DWI Lawyer in Lemay, MO
DWI Lawyer in Lemay, MO. Getting pulled over and charged with driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the worst worries a Lemay-area motorist can have. Not only will you be prohibited from driving for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a substantial fine, your insurance premiums will drastically increase, and have points on your license for the near future. Even worse, your reputation in the community will take a massive impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as nations such as Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Lemay?
Having an aggressive and effective Lemay, MO DWI lawyer on your team can —and often does — make 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 experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight relentlessly on behalf of all our Lemay, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any moving violation or if you have faced DWI charges before, our firm will give your Lemay DWI case the personal attention you deserve and create a legal strategy that is made to get you the optimal results.
Our track record of success for those facing DWI charges 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 pulled over 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 police for any traffic infraction is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only increased when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having taken a substantial number of Lemay-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you do the following 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 to avoid parking on grass.
- Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own record of your Lemay DWI stop can greatly improve your case and highlight potential differences between the police account and what actually happened. Police officers are mandated to follow a specific procedure in every DWI stop, and any wrong or skipped step can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a passcode, too: courts have ruled that police can detain and search unlocked cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a cop will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to a higher level of scrutiny. A little politeness 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 nothing more. Cops 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 driver’s license for 12 months if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only is in effect after you have been placed under arrest for DWI. Portable breathalyzers are often unreliable and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to take you into custody.
- If you are arrested, call a lawyer as soon as possible. Your chat with an attorney is 100% confidential and privileged under Missouri law. Getting advice from an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breathalyzer test at the station, any complications that came up in your stop, or other questions you might have can make the difference between spending time in jail and your case possibly being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Lemay, 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 Lemay DWI offense could lead to the following punishments under Missouri law, as it is classified 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 Lemay, 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 prevents someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
- Continuous, 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 Lemay, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Lemay-area drivers are not aware that you can appeal the mandatory suspension or revocation of your license, so long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you hire the Lemay, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be confident that our firm will tackle both halves of your DWI case without delay and fight fiercely to minimize the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will obtain evidence, go over the details of your case, identify potential holes in the police report or arrest, and create a strategy that is designed to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best outcomes for our Lemay, MO DWI clients is unmatched, as evidenced 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 Lemay DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Lemay, MO, you are certainly well aware that time is of the essence when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get a trusted Lemay DWI lawyer to look over documents, obtain evidence, and establish your defense, the higher the chances are that the punishments resulting from your Lemay DWI arrest will be greatly lowered, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped many Lemay-area residents from all walks of life battle DWI accusations. Our firm combines top-notch legal acumen and hard-nosed litigation with a pledge to provide personal attention and communication that is unequaled among Lemay DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow that no matter the time, no matter the situation, and no matter the circumstances, they will be able to answer your call and talk with you about your case or any other legal matter. This is part of our promise of 100% client satisfaction, which our former clients can attest to as well.
After you have been pulled over and charged with DWI in the Lemay, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial document review and put the veteran Lemay DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.