DWI Lawyer in Farmington, MO
DWI Lawyer in Farmington, MO. Being pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is definitely one of the worst worries a Farmington-area motorist can have. Not only will you be prohibited from driving for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a hefty fine, face increased insurance costs, and have points on your license for years to come. To make matters worse, your status among friends and neighbors will take a significant impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be cut off, as nations such as Canada bar travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Farmington?
Having an aggressive and effective Farmington, MO DWI lawyer on your case can be — and often is — the difference between being found guilty to DWI and suffering all its consequences, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our veteran St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely for all our Farmington, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any violation or if you have faced DWI charges before, our firm will give your Farmington DWI case the personal attention you deserve and create a legal strategy that is made to get you the best possible outcome.
Our track record of success for those accused of DWI 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 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 stopped by the cops for any traffic infraction is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only heightened when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having tried hundreds of Farmington-area DWI cases, our firm recommends that you do the following if you are ever pulled over 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 Farmington DWI stop can greatly help your case and highlight potential discrepancies between the police record and what really happened. Police officers are mandated to follow a set protocol in every DWI stop, and any missed or incorrect step can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a passcode, too: judges have ruled that police can seize 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.
- Keep in mind: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your license and insurance/registration, but do not give them anything else. Officers are on the lookout for for any excuse to find probable cause and arrest you, so do not give them one.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breathalyzer test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically suspends your driving privileges for one year if you do not take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only comes into effect after you have been taken into custody for DWI. Portable breathalyzers are not always reliable 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 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 breathalyzer test at the station, any issues that came up during your stop, or further questions you might have can be the difference between spending time in jail and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Farmington, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two halves: a criminal side and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are stiff. Even a first Farmington 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 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 Farmington, 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 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 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)
- 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 component in a Farmington, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Farmington-area drivers are unaware that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, so long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your original arrest. When you work with the Farmington, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be confident that our firm will tackle both parts of your DWI case as soon as possible and fight hard to limit the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will gather evidence, go over the details of your case, identify potential holes in the police report or arrest, and draw up a strategy that is built to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting optimal results for our Farmington, MO DWI clients is unmatched, as seen 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 Farmington DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group
If you have just been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Farmington, MO, you are certainly cognizant that timing is critical when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get a skilled Farmington DWI lawyer to read documents, obtain evidence, and build your case, the higher the chances are that the punishments resulting from your Farmington DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped many Farmington-area residents from all walks of life take on DWI accusations. Our firm merges first-rate legal expertise and hard-nosed litigation with a promise to provide personal attention and communication that is unmatched among Farmington DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow that no matter the time, regardless of the situation, and regardless of where you are, 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 commitment to 100% client satisfaction, which our previous clients can attest to as well.
After you have been pulled over and charged with DWI in the Farmington, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial document review and get the experienced Farmington DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.