DWI Attorney in Bates County, MO. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charges in Bates County, MO can have serious and long-lasting, if not permanent, implications on your life, including your freedom, finances, and any future housing, career, and personal opportunities. If you are facing these charges in Bates County, MO or anywhere else in Missouri, you need the expertise of a skilled Combs Waterkotte DWI attorney fighting for you.
Our knowledgeable Bates County, MO criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to providing you with the best possible defense, safeguarding your rights every step of the way. Depending on the specifics of your case, a skilled Combs Waterkotte DWI attorney may be able to reduce or dismiss your charges in Bates County, MO, arrange a lesser penalty through a plea bargain, or fight your conviction in a trial.
Give Combs Waterkotte a call right now at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our DWI attorneys in Bates County, MO where you can have a discussion about the specifics of your case and get confidential legal advice and guidance.
DWI Attorney in Bates County, MO: Protect Your Future With the Combs Waterkotte Lawyers
Whatever your scenario, you need the best legal representation available in Bates County, MO. Whether you’re facing your first DWI charge or your third, have been arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana or another intoxicating substance, or have been involved in an accident while driving impaired, you need the help of Combs Waterkotte immediately.
Hiring a determined Bates County, MO DWI attorney can be the difference between possibly feeling like you have to plead guilty and possibly having your charges reduced or dismissed. Call a DWI attorney in Bates County, MO right away at (314) 900-HELP or connect with us online.
DWI Attorney in Bates County, MO: Understanding DWI Penalties in Missouri
Bates County, MO DWI charges can result in severe consequences, like fines, license suspension, and possible jail time. You may be required, depending on the specifics of your Bates County, MO case, to enroll in and complete a Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) program and be responsible for filing SR-22 insurance.
The penalties for DWI in Bates County, MO include:
- First Offense: You could receive a jail term of up to 6 months, fines of up to $500, and a 30-day license suspension followed by a 60-day restricted driving period.
- Second Offense: Classified as a “prior offender,” penalties include up to 1 year in jail, fines up to $1,000, and a license suspension ranging from 1 to 5 years.
- Third Offense: Classified as a “persistent offender” and a Class E felony offense, penalties can include 4 years in prison, fines up to $5,000, and a 10-year license revocation.
- Fourth Offense: Along with a Class D felony offense, you may receive a prison sentence up to 7 years, fines up to $5,000, and license suspension.
- Fifth Offense: A Class C felony, you will be facing a prison sentence of up to 15 years, as well as the suspension of your license.
DWI Attorney in Bates County, MO: What You Should Do If Pulled Over in the Bates County, MO Area
Being stopped by law enforcement at any time in Bates County, MO can be a frightening experience, but particularly so if you’ve been partaking in alcoholic drinks. If you find yourself stopped for a DWI, it is vital to handle the situation with care. The following are steps you should follow according to the Combs Waterkotte DWI attorneys:
- Remain Calm and Compliant: Safely pull over to the side of the road, using your signal to indicate your intentions, and find a safe, well-lit location. Keep your composure by taking deep breaths to remain calm throughout the interaction with the officer.
- Keep Your Hands Visible and Be Polite: Place your hands on the steering wheel as the officer approaches, showing you are not a threat and cooperative. Politely greet the officer and follow their instructions – this goes a long way.
- Limit Your Conversation: Avoid self-incrimination. You have the right to remain silent. Once law enforcement has you pulled over, officers will do everything in their power to arrest you or use “strongarm” investigative techniques. You are not obligated to answer questions about your whereabouts near Bates County, MO, activities, or alcohol consumption. You can always politely decline questions by saying, “I prefer not to answer that question,” or “I would rather not answer without legal advice.”
- Refuse Sobriety Tests: You are not legally required to perform field sobriety tests (FSTs) in Bates County, MO, or anywhere else. These tests are subjective and often only used to establish probable cause for your arrest. An officer might request that you take a portable breath test, or breathalyzer. While Missouri’s implied consent law mandates a one-year license suspension for refusing a breathalyzer after a DWI arrest, this not apply to tests conducted before an arrest. These tests are unreliable and, like FSTs, are used primarily to establish probable cause. Don’t give it to them.
- Contact a DWI Attorney Immediately: Seek an attorney who specializes in DWI cases, such as the expert DWI attorneys at Combs Waterkotte. Our experienced lawyers can help navigate the legal system and protect your rights and future. Call us right away at (314) 900-HELP or connect with us online.
DWI Attorney in Bates County, MO: How the Esteemed Defense Strategists at Combs Waterkotte Can Help
While facing a DWI charge in Bates County, MO is certainly daunting, with the right legal representation you can be in a far better situation than going it alone. Combs Waterkotte is dedicated to offering exceptional DWI defense services, ensuring you get a fair trial and the best possible outcome in Bates County, MO. Our firm provides:
Extensive Experience & Expertise From Our Bates County, MO DWI Attorney
With over 60 years of combined experience in criminal defense, the DWI attorney team at Combs Waterkotte has a deep understanding of the DWI laws in Bates County, MO and throughout Missouri. We are adept at managing the complexities of DWI charges just like yours, and have had numerous successful results defending Bates County, MO clients against these accusations. We are committed to complete client satisfaction, and our record of success speaks for itself.
Comprehensive Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation With a Skilled Bates County, MO DWI Attorney
We start with a detailed, confidential, free case review to understand the specifics of your case. This allows our skilled team in Bates County, MO to assess the evidence against you and identify potential weaknesses or holes in the prosecution’s case, along with likely avenues for defense strategies.
Personalized Defense Strategies From a Bates County, MO DWI Attorney
Each Bates County, MO DWI case is unique and a generic approach just won’t cut it. The Combs Waterkotte DWI attorneys develop a customized defense strategy based on your individual circumstances in Bates County, MO. Our attorneys meticulously investigate every angle of your case, from the initial traffic stop to the arrest, closely examining the validity of the stop and the procedures followed by law enforcement.
A Bates County, MO DWI Attorney Who is Skilled in Negotiating Plea Bargains
If dismissal of your case is unlikely, we work to negotiate plea bargains that can your charges and penalties. There may also be mitigating circumstances that could be used in your defense. Our goal is to achieve the most favorable outcome for our clients in and around Bates County, MO.
Court Representation From a Bates County, MO DWI Attorney With Decades of Litigation Experience
Should your Bates County, MO DWI case proceed to trail, our attorneys provide robust representation in court, presenting a compelling defense strategy on your behalf. We present supporting evidence and testimony, challenge the prosecution’s evidence, and cross-examine witnesses. Our primary objective is to establish reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case, securing a verdict of not guilty and/or minimizing the possibility of penalties imposed in Bates County, MO.
When you’re charged with a DWI in or around Bates County, MO and partner with Combs Waterkotte, you’re not just selecting the ideal DWI attorney in Bates County, MO and throughout Missouri – you are securing your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with DWI defense from our esteemed DWI attorney, our legal team provides expertise in the following areas for Bates County, MO residents:
- Sex Offense Lawyers
- Crime Defense Lawyers
- Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
- Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Juvenile Defense Lawyer
- Sexual Misconduct Lawyer
- Traffic Ticket Lawyer
Reach Out to the Leading Bates County, MO DWI Attorney Right Away | Combs Waterkotte
Facing a DWI charge in the Bates County, MO area? Don’t leave your future to chance. Place it in the trustworthy hands of the tenacious and experienced DWI attorneys at Combs Waterkotte. Our legal team is prepared to defend you and safeguard your rights with the aggressive representation you need in Bates County, MO.
Take the first step toward protecting your freedom, finances, and future in the Bates County, MO area by calling a DWI attorney at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or connect with us online for a free and confidential case review.
