DWI Lawyer in Pacific, MO
DWI Lawyer in Pacific, MO. Getting pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the biggest fears a Pacific-area motorist can have. Not only will you be prohibited from driving for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a substantial fine, your insurance rates will go up, and have points on your license for the near future. To make matters worse, your image in the community will take a massive impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be cut off, as nations including Canada bar travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Pacific?
Having an aggressive and effective Pacific, MO DWI lawyer on your team can —and often does — make 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 relentlessly for all our Pacific, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been stopped for any violation or if you have previous DWIs on your record, our firm will give your Pacific DWI case the personal attention you deserve and craft a legal strategy that is made to get you the optimal 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 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 law enforcement for any traffic infraction is something that can lead to a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only heightened when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having taken many Pacific-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you take the following course of action if you are ever stopped for DUI:
- Find a secure place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, pull over there, or stop at a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
- Record the entire stop with your phone. Having your own account of your Pacific DWI stop can greatly improve your case and highlight potential discrepancies between the police record and what actually occured. Police officers are required to follow a specific 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, as well: judges have ruled that police can detain and search unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a cop will increase the likelihood that they will search your car or subject you to increased scrutiny. Kindness goes a long way when stopped for DWI.
- Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your license and insurance/registration, but nothing more. Officers are looking for any reason to find probable cause and take you into custody, so do not give them any.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breath 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 is in effect after you have been taken into custody for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not consistent and are only used as a way for an officer to get probable cause to take you into custody.
- If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can. Your discussion with an attorney is 100% privileged and confidential under Missouri law. Getting advice from a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breath test at the station, any complications that came up during your stop, or further questions you might have can make the difference between losing the ability to drive for months and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Pacific, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two components: a criminal side and a civil side. The criminal sentences for DWI in Missouri, as you are well aware, are stiff. Even a first Pacific 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 called 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 Pacific, MO, you will likely be facing class A misdemeanor charges, which carry 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 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 keeps 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 Pacific, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Pacific-area drivers do not know 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 work with the Pacific, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be confident that our firm will take on both components of your DWI case urgently and fight hard to minimize the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, look at the facts of your case, identify potential discrepancies in the police report or arrest, and craft a strategy that is designed to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting optimal results for our Pacific, MO DWI clients is unmatched, 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 Pacific DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have just been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Pacific, MO, you are probably well aware that time is money when dealing with your case. The sooner you can get a trusted Pacific DWI lawyer to look over documents, gather evidence, and build your case, the higher the chances are that the effects resulting from your Pacific DWI arrest will be greatly lowered, if not erased.
Combs Law Group has helped many Pacific-area residents from all walks of life take on DWI accusations. Our firm melds first-rate legal expertise and hard-nosed litigation with a pledge to provide personal attention and communication that is unequaled among Pacific 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 about your case or any other legal matter. This is part of our commitment to 100% client satisfaction, which our previous clients can attest to as well.
After you have been pulled over and charged with DWI in the Pacific, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial document review and get the experienced Pacific DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.