DWI Lawyer in Union, MO
DWI Lawyer in Union, MO. Being pulled over and charged with driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the worst fears a Union-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 significant fine, your insurance premiums will drastically increase, and have points on your license for years to come. Even worse, your status among friends and neighbors will take a sizable impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be cut off, as countries including Canada bar travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.
Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Union?
Having an effective and aggressive Union, MO DWI lawyer on your case can —and often does — make the difference between being found guilty to DWI and suffering all its punishments, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight relentlessly on behalf of all our Union, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any moving violation or if you have previous DWIs on your record, our firm will give your Union DWI case the personal attention you deserve and create a legal strategy that is designed to get you the optimal 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 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 logical to be nervous. Being pulled over 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 tried many Union-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you take the following course of action if you are ever pulled over for DUI:
- Find a safe place to pull over. If you are on a road with a shoulder, stop there, or stop at a nearby parking lot. Try to avoid parking on grass.
- Record the entire stop with your phone. Having your own account of your Union DWI stop can greatly help your case and identify potential discrepancies between the police report 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 password, too: judges have ruled that police can detain and search unsecured cell phones.
- Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a police officer will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to increased scrutiny. Kindness is the best thing to do when stopped for DWI.
- Keep in mind: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your insurance card and license, but nothing more. Cops are looking for any reason 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 revokes your driver’s license for 12 months if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only comes into effect after you have been arrested 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 chat 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 breathalyzer test at the precinct, any issues that arose in your stop, or additional questions you might have can make the difference between paying substantial fines and your case potentially being dismissed.
Fighting Both Sides Of Your Union, MO DWI Case
DWI cases in Missouri have two halves: a criminal process and a civil side. The criminal punishments for DWI in Missouri, as you likely know, are serious. Even a first Union 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 restored 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, also known as an SR-22
What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?
If this is your second DWI arrest in Union, 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 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 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, 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 portion of a Union, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue deals with your license revocation or suspension. Most Union-area drivers do not know that you can appeal the mandatory 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 Union, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will tackle both halves of your DWI case urgently and work hard to limit the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will obtain evidence, go over the details of your case, identify potential problems in the police report or arrest, and craft a strategy that is made to win.
Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories
Our track record for getting the best results for our Union, 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 Union DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group
If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Union, MO, you are probably well aware that time is of the essence when dealing with your case. The quicker you can get a trusted Union DWI lawyer to read documents, gather evidence, and establish your defense, the better the odds are that the punishments resulting from your Union DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Combs Law Group has helped many Union-area residents from all walks of life battle DWI accusations. Our firm combines first-rate legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a promise to provide personal service and communication that is unmatched among Union DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers vow 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 talk with you about your case or any other legal matter. This is part of our commitment to total client satisfaction, which our previous clients can attest to as well.
If you get pulled over and arrested for DWI in the Union, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial consultation and get the experienced Union DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.