DWI Lawyer in Shrewsbury, MO
DWI Lawyer in Shrewsbury, MO. Being pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the biggest fears a Shrewsbury-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 substantial fine, your insurance rates will go up, and have points on your license for years to come. Even worse, your status among friends and neighbors will take a significant hit, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be limited, as countries including Canada prevent travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Shrewsbury?
Having an effective and aggressive Shrewsbury, MO DWI lawyer on your team 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 experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely on behalf of all our Shrewsbury, 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 Shrewsbury DWI case the personal attention you expect and create a legal strategy that is built to get you the best results.
Our track 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 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 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 pulled over by law enforcement for any moving violation is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” reaction, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having tried a substantial number of Shrewsbury-area DWI cases, our firm recommends that you follow these steps 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 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 Shrewsbury DWI stop can greatly help your case and find potential differences between the police report and what actually happened. Police officers are required to follow a specific procedure in every DWI stop, and any missed or incorrect step 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 unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being aggressive with a law enforcement officer will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to a higher level of scrutiny. Kindness does you a lot of good when stopped for DWI.
- Keep in mind: 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 reason to continue an investigation and arrest you, 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 driving privileges for 12 months if you elect not to take a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been arrested for DWI. Portable breathalyzers are often unreliable and are only used as a way for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
- If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can. Your discussion with an attorney is entirely privileged and confidential under Missouri law. Getting advice from a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breathalyzer test at the precinct, any issues that came up in your stop, or other questions you might have can make the difference between spending time in jail and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Shrewsbury, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two components: a criminal process and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are stiff. Even a first Shrewsbury 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 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 Shrewsbury, 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 at least 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 ranges 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, 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 half of a Shrewsbury, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Shrewsbury-area drivers do not know that you can appeal the mandatory suspension or revocation of your license, as long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you work with the Shrewsbury, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can be confident that our firm will handle both parts of your DWI case urgently and work tirelessly to reduce the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will gather evidence, go over the facts 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 outcomes for our Shrewsbury, 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 Shrewsbury DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Shrewsbury, MO, you are probably well aware that time is of the essence when dealing with your case. The quicker you can get a trusted Shrewsbury DWI lawyer to review documents, obtain evidence, and establish your defense, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Shrewsbury DWI arrest will be greatly limited, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped a large number of Shrewsbury-area residents from all walks of life take on DWI charges. Our firm merges best-in-class legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a commitment to personal attention and communication that is unequaled among Shrewsbury DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow that no matter the time, no matter the situation, and no matter the circumstances, 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 commitment to 100% client satisfaction, which our former clients can speak to as well.
If you get pulled over and charged with DWI in the Shrewsbury, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial document review and put the experienced Shrewsbury DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group on your case.