Know Your Next Steps
Know your next steps after a DWI/DUI. The absolute first thing you should do after being charged with DWI/DUI in St. Louis or anywhere throughout Missouri is call an experienced attorney. Every step of your DWI/DUI case is more straightforward and smooth if you have a knowledgeable lawyer by your side.
Call the expert DWI/DUI attorneys at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation where you can discuss the specifics of your case with one of our skilled criminal defense attorneys. Our legal team is available 24/7 and we have over 30 years of experience successfully defending cases just like yours.
Know Your Next Steps After a DWI/DUI Arrest
Booking and Arraignment
Immediately following your arrest, you will be taken to the police station for booking and to schedule an arraignment. The arraignment is the first time that you’re formally presented with the criminal charges being filed against you. During the arraignment, you are expected to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Don’t attend an arraignment without the Combs Waterkotte legal team by your side. It’s vital to seek an attorney’s advice before formally entering a plea. If you enter a not guilty plea, the judge will set tentative trial dates.
Administrative Process
The Missouri Department of Revenue will suspend your driver’s license 15 days following your DWI/DUI arrest – whether it was for testing above .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or for refusing to take a breath test. While you can challenge this suspension, it’s extremely difficult without legal representation. The process varies depending on whether you failed the test or refused it, but, in both situations, the DOR will issue a temporary driving permit. If you don’t take action to protect your driving privilege within 15 days, you could lose your right to drive.
If you fail a chemical test, (breath or blood) the arresting officer will give you this form. In the center of the form, a black box indicates that this is your temporary 15-day driving permit. At the bottom, there’s a section to request an administrative hearing, which is best handled by an experienced attorney. These hearings are challenging due to the prosecution needing only to prove a preponderance of the evidence.
If you refuse to take the chemical test, the officer will provide form 4323. There is a black line at the bottom of the document, identifying it as your 15-day temporary driving permit. Unlike the other form, this one doesn’t have a section to fill out. To request an administrative hearing, your lawyer must file a Petition for Review and a motion to stay the suspension, allowing you to drive until the hearing’s outcome. Filing these documents correctly and timely is near impossible without expert legal representation. It’s important to remember that the DOR will revoke your license for 1 year on a refusal. If you want to fight this, you need to talk to the Combs Waterkotte DWI/DUI legal team as soon as possible.
Criminal Process
Your criminal prosecution stems from your original booking and arraignment, and can occur even while your administrative hearing is ongoing if your attorney happened to have it delayed. One has nothing to do with the other.
Barring your lawyer getting your charges dismissed or negotiating a plea deal, your case will go to trial. Your attorney can rely on proven defense strategies, including that the officer lacked probable cause to pull you over.
Make Sure You Attend All Court Dates
It’s essential to not miss a court date after your DWI/DUI arrest. It’s easy to mistake the different types of courts and court dates, especially considering there are two cases for one DWI/DUI offense in Missouri. Missing just one date can worsen an already difficult situation. Hiring a defense attorney can relieve the stress of managing court dates. Give us a call now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online. Our talented DWI/DUI lawyer will make sure you never leave a court appearance without a clear understanding of your next steps.
Arraign Transportation
A skilled attorney, like the ones at Combs Waterkotte, can help you fight to keep your driver’s license after a DWI/DUI arrest. They can also provide guidance on steps to take to reduce the amount of time you’re without driving privileges. However, particularly if this isn’t your first DWI/DUI offense, you may face some time without a license, so it’s important to plan for this from the beginning. The better prepared you are, the less disruptive the suspension or revocation will be. Hiring the best attorney right after your arrest gives you more time. Instead of the suspension starting in 15 days, you’ll likely have at least a month – and often longer – to make alternative travel arrangements for work, school, doctor appointments, and more.
Contact the Expert DWI/DUI Attorneys at Combs Waterkotte Right Away to Know Your Next Steps
You have a lot to do in a short amount of time after a DWI/DUI arrest. Thanks to the experienced DWI/DUI lawyers at Combs Waterkotte though, you don’t have to go it alone. Our attorneys have been helping clients just like you get through tough situations for more than three decades. They can use their expertise to defend your driving privilege and freedom so that you can focus on getting your life back on track.
Call (314) 900-HELP as soon as possible or contact us online for a free case review.
