DWI Lawyer in Olivette, MO
DWI Lawyer in Olivette, MO. Getting pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the biggest worries a Olivette-area driver can have. Not only will you be suspended of your driving privileges for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a hefty fine, your insurance rates will go up, and have points on your license for the near future. To make matters worse, your status in the community will take a massive blow, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as nations such as Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Olivette?
Having an effective and aggressive Olivette, MO DWI lawyer on your case can —and often does — make the difference between being found guilty to DWI and facing all its punishments, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our seasoned St. Louis DWI lawyers fight relentlessly on behalf of all our Olivette, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been stopped for anything or if this is not the first time you are facing DWI charges, our firm will give your Olivette DWI case the personal attention you deserve and plan a legal strategy that is built to get you the best possible results.
Our record of success for those accused of DWI is unmatched, 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 believes that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s understandable to be nervous. Being stopped by police for any moving violation is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having taken many Olivette-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you take the following course of action 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 to avoid parking on grass.
- Record the entire encounter with your phone. Having your own record of your Olivette DWI stop can greatly improve your case and highlight potential differences between the police record and what actually occured. Police officers are mandated to follow a set protocol in every DWI stop, and any incorrect or overlooked action can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a password, too: courts have ruled that police can seize and search unlocked cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a cop will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to heightened 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 excuse to find probable cause and take you into custody, so do not give them any.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breathalyzer test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically suspends your driver’s license for 12 months if you do not take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been taken into custody for DWI. Portable breathalyzers are often unreliable and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to arrest you.
- If you are arrested, call 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 precinct, any issues that arose during your stop, or further questions you might have can make the difference between paying substantial fines and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Olivette, 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 stiff. Even a first Olivette DWI offense could lead to these 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 restored 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 Olivette, 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 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, at your own expense, an ignition interlock device (which prevents someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
- Continuous, trackable BAC 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 Olivette, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Olivette-area drivers do not know that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, so long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you work with the Olivette, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will take on both sides of your DWI case as soon as possible and fight fiercely to minimize the consequences a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, go over the facts of your case, identify potential problems in the police report or arrest, and craft a strategy that is made to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best outcomes for our Olivette, MO DWI clients is unmatched, 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 Olivette DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have just been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Olivette, MO, you are definitely well aware that time is of the essence when it comes to your case. The sooner you can get a skilled Olivette DWI lawyer to review documents, gather evidence, and build your case, the better the odds are that the effects resulting from your Olivette DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped many Olivette-area residents of all kinds fight DWI charges. Our firm merges top-notch legal expertise and combative litigation with a pledge to provide personal service and communication that is unequaled among Olivette DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow that regardless of what time it is, no matter the situation, and no matter the circumstances, 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 total client satisfaction, which our former clients can speak to as well.
After you have been pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Olivette, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial consultation and get the experienced Olivette DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.