Criminal Defense Lawyer in Berkeley, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Berkeley, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.

Having the right Berkeley criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will develop an intelligent, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Berkeley, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Berkeley-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Berkeley. We are eager to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-strings-attached initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Full-Service Berkeley, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Berkeley, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse variety of case types and criminal charges, including:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Berkeley criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your Berkeley, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say what they want to hear, you will be fine and they will not give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Berkeley defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are talking to you in the first place. A younger or overzealous officer could read your statement the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with a detective. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you say to the police leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could possibly place you under suspicion, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which allow them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police want you to sign one of these forms, politely say no and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial to know your rights at all times.
• When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Berkeley, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer by your side, and call a Berkeley criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Berkeley, MO

If there’s one thing that Berkeley drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Berkeley, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).

Getting a traffic ticket in Berkeley, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Berkeley traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be staring down a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. Tickets usually cannot be removed from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over another time during this window you could be facing harsher penalties.

More and more Berkeley drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Berkeley traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal acumen to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our premier Berkeley traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Berkeley, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of fixing your Berkeley traffic ticket.

Contact Experienced Berkeley, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a simple traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to substantial felonies, talk to a skilled Berkeley, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is ready to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst friends and in the community.