DWI Lawyer in Old Monroe, MO
DWI Lawyer in Old Monroe, MO. Being pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is definitely one of the biggest fears a Old Monroe-area driver can have. Not only will you be suspended of your driving privileges for at least sixty days, you will have to pay a substantial fine, face increased insurance costs, and have points on your license for the near future. Even worse, your image among friends and neighbors will take a significant impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as nations such as Canada prevent travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Old Monroe?
Having an effective and aggressive Old Monroe, 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 experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight relentlessly on behalf of all our Old Monroe, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for anything or if you have faced DWI charges before, our firm will give your Old Monroe DWI case the personal attention you deserve and craft a legal strategy that is built to get you the optimal results.
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 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 suspects that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s natural to be nervous. Being pulled over by police for any moving violation is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” response, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having tried a substantial number of Old Monroe-area DWI cases, our firm suggests that you do the following if you are ever pulled over for DUI:
- Find a safe place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, pull over there, or find a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
- Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own record of your Old Monroe DWI stop can greatly benefit your case and highlight potential discrepancies between the police account and what really occured. Police officers are required to follow a set 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 password, as well: courts have ruled that police can seize and search unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a police officer will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to increased scrutiny. A little politeness does you a lot of good when stopped for DWI.
- Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your license and insurance/registration, but do not give them anything else. Officers are looking for any reason to continue an investigation and arrest you, so do not give them any.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breath test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically revokes your driving privileges for one year if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only comes into effect after you have been taken into custody for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not always reliable and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to arrest you.
- If you are arrested, call a lawyer as soon as you can. Your chat with an attorney is entirely confidential and privileged under Missouri law. Getting advice from a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a BAC test at the station, any complications that arose during your stop, or additional questions you might have can be the difference between spending time in jail and your case possibly being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Old Monroe, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two components: a criminal side and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you are well aware, are stiff. Even a first Old Monroe 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 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 Old Monroe, 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 at least 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)
- Continuous, verifiable 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 component in a Old Monroe, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Old Monroe-area drivers do not know that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, but only if that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you hire the Old Monroe, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be sure that our firm will tackle both halves of your DWI case as soon as possible and fight hard to minimize the effect 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 designed to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting optimal results for our Old Monroe, MO DWI clients is unequaled, 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 Old Monroe DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Old Monroe, MO, you are probably cognizant that timing is critical when dealing with your case. The quicker you can get a trusted Old Monroe DWI lawyer to review documents, obtain evidence, and craft your defense, the higher the chances are that the effects resulting from your Old Monroe DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not erased.
Combs Law Group has helped hundreds of Old Monroe-area residents from all walks of life battle DWI accusations. Our firm melds best-in-class legal acumen and combative litigation with a pledge to provide personal attention and communication that is unmatched among Old Monroe DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that no matter the time, regardless of the situation, and regardless of where you are, they will be able to answer your call and talk about your case or any other legal concern. This is part of our promise of 100% client satisfaction, which our former clients can attest to as well.
If you get pulled over and charged with DWI in the Old Monroe, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial case review and put the skilled Old Monroe DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.