DWI Lawyer in Berkeley, MO

DWI Lawyer in Berkeley, MO. Getting pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is definitely one of the biggest fears a Berkeley-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 significant fine, your insurance premiums will drastically increase, and have points on your license for the near future. To make matters worse, your status in the community will take a significant hit, 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 Berkeley?

Having an aggressive and effective Berkeley, MO DWI lawyer in your corner can be — and often is — the difference between being found guilty to DWI and facing all its punishments, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely for all our Berkeley, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any violation or if this is not the first time you are facing DWI charges, our firm will give your Berkeley DWI case the personal attention you deserve and craft a legal strategy that is made to get you the best outcome.

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 regardless of 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 stopped by a police officer who suspects that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s natural to be nervous. Being pulled over by the cops for any traffic infraction is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” response, and this is only increased when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having taken hundreds of Berkeley-area DWI cases, our firm suggests that you follow these steps if you are ever stopped for DUI:

• Find a secure place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, pull over there, or stop at a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
• Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own account of your Berkeley DWI stop can greatly help 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 action can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a passcode, as well: courts have ruled that police can seize and search unsecured cell phones.
• Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a cop will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. Kindness goes a long way when stopped for DWI.
• Keep in mind: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your license and insurance/registration, but don’t give them any other information. Officers are looking for any excuse to find probable cause and take you into custody, so do not give them one.
• Do not take a hand-heldportable breathalyzer test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically revokes your driver’s license for 12 months if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been arrested for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not consistent and are only used as a way for an officer to get probable cause to arrest you.
• If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer immediately. Your discussion with an attorney is completely privileged and confidential under Missouri law. Getting advice from an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breath test at the precinct, any issues that arose during your stop, or other questions you might have can make the difference between spending time in jail and your case potentially being dismissed.

Fighting Both Sides Of Your Berkeley, MO DWI Case

DWI cases in Missouri have two halves: a criminal process and a civil side. The criminal sentences for DWI in Missouri, as you are well aware, are stiff. Even a first Berkeley DWI offense could lead to the following consequences under Missouri law, as it is defined 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 reduced to a restricted driving privilege (RDP) permit
• Required participation in a drug/alcohol treatment program called SATOP
• Required purchase of a high-risk auto insurance plan, referred to as an SR-22

What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?

If this is your second DWI arrest in Berkeley, MO, you will likely be looking at class A misdemeanor charges, which carry these punishments:

• No more than one year in jail (any jail sentence for a second DWI must include no less than 10 days of “shock time” in custody 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 between from one to five years
• You must install and maintain, as well as pay for, an ignition interlock device (which keeps someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
• Regular, trackable alcohol consumption monitoring (either by regular breath tests or a wearable device)
• Mandatory participation in a drug/alcohol treatment program
• Required purchase of a high-risk auto insurance plan, also known as an SR-22

The administrative component in a Berkeley, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Berkeley-area drivers do not know that you can appeal the mandatory suspension or revocation of your license, but only if that appeal is filed within 15 days of your original arrest. When you hire the Berkeley, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will take on both sides of your DWI case urgently and fight tirelessly to minimize the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will gather evidence, look at the details of your case, identify potential problems in the police report or arrest, and draw up a strategy that is designed to win.

Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories

Our track record for getting the best results for our Berkeley, MO DWI clients is unequaled, as evidenced by these results:

Contact A Berkeley DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group

If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Berkeley, MO, you are certainly well aware that time is money when it comes to your case. The quicker you can get a trusted Berkeley DWI lawyer to look over documents, obtain evidence, and establish your case, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Berkeley DWI arrest will be greatly limited, if not eliminated.

Combs Law Group has helped many Berkeley-area residents from all backgrounds battle DWI charges. Our firm melds first-rate legal knowledge and aggressive litigation with a pledge to provide personal attention and communication that is unequaled among Berkeley DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow that no matter the time, regardless of the situation, and no matter where you are, they will be able to answer your call and discuss your case or any other legal concern. This is part of our promise of total client satisfaction, which our former clients can attest to as well.

If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Berkeley, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial document review and get the skilled Berkeley DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group on your case.