DWI/DUI
Skilled DWI/DUI Defense Lawyer in Kansas City
If you have recently been arrested for driving while intoxicated, you probably have many questions about how a DWI charge will affect you and your life. You’re probably wondering what to do next. Will you lose your driving privileges or go to jail? Will there be steep fines that you will have to pay? Will you lose your job? These are just a few of the questions that will be on your mind if you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Kansas City. Fortunately, there is help available if you have been charged with DWI. Contact The Janssen Law Office today to speak with a DWI attorney who will aggressively and effectively defend your rights and protect your freedom. In many cases, you can also have a past DWI expunged.
DWI is a serious charge. A first time DWI in Missouri is a class B misdemeanor and carries the possibility of six months in jail or a fine of 500 dollars or both. A second DWI within five years is a class A misdemeanor carrying the possibility of one year in jail or a 1000 dollar fine or a combination of both. A third DWI is a felony, meaning a conviction results in the loss of some of your civil rights, along with a much longer period of incarceration.
As if dealing with your DWI charge weren’t enough to worry about, after you’ve been arrested or cited for an alcohol-related traffic offense, the Missouri Department of Revenue will suspend or revoke your driver’s license after just 15 days and will do so even if the charges against you are dropped or dismissed. You must contest this revocation through an administrative hearing or your license will be revoked or suspended. If you fail to request a hearing before the deadline, there is no way to contest the suspension.
Possible DWI defenses:
Fortunately, you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and there are proven defense strategies that we can use to attack your case. Here are a few:
If you’ve been charged with DWI or you are helping someone you care about who has been charged with DWI, it’s vital that you contact an attorney as soon as possible. You need an aggressive, zealous attorney in your corner. Call The Janssen Law Office LLC to speak with a lawyer who understands your options and can help you fight your DWI charges. Be sure that you fully understand your rights and how to defend yourself against the DWI charges against you. At The Janssen Law Office LLC, our Kansas City DWI attorney has years of experience representing clients charged with DWI, both in criminal court and at their administrative hearings.
DWI DENIALS
Under RSMo. 302.060, drivers convicted of DWI more than twice in two years or three times in their lifetime are subject to denial of their license and driving privilege for a minimum of five and ten years, respectively. In order to regain their licenses, drivers subject to denial must file a petition with the circuit court in which their most recent DWI occurred, submitted to a fingerprint background check through the Missouri highway patrol, and appear at a hearing before the court during which the judge will hear evidence from both the driver and the director of revenue and decide whether the driver’s license should be reinstated. If the judge does order the director to reinstate the driver’s license, the driver is required to install and maintain an ignition interlock for a minimum of six months in addition to completing the other reinstatement requirements associated with the DWI, including a Missouri approved SATOP course.
The process for reinstating your license after a license denial is a civil lawsuit and can be daunting, particularly if you’re not accustomed to navigating the civil court system. At the Janssen Law Office, we have years of experience helping drivers get back on the road legally. Please use the form below to schedule a consultation and get started on your case.
This page is a work in progress and presents an incomplete discussion of Missouri law. Please use the contact form below to schedule a consultation or call us at 816-287-0172.
