DWI charges can have a lasting impact on your life and your future. Without an experienced DWI lawyer on your team, these charges can leave you struggling with a financial burden, criminal record, employment challenges, damaged relationships, and even possible jail time.

Regardless if this is your first offense or if you have been charged with DWI in the past, you need a St. Louis DWI attorney in your corner to help fight for your rights.

If you have been charged in St. Louis with driving while intoxicated (DWI) or any other criminal charge, attorney W. Scott Rose is here to help protect your future. With more than 25 years of experience practicing law, and a practice limited to DWI and criminal defense, we will be able to give you the best possible chance at a favorable outcome in your case.

What Happens if I Get Charged With DWI in St. Louis, Missouri?

Drunk driving is a serious offense, and Missouri’s laws are understandably strict to protect people on the roads. If an officer pulls you over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, they will likely issue a breathalyzer. Since Missouri has an “implied consent” law, if you choose not to take the breathalyzer, you will be issued a refusal, which has its own set of penalties.

Suppose you take the breathalyzer test that the law enforcement officer issues and produce a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit of .08%. In that case, you will be charged with a DWI (you can even be charged if your BAC is less than .08% if your driving is impaired by alcohol).

After being charged with a DWI in St. Louis, you only have 15 days before your license is automatically suspended, so you must act FAST. Reach out to a St. Louis DWI lawyer for a free case analysis.

What Are the Penalties for DWI in St. Louis, Missouri?

If you are convicted of DWI, the penalties will depend on whether this was your first DWI offense.

• First DWI conviction — Class B misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500
• Second DWI conviction — Class A misdemeanor charge punishable by up to one year in jail (mandatory minimum jail time of 48 hours), and a fine of up to $1,000
• Third (or subsequent) DWI conviction — Felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000

As you can see, prior DWI convictions can seriously increase your penalties. Even first-time offenders face hefty fines, jail time, and even possible suspension of their driving privileges. When this is your reality, you need a law firm committed to protecting your freedom. Contact a criminal defense attorney at Rose Legal Services now.

How Will a St. Louis DWI Lawyer Defend My Charge?

Many defense strategies can help reduce sentencing or dismiss your charge altogether. By consulting a trusted DWI lawyer in St. Louis, you’ll get a complete case analysis to determine the best course of action. By picking out the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, your St. Louis DWI attorney can put up a good fight in court.

Here are a few possible defenses for DWI in St. Louis:

• Illegal stop (an officer pulled you over without reasonable cause)
• Inaccurate alcohol testing caused by a malfunction in the equipment
• Incorrect measurement of impairment in a field sobriety test
• Failure to follow proper procedures with blood collection and testing

If you’ve been charged with a DWI in St. Louis, you need experienced DWI lawyers who will take a strategic approach to your case.

You Only Have 15 Days From the Date of Your Arrest to Stop the Suspension of Your Driver’s License

In DWI cases in Missouri, if you took a breathalyzer test and blew .08 or higher, you have only 15 days from the date of your arrest before your driver’s license is automatically suspended. The suspension could be 90 days, one year, or more, depending on whether you have prior DWI charges or convictions.

The arresting officer most likely took your driver’s license and issued you a “15-day driving privilege.” Still, after 15 days, you can only drive if you take immediate action. Therefore, if you have been arrested for DWI, you must hire an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer immediately to stop the suspension of your driver’s license. If you refused the breathalyzer test, the arresting officer probably informed you that you violated Missouri’s “Implied Consent Law” and issued you a “refusal.” You have only 15 days before your driver’s license will be revoked for a year.

An experienced lawyer can file a petition in Circuit Court to stop the suspension of your driver’s license, but the deadline for filing such a petition is 30 days after your arrest. Do not delay—contact our St. Louis DWI attorneys at Rose Legal Services as soon as possible after your DWI arrest to discuss your rights and options.