DWI Lawyer in Columbia, MO

DWI Lawyer in Columbia, MO. Getting pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the biggest worries a Columbia-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 rates will go up, and have points on your license for years to come. To make matters worse, your reputation among friends and neighbors will take a sizable impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as nations such as Canada prevent travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.

Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Columbia?

Having an aggressive and effective Columbia, MO DWI lawyer in your corner can —and often does — make 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 tirelessly on behalf of all our Columbia, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for anything or if this is not the first time you are facing DWI charges, our firm will give your Columbia DWI case the personal attention you expect and create a legal strategy that is designed to get you the best outcome.

Our 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 stopped by a police officer who believes that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s understandable to be nervous. Being pulled over by police 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 many Columbia-area DWI cases, our firm suggests that you take the following course of action if you are ever stopped for DUI:

• Find a secure 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 stop with your phone. Having your own account of your Columbia DWI stop can greatly help your case and find potential differences between the police record and what really happened. 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 password, as well: judges have ruled that police can seize and search unlocked cell phones.
• Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a law enforcement officer will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. A little politeness goes a long way when stopped for DWI.
• Remember: 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 on the lookout for for any excuse to find probable cause and arrest you, so do not give them any.
• Do not take a hand-heldportable breath test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically revokes your driving privileges for 12 months if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only comes into effect after you have been taken into custody for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are often unreliable 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 immediately. Your conversation with an attorney is completely confidential and privileged under Missouri law. Getting advice from a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a BAC test at the precinct, any issues that came up in your stop, or other questions you might have can be the difference between paying substantial fines and your case potentially being dismissed.

Fighting Both Sides Of Your Columbia, MO DWI Case

DWI cases in Missouri have two components: a criminal process and a civil side. The criminal sentences for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are stiff. Even a first Columbia DWI offense could lead to the following punishments 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 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, referred to as an SR-22

What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?

If this is your second DWI arrest in Columbia, 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 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 between from one to five years
• You must install and maintain, at your own expense, an ignition interlock device (which prevents someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
• Continuous, 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 portion of a Columbia, MO DWI case relates to your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Columbia-area drivers are unaware that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, but only if that appeal is filed within 15 days of your original arrest. When you hire the Columbia, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will handle both halves of your DWI case without delay and work relentlessly to minimize the consequences a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, look at the facts of your case, identify potential discrepancies 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 optimal results for our Columbia, MO DWI clients is unequaled, as evidenced by these results:

Contact A Columbia DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group

If you have just been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Columbia, MO, you are certainly well aware that timing is critical when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get an experienced Columbia DWI lawyer to read documents, obtain evidence, and craft your defense, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Columbia DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not erased.

Combs Law Group has helped a large number of Columbia-area residents from all backgrounds battle DWI accusations. Our firm combines first-rate legal knowledge and hard-nosed litigation with a pledge to provide personal service and communication that is unequaled among Columbia DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that regardless of what time it is, regardless of the situation, and regardless of where you are, they will be able to answer your call and talk about your case or any other legal concern. This is part of our commitment to 100% client satisfaction, which our previous clients can speak to as well.

After you have been pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Columbia, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial document review and get the veteran Columbia DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.