DWI Lawyer in Manchester, MO
DWI Lawyer in Manchester, MO. Being pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is definitely one of the worst worries a Manchester-area motorist can have. Not only will you be suspended of your driving privileges for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a significant fine, face increased insurance costs, and have points on your license for the near future. To make matters worse, your status in the community will take a sizable hit, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be cut off, as countries such as Canada bar travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Manchester?
Having an effective and aggressive Manchester, MO DWI lawyer on your case can be — and often is — the difference between pleading guilty to DWI and suffering all its punishments, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our seasoned St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely on behalf of all our Manchester, 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 Manchester 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 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 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 understandable to be nervous. Being stopped by law enforcement for any moving violation is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only increased when you are accused of impaired driving. Having tried hundreds of Manchester-area DWI cases, our firm recommends 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 interaction with your phone. Having your own account of your Manchester DWI stop can greatly benefit your case and identify potential discrepancies between the police account and what really occured. 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: judges have ruled that police can seize and search unlocked cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a police officer will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. Being polite does you a lot of good when stopped for DWI.
- Keep in mind: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but nothing more. Officers are on the lookout for 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 revokes your driver’s license for one year if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only is in effect after you have been arrested 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 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 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 Manchester, 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 are well aware, are stiff. Even a first Manchester DWI offense could lead to the following 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 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 Manchester, 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 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 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 Manchester, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Manchester-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 work with the Manchester, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will take on both halves of your DWI case urgently and work fiercely to minimize the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, look at the facts of your case, identify potential holes in the police report or arrest, and draw up a strategy that is made to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best outcomes for our Manchester, 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 Manchester DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Manchester, MO, you are probably well aware that time is money when dealing with your case. The sooner you can get an experienced Manchester DWI lawyer to look over documents, gather evidence, and establish your case, the better the odds are that the effects resulting from your Manchester DWI arrest will be greatly limited, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped many Manchester-area residents from all walks of life fight DWI charges. Our firm merges first-rate legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a commitment to personal service and communication that is unequaled among Manchester DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers guarantee that no matter the time, regardless of the situation, and no matter the circumstances, they will be able to answer your call and talk about your case or any other legal matter. This is part of our commitment to total client satisfaction, which our previous clients can speak to as well.
If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Manchester, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial case review and put the experienced Manchester DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.