Missouri DWI Defense Attorney

I am Douglas Richards, a Missouri DWI Defense Attorney, who since graduating from Washington University Law School in 1986, have been helping and defending people who have been arrested and charged with a Criminal DWI Charge and the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing Process that can result from this DWI Arrest for over the past 34 years.

You were out with your spouse or some friends having a good time. Maybe you only had a couple of beers or a glass of wine or two. You felt fine. You did not believe that you were too impaired to drive. Then you got pulled over by the police. The police officer asked you some questions, told you to get out of your car, and then had you do some tests. You think you did fine on these tests. The police officer never said that you failed any of the tests. When the tests were done, the next thing you know the police officer tells you that you are being arrested and charged with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) or a DUI (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Driving Under the Influence of Drugs) in the State of Missouri, including, but limited to, in either St Louis, St Louis County, St Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, Lincoln County or Warren County. The police officer handcuffs you and takes you to the station. When you are released, the police officer gives you a DWI ticket, and a white piece of paper and tells you that your drivers license is going to be suspended in 15 days as a result of the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing Process.

You maybe wondering what is the difference between the DWI Ticket and the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing Process? Does this mean there are two (2) ways to lose your drivers license? (Yes it does.) You can’t have your drivers license suspended! You need to be able to drive! Then you start to wonder if you are going to have to put an Ignition Interlock Device on your car? Are you going to have to wear a SCRAM device on your ankle? Are you going to have to miss work to go to all your Court dates? Are you going to end up spending time in jail? What do you do now?

You may feel a bit confused and overwhelmed at this point in time.

The most important question you need to ask yourself is…..

Who do you call for the Best DWI Defense help you need in Missouri?

Which experienced Missouri DWI Defense Attorney will fight hard to keep you from being convicted of the DWI Charge?

Which knowledgeable Missouri DWI Defense Attorney will fight hard to keep your drivers license from being suspended in the Criminal DWI Case and in the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing Process?

and,

Which dedicated Missouri DWI Defense Attorney will give your case the personal attention it deserves?

With over 34 years of legal experience, I know how much a DWI Charge and the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing can impact your life. My goal is to keep you from being convicted of this DWI Charge. My goal is to keep you from losing your drivers license from both the Criminal DWI Charge and from the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing Process. Most people are under the impression that there is no way to beat a DWI Charge or the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing. Wrong! But to do it, you need a dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced DWI Defense Attorney to handle your case.

You need a Missouri DWI Defense Attorney who is willing to look into ALL the facts, to look into ALL the details in order to find the exceptions, the mistakes that were made in your case by the police. And in every case, I am able to find mistakes that are made by the police. By pointing out these mistakes made by the police to the Prosecuting Attorney, I can show the Prosecuting Attorney that he has no case, or a very weak case, and this can serve as the basis to arrange for a plea bargain to a reduced or amended lesser charge, or even for the complete dismissal of the DWI charge itself. It is also these mistakes that serve as the basis for winning the DOR Administrative Alcohol Hearing and stopping your license from being suspended.

Remember, police officers are just people too, and they make mistakes when they write up police reports. They make mistakes when they have you perform Field Sobriety Tests. They cut corners and do not give you the detailed instructions that they are supposed to do. They do not observe you for the proper time period before you take a breath test. My job, with your help, is to find these mistakes and to use them to our advantage so that you can learn from this experience and move on with your life. That is what a knowledgeable, dedicated and experienced Missouri DWI Defense Attorney can do for you!

Contact me at:

DOUGLAS RICHARDS
ATTORNEY AT LAW

9666 Olive Blvd, #365

St. Louis, MO 63132

314-517-5756

or

636-256-7300

You Have Been Arrested and Charged with a DWI.

You maybe asking yourself what does this mean and what is going to happen to your drivers license?

When you are charged with a DWI in the State of Missouri, you technically have two separate DWI cases pending against you that are going on at the same time.

The first DWI case is the criminal charge brought against you in the City or County where you were arrested in. The criminal DWI case is handled by the Prosecuting Attorney for that specific City or County area. The Prosecuting Attorney has the burden of proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If you are found guilty under the Criminal DWI case, your license would be suspended for points, you could be sentenced to jail and/or be ordered to pay a large fine. This is why you need an experienced Missouri DWI Attorney on your side. Some of the possible defenses that can be raised are whether there was an invalid initial stop by the police; whether Improper Field Sobriety Tests were performed; whether Improper Breath Test Procedures were followed; whether there are Inadmissible Breath Test Result; or whether there was a knowing Breath or Chemical Test Refusal. A skilled and experienced Missouri DWI Defense Attorney knows what to look for in the specific facts of your case and will develop the most effective defense strategies that will help your chance of obtaining a favorable outcome.

The other DWI case is civil proceeding brought against you by the Director of the Missouri Department of Revenue. The civil case is called an Administrative Alcohol Suspension. The civil DWI case involves whether you blew over the legal limit of .08% or whether you refused to submit to a chemical test.If you submitted to the breath test, you have 15 days after your arrest to request an Administrative Alcohol Hearing or it is waived and your drivers license will be automatically suspended for a period of 90 days if it is your first DWI Case. The police officer should have gave you a Form 2385. This is your 15 day Temporary Driving Permit. To avoid this suspension you must request Administrative Alcohol Hearing or contact a Missouri DWI Defense Attorney who will fill out the paperwork for you and send it to the Department of Revenue within this 15 day time period. You then will be issued a temporary driving permit that will allow you to continue to drive while your Administrative Alcohol Hearing is pending.

If you refused the breath or chemical test, the police officer should have gave you a Form 4323. This informs you that you driving privileges will be revoked for one year, 15 days from the date of the notice, unless a Missouri DWI Defense Attorney files a “Petition for Review” and obtain a “STAY ORDER“. If this is your first DWI offense, the “STAY ORDER” will allow you to continue to drive while your case is pending. A skilled and experience Missouri DWI Defense Attorney will look into the facts of your case and develop the most effective defense strategies to help you obtain the most favorable outcome.

I never charge a fee for an initial consultation because I understand that it is an important step in the process of finding the right Missouri DWI Defense Attorney for you. Call today to contact my office so we can set up a time to meet face-to-face with you so I can answer all of your Missouri DWI Defense questions.

Contact me at:

DOUGLAS RICHARDS
ATTORNEY AT LAW

9666 Olive Blvd, #365,

St Louis, MO 63132

314-517-5756

or

636-256-7300

I look forward to sitting down and talking to you face to face, so you can teach me the facts of your case and I can teach you what the law is and what legal defenses and legal tactics that are available to you, so that together, we can achieve the Best Result for you!

Missouri DWI Defense Attorney | Law Office of Douglas Richards | Douglas Richards Attorney at Law | www.dnrichardslaw.com

Law Office of Douglas Richards | Missouri DWI Defense Attorney | 9666 Olive Blvd, #365 | St Louis, MO 63132 | 314-517-5756 or 636-256-7300

I am a Missouri DWI Defense Attorney – with over 34 years of experience in handling cases in the areas of St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Warren County and Franklin County.