DWI Defense Attorney in Kansas City, Missouri

We’ve all been in the situation where we go out to dinner or to have a few drinks with friends and then drive home, wondering if it’s a good idea. Generally, it’s never a good idea, and relevant statistics bear that out. According to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, more than 30,000 people every year are arrested for and charged with the offense of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

Therefore, if it’s happened to you, it’s quite obvious that you’re far from alone. It also means that if you have been arrested for DWI in Missouri, you need to secure the services of a Missouri DWI lawyer immediately, as you do have rights that need to be protected and enforced. Attorney John Anthony Picerno has been serving clients charged with DWI for more than 10 years, and he will be able to help you analyze your situation and identify the options available to you.

Below are a few facts and realities surrounding DWI in Missouri:

• 1. Legal BAC limit in Missouri: .08

• 2. License suspended if a field sobriety test is refused? Yes

• 3. License suspended if BAC is above legal limit? Yes

Suspended License

The most common criminal remedy that’s meted out on those convicted of DWI in Missouri is driver’s license suspension. How long your license will be suspended depends on whether or not you’ve been convicted of DWI within the past five years. If you have been convicted of such a charge within the relevant time period, your license will be suspended for one year.

If you have not been convicted of DWI in Missouri within the past five years, your driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days, followed by 60 days of restricted driving privileges. The suspensions are actually imposed by the Missouri Department of Revenue, and most of the time, these suspensions will be upheld by the court. If, however, the court finds you not guilty of these charges, then your suspension will be revoked.

Perhaps the most overlooked, and most important aspect of the administrative hearing involving your DWI is that you only have 15 DAYS to request an administrative hearing regarding your suspension. If you fail to make such a request, you are deemed to have waived the right to such a hearing, and your suspension will immediately take full effect.

Overall, there is a lot to remember if you are arrested for DWI in Missouri. It is also clearly a stressful situation, which is why you need to contact DWI defense attorney John Anthony Picerno immediately if you have been arrested for DWI.