 fine
- A 90-day drivers’ license suspension, the last 60 of which can be restored to a restricted driving privilege (RDP) permit
- Required participation in a drug/alcohol treatment program known as SATOP
- Required purchase of a high-risk auto insurance plan, also known as an SR-22
What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?
If this is your second DWI arrest in Ballwin, MO, you will likely be looking at class A misdemeanor charges, which include these punishments:
- No more than one year in jail (any jail sentence for a second DWI must include at least 10 days of “shock time” in jail before possible suspension of sentence or probation)
- Maximum two years probation
- Fines of no more than $1,000
- The suspension of your driving privileges, which can be anywhere from one to five years
- You must install and maintain, at your own expense, an ignition interlock device (which keeps someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
- Regular, verifiable BAC monitoring (either by regular breath tests or a wearable device)
- Required participation in a drug/alcohol treatment program
- Required purchase of a high-risk auto insurance plan, also known as an SR-22
The administrative portion of a Ballwin, MO DWI case relates to your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Ballwin-area drivers are unaware that you can appeal the mandatory suspension or revocation of your license, as long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your original arrest. When you work with the Ballwin, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will take on both halves of your DWI case without delay and work hard to reduce the consequences a DWI arrest has on your life. We will gather evidence, go over the facts of your case, identify potential holes in the police report or arrest, and craft a strategy that is built to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best outcomes for our Ballwin, MO DWI clients is unequaled, as evidenced by these results:Reduced
Felony DWI/DUI
St. Louis County man with multiple past convictions has DWI charges reduced.
Reduced
Aggravated DUI
Serious felony DUI charges reduced to a lower level.
Contact A Ballwin DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group
If you have just been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Ballwin, MO, you are probably cognizant that time is money when dealing with your case. The quicker you can get an experienced Ballwin DWI lawyer to review documents, obtain evidence, and build your defense, the better the odds are that the effects resulting from your Ballwin DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped hundreds of Ballwin-area residents from all backgrounds take on DWI charges. Our firm merges first-rate legal acumen and aggressive litigation with a commitment to personal service and communication that is unequaled among Ballwin DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers guarantee that regardless of what time it is, regardless of the situation, and no matter the circumstances, they will be able to answer your call and talk with you about your case or any other legal topic. This is part of our promise of complete client satisfaction, which our previous clients can attest to as well.
After you have been pulled over and charged with DWI in the Ballwin, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial document review and get the veteran Ballwin DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.