DWI Lawyer in Owensville, MO
DWI Lawyer in Owensville, MO. Being pulled over and charged with driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the biggest worries a Owensville-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 years to come. To make matters worse, your status in the community will take a significant impact, 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 Owensville?
Having an aggressive and effective Owensville, MO DWI lawyer in your corner 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 tirelessly for all our Owensville, 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 Owensville DWI case the personal attention you expect and create a legal strategy that is designed to get you the optimal 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 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 the cops for any traffic infraction is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” response, and this is only heightened when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having tried hundreds of Owensville-area DWI cases, our firm suggests that you do the following if you are ever stopped for DWI:
- Find a secure 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 stop with your phone. Having your own account of your Owensville DWI stop can greatly improve your case and identify potential inconsistencies between the police account and what actually occured. Police officers are mandated to follow a set protocol in every DWI stop, and any missed or incorrect action can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a passcode, too: courts have ruled that police can detain and search unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a law enforcement officer will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to a higher level of scrutiny. Kindness 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 don’t give them any other information. Cops are looking for any excuse 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 suspends your driver’s license for one year if you do not take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only is in effect after you have been arrested for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not always reliable and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
- If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer immediately. Your discussion with an attorney is completely confidential and privileged 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 during your stop, or other questions you might have can be the difference between spending time in jail and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Owensville, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two halves: a criminal side and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are serious. Even a first Owensville 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, referred to as an SR-22
What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?
If this is your second DWI arrest in Owensville, 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 a minimum of 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)
- Continuous, verifiable alcohol monitoring (either by regular breath tests or a wearable device)
- Required 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 Owensville, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Owensville-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 Owensville, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be confident that our firm will take on both parts of your DWI case urgently and work relentlessly to reduce the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will gather evidence, look at the details of your case, identify potential discrepancies 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 Owensville, MO DWI clients is unmatched, as shown 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 Owensville DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Owensville, MO, you are probably well aware that time is of the essence when it comes to your case. The quicker you can get a skilled Owensville DWI lawyer to review documents, collect evidence, and craft your case, the better the odds are that the consequences resulting from your Owensville DWI arrest will be greatly lowered, if not erased.
Combs Law Group has helped many Owensville-area residents of all kinds fight DWI charges. Our firm combines first-rate legal acumen and combative litigation with a promise to provide personal attention and communication that is unmatched among Owensville DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow 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 about your case or any other legal concern. This is part of our commitment to complete client satisfaction, which our former clients can attest to as well.
After you have been pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Owensville, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial consultation and get the skilled Owensville DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.