DWI Lawyer in Troy, MO
DWI Lawyer in Troy, MO. Getting pulled over and accused of driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the biggest worries a Troy-area motorist can have. Not only will you be stripped of your driving privileges for at least sixty days, you will have to pay a hefty fine, face increased insurance costs, and have points on your license for years to come. Even worse, your reputation among friends and neighbors will take a sizable hit, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be curtailed, as countries such as Canada prevent travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Troy?
Having an effective and aggressive Troy, MO DWI lawyer on your team can be — and often is — the difference between pleading 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 tirelessly for all our Troy, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been stopped for any moving violation or if you have faced DWI charges before, our firm will give your Troy DWI case the personal attention you expect and create a legal strategy that is made to get you the best possible results.
Our record of success for those accused of DWI 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 pulled over by a police officer who suspects that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s logical to be nervous. Being pulled over by police for any moving violation is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” response, and this is only heightened when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having tried many Troy-area DWI cases, our firm recommends that you do the following if you are ever pulled over for DWI:
- 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 to avoid parking on grass.
- Record the entire interaction with your phone. Having your own record of your Troy DWI stop can greatly improve your case and find potential differences between the police record and what really occured. Police officers are required to follow a set protocol 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, as well: courts have ruled that police can seize and search unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a police officer will lower the odds that they will search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. Kindness is the best thing to do when stopped for DWI.
- Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but nothing more. Officers are looking for any excuse to continue an investigation and arrest you, so do not give them any.
- Do not take a hand-heldportable breath test. While Missouri does have an implied consent law that automatically revokes your driving privileges 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. Hand-held breathalyzers are not consistent and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to arrest you.
- If you are arrested, call a lawyer as soon as possible. Your conversation with an attorney is 100% confidential and privileged under Missouri law. Getting advice from a veteran St. Louis DWI lawyer about whether you should take a BAC test at the station, any issues that came up during your stop, or additional 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 Troy, 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 likely know, are stiff. Even a first Troy DWI offense could lead to these consequences under Missouri law, as it is defined 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, referred to as an SR-22
What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?
If this is your second DWI arrest in Troy, MO, you will likely be looking at class A misdemeanor charges, which carry 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 between 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 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 Troy, MO DWI case relates to your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Troy-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 original arrest. When you work with the Troy, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will take on both parts of your DWI case without delay and fight relentlessly to limit the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will obtain evidence, go over the facts of your case, identify potential discrepancies in the police report or arrest, and create a strategy that is made to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best outcomes for our Troy, 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 Troy DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have just been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Troy, MO, you are definitely well aware that timing is critical when it comes to your case. The quicker you can get a skilled Troy DWI lawyer to look over documents, collect evidence, and build your defense, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Troy DWI arrest will be greatly limited, if not erased.
Combs Law Group has helped a large number of Troy-area residents from all walks of life take on DWI charges. Our firm melds top-notch legal acumen and aggressive litigation with a commitment to personal attention and communication that is unmatched among Troy DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers promise that regardless of what time it is, regardless of the situation, and no matter where you are, they will be able to answer your call and discuss your case or any other legal matter. This is part of our commitment to 100% client satisfaction, which our previous clients can speak to as well.
After you have been pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Troy, MO area, call (314) 900-HELP first to schedule a free initial consultation and put the veteran Troy DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.