DWI Lawyer in Washington County, MO

DWI Lawyer in Washington County, MO. Getting pulled over and charged with driving while intoxicated is almost certainly one of the biggest fears a Washington County-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 years to come. Even worse, your status in the community will take a massive impact, and your ability to potentially travel out of the United States could be curtailed, as nations such as Canada bar travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.

Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Washington County?

Having an aggressive and effective Washington County, MO DWI lawyer on your team can —and often does — make the difference between being found guilty to DWI and facing all its punishments, and having charges reduced or even dismissed. At Combs Law Group, our experienced St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely on behalf of all our Washington County, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been pulled over for any moving violation or if this is not the first time you are facing DWI charges, our firm will give your Washington County DWI case the personal attention you expect and plan a legal strategy that is designed to get you the best results.

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 with no regard to 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 stopped by police for any traffic infraction is something that can trigger a “fight or flight” response, and this is only heightened when you are accused of impaired driving. Having taken many Washington County-area DWI cases, our firm requests 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, pull over there, or stop at a nearby parking lot. Try not to park on grass.
• Record the entire encounter with your phone. Having your own record of your Washington County DWI stop can greatly help your case and highlight potential discrepancies between the police account and what actually happened. Police officers are mandated to follow a specific protocol in every DWI stop, and any incorrect or overlooked step can result in your case being dismissed. Make sure that your phone is locked and secured with a passcode, too: judges have ruled that police can search and detain unsecured cell phones.
• Stay calm and cooperative. Being hostile to a cop will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to heightened scrutiny. A little politeness is the best thing to do when stopped for DWI.
• Remember: you have the right to remain silent. Give the officer your license and insurance/registration, but do not give them anything else. Cops are on the lookout for for any excuse to find probable cause and take you into custody, 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 driver’s license for one year if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been arrested for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not always reliable and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
• 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 breath test at the precinct, any issues that arose in your stop, or further questions you might have can make the difference between paying substantial fines and your case potentially being dismissed.

Fighting Both Sides Of Your Washington County, 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 are well aware, are serious. Even a first Washington County 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 reduced 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, referred to as an SR-22

What Happens If This Isn’t My First DWI?

If this is your second DWI arrest in Washington County, 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 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 anywhere from one to five years
• You must install and maintain, at your own expense, an ignition interlock device (which keeps someone from starting a vehicle if their BAC is over a certain limit)
• Regular, verifiable alcohol consumption 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 Washington County, MO DWI case regards your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Washington County-area drivers are not aware that you can appeal the automatic 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 Washington County, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will handle both sides of your DWI case as soon as possible and fight relentlessly to reduce the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will obtain evidence, look at the facts of your case, identify potential problems 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 Washington County, MO DWI clients is unmatched, as shown by these results:

Contact A Washington County DWI Lawyer Who Gets Results | Combs Law Group

If you have just been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Washington County, MO, you are certainly cognizant that time is money when dealing with your case. The sooner you can get a trusted Washington County DWI lawyer to review documents, gather evidence, and establish your case, the higher the chances are that the effects resulting from your Washington County DWI arrest will be greatly reduced, if not erased.

Combs Law Group has helped a large number of Washington County-area residents from all walks of life battle DWI accusations. Our firm melds best-in-class legal expertise and aggressive litigation with a promise to provide personal attention and communication that is unmatched among Washington County 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 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 Washington County, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial consultation and put the experienced Washington County DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group in your corner.