St. Louis DWI / DUI Attorneys

Serving Clients In and Around St. Louis County, Missouri

If you or someone you know has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated or impaired or driving under the influence in the greater St. Louis area, you will likely want to fight the charges in order to minimize the harsh consequences that result from a DWI or DUI conviction. Being charged with a DWI or DUI can be a scary and confusing experience, especially if you have never been arrested before. You may be wondering what will happen to you, whether you will go to jail, lose your license, and more. That is why you need an attorney who is familiar with the local court systems and experienced and skilled in handling DUI / DWI cases. Whether the charges result from a simple traffic violation or from a sobriety checkpoint or roadblock operation, we recommend that you consult with a St. Louis DWI / DUI attorney at our firm as soon as possible to get the legal guidance and expertise you need.

DWI / DUI in Missouri

While it is commonly referred to as "drunk driving," that phrase is inaccurate since a person can be charged with and convicted of driving while intoxicated even though they were not "drunk" at all. In Missouri, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration at or above .08. This limit is even lower for those with commercial driver licenses and drivers below the age of 21. Driving while intoxicated, known as DWI, is prosecuted when the State believes the driver was intoxicated with alcohol while operating a motor vehicle. However, in the State of Missouri the law also prohibits a person from driving under the influence of drugs, which is commonly referred to as a DUI. The drugs may be prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, illegal prescriptions, or illegal street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and other controlled substances.

If you are convicted of "drunk driving" in Missouri on a first offense, you face potential penalties of jail time, court costs, fines, license suspension, license reinstatement fees, probation, SATOP, increased insurance costs, and a permanent mark on your criminal record. Those who are involved in traffic accidents causing property damage, bodily injury to others, or fatalities may be subject to harsher penalties. Those who are convicted of subsequent DWI / DUI within 5 years of a previous conviction will be subject to more severe consequences.

In the face of such serious penalties, it is important that you have skilled legal representation from a St. Louis DWI / DUI lawyer who is proficient in DWI / DUI defense. By contacting our criminal defense firm for a consultation, you will be taking a proactive step in your defense.

Contact a St. Louis DWI / DUI attorney at the firm today if you have been charged with drunk driving or drug-impaired driving.