DWI Lawyer in Lincoln County, MO
DWI Lawyer in Lincoln County, MO. Being pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is definitely one of the biggest fears a Lincoln County-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 hefty fine, face increased insurance costs, and have points on your license for years to come. Even worse, your status among friends and neighbors will take a massive hit, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be cut off, as nations including Canada prevent travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Lincoln County?
Having an effective and aggressive Lincoln County, MO DWI lawyer on your case can —and often does — make the difference between pleading guilty to DWI and facing all its consequences, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our veteran St. Louis DWI lawyers fight tirelessly for all our Lincoln County, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any violation or if you have previous DWIs on your record, our firm will give your Lincoln County DWI case the personal attention you expect and plan a legal strategy that is made to get you the optimal outcome.
Our track 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 understandable to be nervous. Being stopped by law enforcement for any moving violation is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” response, and this is only increased when you are accused of impaired driving. Having tried a substantial number of Lincoln County-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, pull over there, or stop at a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
- Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own account of your Lincoln County DWI stop can greatly help your case and find potential inconsistencies between the police record and what actually occured. Police officers are required to follow a specific protocol 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 passcode, as well: courts have ruled that police can search and detain unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a law enforcement officer will increase the likelihood that they will search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. Being polite does you a lot of good when stopped for DWI.
- Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but do not give them anything else. Officers are looking 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 suspends your driving privileges for 12 months if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been arrested for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are often unreliable and are only used as a way for an officer to get probable cause to arrest you.
- If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer immediately. Your discussion with an attorney is entirely 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 issues that arose during your stop, or further questions you might have can be the difference between paying substantial fines and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Lincoln County, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two halves: a criminal process and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are stiff. Even a first Lincoln County 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 converted 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, also known as an SR-22
What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?
If this is your second DWI arrest in Lincoln County, 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 a minimum of 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 ranges 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)
- Required 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 Lincoln County, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Lincoln County-area drivers are not aware that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, as long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you work with the Lincoln County, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will handle both halves of your DWI case urgently and fight tirelessly to reduce the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, look at the details of your case, identify potential problems 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 outcomes for our Lincoln County, 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 Lincoln County DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Lincoln County, MO, you are probably well aware that time is of the essence when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get a trusted Lincoln County DWI lawyer to look over documents, gather evidence, and craft your defense, the higher the chances are that the effects resulting from your Lincoln County DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not erased.
Combs Law Group has helped hundreds of Lincoln County-area residents from all backgrounds take on DWI charges. Our firm melds top-notch legal expertise and combative litigation with a commitment to personal service and communication that is unequaled among Lincoln County DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that no matter the time, regardless of the situation, and no matter the circumstances, they will be able to answer your call and discuss your case or any other legal topic. This is part of our promise of total client satisfaction, which our former clients can speak to as well.
If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Lincoln County, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial consultation and get the skilled Lincoln County DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.