DWI Lawyer in Ste. Genevieve, MO

DWI Lawyer in Ste. Genevieve, MO. Getting pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the biggest fears a Ste. Genevieve-area driver can have. Not only will you be prohibited from driving for a minimum of sixty days, you will have to pay a substantial fine, face increased insurance costs, and have points on your license for years to come. To make matters worse, your status among friends and neighbors will take a significant blow, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be curtailed, as nations including Canada prevent travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.

Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Ste. Genevieve?

Having an aggressive and effective Ste. Genevieve, MO DWI lawyer in your corner 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 seasoned St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely on behalf of all our Ste. Genevieve, 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 Ste. Genevieve DWI case the personal attention you deserve and create a legal strategy that is made to get you the best outcome.

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 no matter 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 suspects 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” response, and this is only heightened when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having tried hundreds of Ste. Genevieve-area DWI cases, our firm suggests that you follow these steps if you are ever stopped for DUI:

• Find a secure place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, stop there, or find a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
• Record the entire stop with your phone. Having your own record of your Ste. Genevieve DWI stop can greatly benefit your case and identify potential differences between the police account and what actually happened. Police officers are required to follow a specific protocol in every DWI stop, and any wrong or skipped step 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 seize and search unlocked cell phones.
• Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a cop will increase the likelihood that they will search your car or subject you to a higher level of scrutiny. A little politeness does you a lot of good when stopped for DWI.
• Keep in mind: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but don’t give them any other information. Officers are on the lookout for 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 refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only comes into effect after you have been placed under arrest for DWI. Portable breathalyzers are often unreliable and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to take you into custody.
• If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Your discussion with an attorney is 100% confidential and privileged under Missouri law. Getting advice from an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a breath test at the station, any issues that came up during your stop, or additional questions you might have can make the difference between paying substantial fines and your case possibly being dismissed.

Fighting Both Sides Of Your Ste. Genevieve, 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 Ste. Genevieve DWI offense could lead to the following 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 restored 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, referred to as an SR-22

What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?

If this is your second DWI arrest in Ste. Genevieve, MO, you will likely be facing 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 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 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, verifiable BAC 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 portion of a Ste. Genevieve, MO DWI case relates to your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Ste. Genevieve-area drivers are unaware that you can appeal the automatic suspension or revocation of your license, as long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your original arrest. When you hire the Ste. Genevieve, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will take on both parts of your DWI case urgently and work fiercely to reduce the consequences 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 the best outcomes for our Ste. Genevieve, MO DWI clients is unequaled, as evidenced by these results:

Contact A Ste. Genevieve DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group

If you have just been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Ste. Genevieve, MO, you are certainly cognizant that time is of the essence when it comes to your case. The quicker you can get a trusted Ste. Genevieve DWI lawyer to look over documents, collect evidence, and establish your defense, the better the odds are that the consequences resulting from your Ste. Genevieve DWI arrest will be greatly lowered, if not eliminated.

Combs Law Group has helped many Ste. Genevieve-area residents of all kinds fight DWI charges. Our firm melds best-in-class legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a commitment to personal attention and communication that is unequaled among Ste. Genevieve DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers guarantee 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 with you about your case or any other legal matter. This is part of our promise of 100% client satisfaction, which our previous clients can speak to as well.

If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Ste. Genevieve, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial consultation and put the skilled Ste. Genevieve DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.