DWI, DUI, DUID

- Driving While Intoxicated

- Driving Under the Influence

- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

Don’t delay! Because of filing deadlines, quick response time is essential to protect your driving privileges (DWI - driving while intoxicated), (DUI - driving under the influence), (DUID - driving under the influence of drugs).  When you are stopped/arrested upon probable cause that you were driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol level greater than the legal limit (.08%) or driving under the influence of drugs, two separate sections of Missouri law govern the arrest and the suspension/revocation of your driving privilege:

1)  Criminal Alcohol Law

The criminal law addresses the actual ticket or summons that was issued to the driver. The potential consequences on the criminal side of your case: fines, court costs, probation, classes, jail, prison, etc., and the Department of Revenue may suspend or revoke your driving privilege for too many points, because of prior alcohol cases on your record, and other reasons.  If an individual is convicted of an alcohol offense, the court sends a copy of the conviction to the Department of Revenue and then points are assessed to the driving record; the number of the points assessed depends upon the nature of the charge (i.e. first time offense vs. multiple offenses).  In Missouri, the first intoxication offense is a class B misdemeanor, the second is a class A misdemeanor, and the third or more offense may be prosecuted as a felony.  All impaired driving cases are serious, but felony cases carry the most severe penalties: prison time (more than one year in jail) and higher fines than misdemeanor cases.  The attorney will advise and lead you through the complexities of these matters, but don’t delay.  TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.  Contact one of our offices immediately.    

2)  Administrative Alcohol Law

This part of your case concerns the potential suspension or revocation of your driving privilege if your blood alcohol content level is determined to exceed the legal limit: (.08%).  Different rules apply to minors.  Please refer to our “Resources” tab to learn more.  Even within the administrative alcohol side of your case, there are two distinctions: 1) taking the breathalyzer test; and 2) refusing the test.  The potential consequence: the Department of Revenue may suspend or revoke your driving privilege.  The amount of suspension or revocation time depends on many factors too numerous to discuss here.  Please refer to our “Resources” tab to learn more, or simply contact one of our offices.  

Whether your case is timely filed or not may influence the outcome of your criminal case.  Just like the subject of traffic tickets, in Missouri there is a tremendous amount of factual information as well as myths concerning arrests for DWI, DUI, and DUID.  A popular subject people frequently discuss concerns alcohol arrests.  The question is whether to take the breathalyzer test or refuse it.  The attorney will consult with you about these issues.  He has successfully represented many clients for these cases throughout Missouri, from first-time offenders to individuals charged with felonies because of multiple prosecutions.  Call one of our offices immediately.  Time is of the essence!