Kansas City DWI Lawyers

A Local Approach To Each Case

While the drunk driving laws are uniform across Missouri, practices and punishments can vary depending on the county. On the other hand, people often don’t realize the long-term consequences of a DUI/DWI conviction.

If you have been drinking, try to avoid getting behind the wheel. You may not feel drunk, but you pose a major threat to your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians. Only one moment of negligence while drunk driving is enough to risk your and other people’s lives, as well as face legal consequences that can change your life.

If you are facing DWI charges, you need a DUI attorney with years of experience in this field because crafting a good DUI defense can be tough. In addition, each prosecutor has a different philosophy, and that can make a big difference in criminal defense cases.

Our experienced criminal defense attorneys have spent considerable time in each of these courts (state and federal court), and we tailor our approach and legal representation accordingly. Moreover, our attorneys are also well-known in the Missouri DWI defense institute. Book a free consultation with our experienced attorneys or visit our law office. 

What Happens Before a DWI Arrest?

There usually are several phases of the entire DUI process that a police officer conducts when pulling over someone they believe to be intoxicated. One of the phases includes standard field sobriety testing. The officer will look for specific clues during testing, and if he or she observes enough clues of intoxication, the arrest will be imminent.

If this happened to you, the most important thing is to stay calm. The field is rarely the place to fight a Kansas City MO DUI case; court appearances are much better suited for that fight. Of course, with the aggressive legal representation of a skilled DUI defense attorney.

As quickly as possible after your DUI arrest, is the time to begin working with a team of skilled Kansas City DUI and DWI lawyers who can develop a detailed and convincing defense to DWI strategy.

A well-crafted strategy can help reduce your punishment and expunge your charges in court. The thing you have to consider is that strategies for DUI cases are unique for each case. Depending on the circumstances, facts, and details of your case, our expert lawyers in Kansas City will create it to help you. Read on to learn more about how a Kansas City, Missouri, DWI lawyer at The Missouri DWI & Criminal Law Center can help you.

How Can a DWI Lawyer Kansas City Help

Missouri DUI/DWI laws forbid individuals to operate a vehicle while in an intoxicated condition. It means individuals shouldn’t be behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances. In addition, their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) shouldn’t be 0.08% or more, or 0.04% or more in case they are commercial drivers.

To be convicted of drunk driving, the vehicle doesn’t necessarily have to be in motion; it is only required that the driver is in a position to regulate the vehicle’s movements. Although Missouri uses the term driving while intoxicated (DWI), many people still refer to this offense as driving under the influence (DUI).

In addition to the criminal consequences of a Kansas City MO DWI offense, the State of Missouri also imposes driver’s license sanctions, including a suspended driver’s license for a certain period. In case you have a commercial driver’s license or CDL, a DWI/DUI offense can impact your CDL license more heavily than most other drivers, so help from a skilled DWI lawyer in Kansas City can be most welcome.

If a CDL holder is facing a DWI conviction, their CDL may be disqualified for an entire year, even for the first offense, while a non-CDL holder may have their license suspended for 30 days. Having a DWI lawyer in the Kansas City area, you can rely upon can help you save your driving privileges as well as your job and livelihood.

Knowledgeable Missouri DWI Attorney

Hiring a DWI attorney who has extensive knowledge about Missouri’s DWI laws is vital to winning your case. Missouri’s Driving While Intoxicated & Driving Under Influence (DWI & DUI) laws are rigorous, and if you break these laws, you will likely deal with significant charges that can see you serving time, having your license withdrawn or suspended, and sustaining huge fines.

Missouri DWI Law Changes

In Kansas City, MO, drunk driving offenses involve driving with BAC (blood alcohol content) above the legal limit, driving under the impact of drugs, including some prescription drugs, or while intoxicated. Legislators in Missouri invested a significant quantity of time revamping the state’s criminal code to adjust the state’s sentencing laws.

These laws altered the category structure for some felonies and misdemeanors, which might see more severe charges for DUI offenders. The bill came into effect in January 2017.

There are two different areas of the Missouri DWI law that govern the arrest. A DUI consists of two cases: initially, your criminal charges of DWI, followed by the civil side of the case with the Missouri Department of Revenue concerning what repercussions you are dealing with regarding your driver’s license. Whether you will face a license suspension or not will be decided at the driver’s license hearing.

Is DWI a Misdemeanor or a Felony?

The administrative/civil law enters into play if you refuse the BAC tests or if your BAC was above the legal limit. In both cases, without the aid of a Kansas City MO DUI lawyer, you will likely face automatic license suspension or revocation when your 15-day temporary driving permit ends. In addition, Missouri Implied Consent Law allows the prosecuting attorney to tell the jury or the judge you refused to submit to a test. Skilled DUI and criminal defense lawyers will know the best ways to reduce the impact that event may cause.

If this is your very first DUI offense in Missouri and Kansas City, no one was hurt as a result of the event, and you were not under the age of 17 at the time of arrest, it is most likely that the offense will be classified as a Class B misdemeanor.

Minor Kansas City DUI offenses are classified as Class A misdemeanors. Both Class A and Class B misdemeanors are less troublesome than felonies, with the chance for these to be expunged from your criminal record after a certain period.

However, repeat offenders may face felony DUI charges. For example, those convicted of a third DWI offense are considered “persistent offenders.” That means they could face felony charges. As the convictions pile up, the charges and the penalties are becoming harsher.

Bear in mind that you can face a felony DUI charge even with no prior convictions. That may occur if a driver under the influence causes an accident involving criminal negligence and another person suffers injuries, even if they are not severe.

Why Should You Contest Traffic Tickets?

Although contesting speeding tickets may feel like a burden, that won’t be the case with the help of our experienced Kansas City DUI lawyer. We will do our best to get your speeding tickets amended to non-moving violations and keep the points off your driving record.

That can be a smart move because you can get 2 to 12 points on your driving record if you are convicted of a moving violation such as speeding tickets in the State of Missouri and Kansas City. Too many points on your driving record can lead to a license suspension. But, with our help and legal advice, you don’t have to worry. Our experienced attorneys in Kansas City MO have years of experience representing clients and fighting traffic violations.

If you’ve been charged with any of the above offenses in addition to a DWI charge, you could face additional penalties. Our Kansas City DWI defense attorneys know the rules of the road, and we’re dedicated to fighting for your rights in court to reduce your charges and ensure the best possible outcome.