DWI Lawyer in Franklin County, MO

DWI Lawyer in Franklin County, MO. Being pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the worst worries a Franklin County-area motorist can have. Not only will you be suspended of your driving privileges for at least sixty days, you will have to pay a hefty fine, your insurance rates will go up, and have points on your license for years to come. Even 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 cut off, as nations including Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.

Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Franklin County?

Having an effective and aggressive Franklin County, MO DWI lawyer on your case 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 for all our Franklin County, 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 Franklin County DWI case the personal attention you deserve and create a legal strategy that is built to get you the best results.

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 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 believes that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s logical to be nervous. Being stopped by law enforcement for any moving violation is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having taken hundreds of Franklin County-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you follow these steps if you are ever pulled over for DWI:

• 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 to avoid parking on grass.
• Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own account of your Franklin County DWI stop can greatly improve your case and find potential differences between the police report and what really happened. Police officers are required to follow a set procedure in every DWI stop, and any incorrect or overlooked action can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a password, too: courts have ruled that police can seize and search unsecured cell phones.
• Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a cop will increase the likelihood that they will search your car or subject you to a higher level of scrutiny. Kindness is the best thing to do when stopped for DWI.
• Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your license and insurance/registration, but do not give them anything else. Officers are looking for any excuse to continue an investigation and take you into custody, so do not give them any.
• 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 do not take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only is in effect 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 arrest you.
• 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 a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breath test at the precinct, any complications that came up during 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 Franklin County, 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 Franklin County 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 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 Franklin County, MO, you will likely be facing class A misdemeanor charges, which carry 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, 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 BAC 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 Franklin County, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Franklin County-area drivers are not aware 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 work with the Franklin County, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will handle both parts of your DWI case without delay and work relentlessly to reduce the consequences a DWI arrest has on your life. We will obtain evidence, go over 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 the best results for our Franklin County, MO DWI clients is unmatched, as seen by these results:

Contact A Franklin County DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group

If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Franklin County, MO, you are definitely well aware that time is money when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get a skilled Franklin County DWI lawyer to review documents, gather evidence, and craft your case, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Franklin County DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.

Combs Law Group has helped many Franklin County-area residents from all walks of life battle DWI charges. Our firm melds first-rate legal acumen and aggressive litigation with a commitment to personal service and communication that is unmatched among Franklin County DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that regardless of what time it is, no matter the situation, and no matter the circumstances, they will be able to answer your call and talk about your case or any other legal topic. 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 Franklin County, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial document review and put the skilled Franklin County DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.