DWI Lawyer in Montgomery County, MO
DWI Lawyer in Montgomery County, MO. Being pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the worst fears a Montgomery County-area driver can have. Not only will you be stripped of your driving privileges for at least sixty days, you will have to pay a hefty 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 significant blow, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as countries including Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Montgomery County?
Having an aggressive and effective Montgomery County, MO DWI lawyer on your team 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 Montgomery County, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any moving violation or if this is not the first time you are facing DWI charges, our firm will give your Montgomery County DWI case the personal attention you expect and create a legal strategy that is built to get you the optimal outcome.
Our 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 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 natural to be nervous. Being stopped by the cops for any traffic infraction is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” response, and this is only heightened when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having tried many Montgomery County-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you take the following course of action if you are ever pulled over for DUI:
- Find a safe place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, stop there, or find a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
- Record the entire encounter with your phone. Having your own account of your Montgomery County DWI stop can greatly benefit your case and identify potential inconsistencies between the police account and what really happened. 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 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. 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 don’t give them any other information. Cops are looking for any excuse to find probable cause and take you into custody, so do not give them one.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breath test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically revokes your driver’s license for one year if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been taken into custody for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not always reliable 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 conversation with an attorney is completely privileged and confidential under Missouri law. Getting advice from a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breathalyzer test at the station, any complications that arose in your stop, or further questions you might have can make the difference between spending time in jail and your case possibly being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Montgomery County, 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 serious. Even a first Montgomery County DWI offense could lead to these punishments 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 converted 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 Montgomery County, MO, you will likely be facing class A misdemeanor charges, which include 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 between 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)
- Regular, trackable alcohol 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 Montgomery County, MO DWI case relates to your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Montgomery County-area drivers do not know that you can appeal the mandatory suspension or revocation of your license, but only if that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you hire the Montgomery County, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will tackle both parts of your DWI case urgently and fight relentlessly to reduce the consequences a DWI arrest has on your life. We will gather evidence, look at the details 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 results for our Montgomery County, MO DWI clients is unequaled, 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 Montgomery County DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Montgomery County, MO, you are definitely well aware that time is money when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get an experienced Montgomery County DWI lawyer to read documents, collect evidence, and build your case, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Montgomery County DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not erased.
Combs Law Group has helped many Montgomery County-area residents from all backgrounds take on DWI charges. Our firm combines best-in-class legal expertise and combative litigation with a pledge to provide personal attention and communication that is unequaled among Montgomery County DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that regardless of what time it is, 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 commitment to 100% client satisfaction, which our former clients can speak to as well.
If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Montgomery County, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial consultation and get the skilled Montgomery County DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.