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St. Louis DWI Lawyers

• Sullivan & Associates: Can you keep a DWI off my record? The unique facts of each case, breathalyzer results, statements both from the officer and from the driver are needed before any attorney can give a prediction as to the final result of a case, and even then there are no guarantees. Police departments have more investigative tools than ever in their arsenal to prosecute drunk drivers.
• Denise Coleman: Alcohol-related driving fatality and injury statistics in the U.S.are staggering; approximately 17,500 alcohol-related deaths, and overtwo million alcohol-related injuries occur each year. As such, most states do not require the opinion of a forensic toxicologist in determining whether suspected drunk drivers are unlawfully intoxicated. Consequently, the general practice continues with police officers employing their own judgment when determining alcohol intoxication.
• Charles Ferguson: An individualhas the right to defend oneself without fear of criminal liability for any harm arising from such self-defense when the individual is threatened by an attack (or reasonably believes such an attack is imminent.) It should be noted, however, that the limits of self-defense are largely a creation of state law, and therefore vary in important respects among different jurisdictions.
• Craig Kessler: A criminal case begins with an arrest, and in our country each individual is considered innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
• Leslie Tolliver: If you or a loved one has been arrested or accused of a crime in Missouri, you need experienced, aggressive representation to defend you against these criminal charges.
• Wittner, Poger, Spewak, Maylack & Spooner:

  Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, especially when the offense in question involves a drunk driver accused of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated; charges that are commonly referred to by the acronyms of DUI and DWI. A drunk driving conviction in Missouri or Illinois affects a person in a number of negative ways including:

  • Alcohol assessment and treatment
  • Community service and probation
  • Criminal record
  • Fines and court costs
  • Increased insurance rates
  • Mandatory jail or prison sentence
  • Suspension or loss of driver license
  • Vehicle immobilization or forfeiture
• Anthony Ramirez: Missouri passed the "Implied Consent" law in 1964. Anyone who operates a motor vehicle in Missouri consents to giving a blood, breath, saliva or urine sample to determine the alcohol content of their blood (by virtue of driving the vehicle) if, upon reasonable grounds, the police believe the driver is operating the motor vehicle while intoxicated or in a drugged condition. Under the law, the suspect may be required to take two tests.
• Humphrey, Siegler & Hale: Being charged with such activity can affect your insurance rates, your right to drive, and your ability to earn a living. It is important that you preserve your rights while protecting your reputation, regardless of the offense.
• Marks Law Firm: The crime of drunk driving is generally defined in two ways: (1) having a blood alcohol content above the limit set by law, or (2) driving under the influence of alcohol. To find a person guilty under the first definition, a jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the person's blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeded a certain amount. In most states the legal limit is .08 percent. Therefore, if it is proved that the person's BAC at the time of the incident was .08 percent or greater, he or she can be convicted of drunk driving, regardless of how much alcohol was actually consumed. As a practical matter, one drink would almost certainly not lead to a BAC of .08 percent or greater; generally, a person needs to have five drinks in an hour to develop a BAC of .08 percent. However, if there was something unique about the person or the drink, or other circumstance, one drink could raise the BAC above the legal limit. In contrast, the second definition does not refer to any particular BAC. It focuses on the driving behavior of the person; if it is impaired by the person's consumption of alcohol, he or she can be found guilty of drunk driving. Instead of presenting evidence of the BAC to a jury, the prosecution seeking a conviction under this definition generally presents testimony about the person's driving and consumption of alcohol. A police officer will often describe the impaired driving that lead him to pull the person over and the person's ability (or lack thereof) to perform field sobriety tests, such as walking a straight line. Evidence is also usually presented concerning the person's consumption of alcohol and if the jury then concludes that the prosecution has met its burden of proof, it will convict the person of drunk driving. A susceptible person may exhibit impaired driving after one drink and therefore be convicted of drunk driving.
• Van Dillen & Flood: It is important that you preserve your rights while protecting your reputation, regardless of the seriousness of the offense.
• R. L. Sullivan: When you are charged with a DWI, the stakes are high: you license is at risk, your livelihood may be threatened, your reputation is at stake, and a jail sentence is a possibility - even for a first offense.
• Hogan Law Firm: In recent years, most states including Missouri have taken a tough stand against drunk driving. These cases are treated as serious criminal matters. This is particularly true with repeat offenders. Courts have been imposing increasingly serious punishment on drunk drivers and the trend appears to be moving toward imposing even more serious punishments. To make it more difficult for drivers suspected of driving while intoxicated to evade police, Missouri requires all drivers to submit to breath tests as a condition of retaining their driving privileges. Failure to submit to a breath test, even if the driver can prove he or she was completely sober, is automatic grounds for suspension. This is true even if the driver is never charged with drunk driving. Because driving is considered a privilege and not a right, a driver who chooses to decline a breath test on the grounds of the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination may save him or herself from a driving while intoxicated charge, but will be suspended in the process.