DWI Lawyer in Bourbon, MO
DWI Lawyer in Bourbon, MO. Getting pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the worst worries a Bourbon-area driver 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. Even worse, your image among friends and neighbors will take a massive hit, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as countries including Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Bourbon?
Having an effective and aggressive Bourbon, MO DWI lawyer in your corner can be — and often is — the difference between pleading guilty to DWI and suffering all its consequences, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight tirelessly on behalf of all our Bourbon, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any moving violation or if you have previous DWIs on your record, our firm will give your Bourbon DWI case the personal attention you expect and create a legal strategy that is made to get you the best possible outcome.
Our record of success for those facing DWI charges is second to none, 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 with no regard to 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 suspects 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 traffic infraction is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” response, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having taken hundreds of Bourbon-area DWI cases, our firm recommends that you take the following course of action if you are ever pulled over for DUI:
- Find a safe place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, stop there, or find a nearby parking lot. Try to avoid parking on grass.
- Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own account of your Bourbon DWI stop can greatly improve your case and identify potential discrepancies between the police report and what actually occured. Police officers are mandated to follow a set protocol in every DWI stop, and any incorrect or overlooked step 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 detain and search 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 a higher level of scrutiny. Being polite goes a long way when stopped for DWI.
- Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but don’t give them any other information. Cops are on the lookout for for any reason to continue an investigation 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 driving privileges for one year if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been placed under arrest for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not consistent and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
- If you are arrested, call a lawyer as soon as you can. Your conversation with an attorney is 100% privileged and confidential under Missouri law. Getting advice from an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a BAC test at the precinct, any complications that arose in your stop, or further questions you might have can make the difference between spending time in jail and your case possibly being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Bourbon, 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 likely know, are serious. Even a first Bourbon DWI offense could lead to these 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 converted 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, referred to as an SR-22
What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?
If this is your second DWI arrest in Bourbon, 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 prevents someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
- Regular, verifiable 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 half of a Bourbon, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Bourbon-area drivers are not aware that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, but only if that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you hire the Bourbon, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will take on both sides of your DWI case without delay and work relentlessly to reduce the consequences a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, go over the details of your case, identify potential discrepancies in the police report or arrest, and draw up a strategy that is made to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best results for our Bourbon, MO DWI clients is unequaled, as shown 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 Bourbon DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have just been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Bourbon, MO, you are certainly cognizant that time is money when it comes to your case. The quicker you can get an experienced Bourbon DWI lawyer to read documents, gather evidence, and build your defense, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Bourbon DWI arrest will be greatly lowered, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped many Bourbon-area residents from all walks of life battle DWI charges. Our firm merges top-notch legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a pledge to provide personal service and communication that is unmatched among Bourbon DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that regardless of what time it is, 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 topic. This is part of our promise of 100% client satisfaction, which our former clients can attest to as well.
If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Bourbon, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial consultation and get the veteran Bourbon DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.