DWI Lawyer in Washington, MO

DWI Lawyer in Washington, MO. Getting pulled over and suspected of driving while intoxicated is arguably one of the biggest fears a Washington-area driver can have. Not only will you be suspended of your driving privileges 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 the near future. To make matters 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 such as Canada prohibit travelers with DWI convictions on their record from entering.

Have You Been Pulled Over For DWI in Washington?

Having an aggressive and effective Washington, MO DWI lawyer on your case can be — and often is — 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 seasoned St. Louis DWI lawyers fight fiercely on behalf of all our Washington, MO-area DWI clients. Whether this is the first time you have ever been stopped for anything or if you have previous DWIs on your record, our firm will give your Washington DWI case the personal attention you expect and craft a legal strategy that is made to get you the best 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 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 stopped 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” response, and this is only increased when you are suspected of impaired driving. Having tried many Washington-area DWI cases, our firm requests that you follow these steps if you are ever pulled over for DWI:

• 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 interaction with your phone. Having your own record of your Washington DWI stop can greatly benefit your case and highlight potential inconsistencies between the police report and what actually happened. Police officers are mandated 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 cop will only make them more likely to search your car or subject you to heightened 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 do not give them anything else. Cops are looking for any excuse 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 driver’s license for 12 months if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, this only applies after you have been placed under arrest for DWI. Hand-held breathalyzers are not consistent and are only used as a method for an officer to get probable cause to place you under arrest.
• If you are arrested, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Your chat with an attorney is completely 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 in your stop, or further questions you might have can make the difference between losing the ability to drive for months and your case possibly being dismissed.

Fighting Both Sides Of Your Washington, 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 Washington DWI offense could lead to the following 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 reduced 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 Washington, 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 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 ranges 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 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 Washington, MO DWI case relates to your driving privileges, and how the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your license revocation or suspension. Most Washington-area drivers are unaware that you can appeal the mandatory suspension or revocation of your license, so long as that appeal is filed within 15 days of your initial arrest. When you hire the Washington, MO DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group, you can rest assured that our firm will take on both components of your DWI case urgently and work hard to reduce the effect a DWI arrest has on your life. We will collect evidence, go over the details of your case, identify potential discrepancies in the police report or arrest, and draw up a strategy that is built to win.

Some of our recent DWI/DUI Victories

Our track record for getting the best results for our Washington, MO DWI clients is unmatched, as evidenced by these results:

Contact A Washington DWI Lawyer Who Wins | Combs Law Group

If you have recently been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated in Washington, MO, you are probably cognizant that time is money when dealing with your case. The sooner you can get a skilled Washington DWI lawyer to read documents, gather evidence, and establish your defense, the higher the chances are that the punishments resulting from your Washington DWI arrest will be greatly limited, if not eliminated.

Combs Law Group has helped hundreds of Washington-area residents from all backgrounds take on DWI accusations. Our firm melds first-rate legal expertise and combative litigation with a promise to provide personal service and communication that is unequaled among Washington DWI law firms. Our DWI lawyers guarantee 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 concern. This is part of our promise of total client satisfaction, which our previous clients can speak to as well.

If you get pulled over and charged with DWI in the Washington, MO area, make (314) 900-HELP your first call to schedule a free initial case review and put the veteran Washington DWI lawyers at Combs Law Group to work for you.