Kansas City DWI Lawyer
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.
If you’ve been charged with a 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.
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:
Incorrect Breath Alcohol Testing Procedures
Missouri law and regulations establish the procedures officers must follow when administering a BAC test in the state of Missouri. If they do not follow those protocols and administer the tests correctly, the results of the test, which is often the only real evidence in a DWI case are unreliable and may be inadmissible in court. By conducting a thorough review of the police reports, dashcam and booking room video, and other evidence in your case, a determined attorney can isolate the weaknesses in the DWI case against you and help you achieve a better result.
Defective or Faulty Breathalyzer Machine
Breath testing devices must be calibrated in order to provide an accurate reading. If the police officer did not calibrate the machine correctly, it will give an inaccurate reading. If police officers failed to properly calibrate the machine and document the procedure, it might be possible to exclude the BAC results in court.
Illegal Stops and Lack of Probable Cause
An officer must have probable cause to pull you over. If the police officer did not have a valid reason to stop you and a reasonable belief that you were operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, all of the evidence that they gather during or after the traffic stop may be inadmissible in Missouri courts.
Contact The Janssen Law Offices LLC to speak with a DWI lawyer or contact us by submitting a client intake form.