DWI Lawyer in O’Fallon, MO
DWI Lawyer in O’Fallon, MO. Being pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the biggest worries a O’Fallon-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. To make matters worse, your status in the community will take a sizable {blow|hit|, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be curtailed, as nations including Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in O’Fallon?
Having an effective and aggressive O’Fallon, MO DWI lawyer on your case can —and often does — make the difference between being found guilty to DWI and facing all its consequences, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Waterkotte, our experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely for all our O’Fallon, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for anything or if this is not the first time you are facing DWI charges, our firm will give your O’Fallon DWI case the personal attention you deserve and craft a legal strategy that is made to get you the best 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 Waterkotte 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 natural 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 suspected of impaired driving. Having taken a substantial number of O’Fallon-area DWI cases, our firm suggests 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, stop 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 O’Fallon DWI stop can greatly help your case and find potential inconsistencies between the police record and what actually happened. Police officers are mandated to follow a specific procedure 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, too: judges have ruled that police can search and detain unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a law enforcement officer will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to a higher level of scrutiny. Kindness goes a long way 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. Officers are looking 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 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 always reliable and are only used as a way for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
- 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 arose 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 O’Fallon, 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 serious. Even a first O’Fallon DWI offense could lead to these consequences 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 known as 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 O’Fallon, 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 no less than 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 between from one to five years
- You must install and maintain, as well as pay for, an ignition interlock device (which prevents 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 O’Fallon, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most O’Fallon-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 original arrest. When you hire the O’Fallon, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Waterkotte, you can be confident that our firm will handle both parts of your DWI case urgently and fight tirelessly to limit the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, go over the details of your case, identify potential problems in the police report or arrest, and create a strategy that is made to win.
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Our track record for getting the best results for our O’Fallon, MO DWI clients is unequaled, as seen by these results:
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Contact A O’Fallon DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Waterkotte
If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in O’Fallon, MO, you are probably well aware that time is of the essence when it comes to your case. The quicker you can get an experienced O’Fallon DWI lawyer to read documents, obtain evidence, and craft your defense, the higher the chances are that the effects resulting from your O’Fallon DWI arrest will be greatly lowered, if not eliminated.
Combs Waterkotte has helped a large number of O’Fallon-area residents from all walks of life fight DWI charges. Our firm melds top-notch legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a pledge to provide personal service and communication that is unmatched among O’Fallon DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers guarantee that regardless of what time it is, no matter the situation, and regardless of where you are, 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 complete client satisfaction, which our previous clients can speak to as well.
If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the O’Fallon, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial case review and get the experienced O’Fallon DWI lawyers at Combs Waterkotte in your corner.
