DWI Defense
Top Rated DWI Lawyer in Springfield MO
Drunk driving (driving while intoxicated – DWI) is more than just a traffic offense. It means that you are operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol and your decision-making abilities, knowledge and reflexes are impaired.
You have done more than just committed a traffic violation (broken a traffic law) and it has a much more serious consequence than just receiving a speeding ticket or another type of traffic ticket, points, and fines. The difference in the circumstances and consequences is tremendous.
Of course, nobody plans to get a DWI or DUI arrest but, if you were to be convicted of driving under the influence, it could have long-term effects on your life. To make matters worse, you must contend with not one but both sides of government entities – the criminal court system and the Missouri Department of Revenue, which controls drivers’ licenses!
When you’re facing a MO DWI charge, the choice of your legal representation is an incredibly important decision and not just because of the price or cost. The scope of work involved is intense and needs someone with skill and education who has had training working on DWI or DUI cases. Don’t leave your future in the hands of a general criminal defense attorney and pay thousands to someone who doesn’t practice DWI defense as their specialization in their law profession.
A DWI arrest or charges can be life-altering. Twibell Pierson Criminal Law doesn’t see you as “just a number” or “another job.
Choosing an Attorney for Your Case
You’ll want to choose a law office with a DWI attorney who has years of criminal defense experience, expertise and can in fact help make the best decisions for your specific case. With the right drunk driving attorney, although rare, drinking while intoxicated cases may potentially result in dismissals by a judge but are more commonly reduced to reckless driving. It is the responsibility of those who are sentenced with alcohol-related driving offenses to participate in SATOP, the Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program as it is a requirement.
If you have been charged for driving while impaired or intoxicated in southwest Missouri, with these offenses, it’s critical for you to assert your constitutional rights and act before your license is suspended. As soon as you are arrested, the State begins working on the legal process of your conviction. You need to start building your defense and protecting your future, right away, by working with a criminal attorney and team in the surrounding area. We will guide you the right way and provide useful tips, for all of your questions whether we know what we’re doing.
If you’ve been arrested, or are under investigation, for a Springfield Missouri DWI Attorney, you must have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.
Even a first offense can have life-altering consequences with the possibility of a loss of driving privileges to loss of employment as well as the potential for ongoing legal issues. People don’t realize that the mistakes that lead to a DUI conviction can stay on your driving record for at least 5 years, or even up to 10 years, and on your insurance record for 3 years. The outcomes from these types of misdemeanors are very important to your permanent record, finances, and your freedom.
That’s why we encourage anyone with DWI cases or criminal charges to contact our law firm for a free consultation within the first 15 days after being arrested. It’s important that we “don’t drink and drive” but this is a very simplistic way of looking at this situation and is much more challenging than you think in the courtroom and criminal justice system. Don’t let your family and friends worry. Pick an attorney that will pay attention to all the details of your DUI case and evidence so you can receive the best possible outcome.
We’re committed to providing you with the best possible outcome. Call us today or fill out our contact form on our website for a free consultation and assistance in your case, at 417-862-1741.
Understanding Southwest Missouri Driving Under The Influence Charges
A drug crime or charges can vary a great deal, depending on the type of drug involved in the case, the amount of it, and the apparent intent of the defendant. The penalties for a first time offender are more serious than traffic violation tickets. The court may order a driver’s license suspension as one of many possible results from your trial.
Possible Penalties for First Time Driving Under The Influence in the Surrounding areas
- Up to 180-365 days of jail time
- Up to a $1,000 fine
- A Missouri Driver’s License suspension (loss of driving privileges) from 90 days to 1 year
- Supervised Probation with alcohol monitoring
- An alcohol monitoring device installed in vehicles or an ignition interlock device
- In addition, a lifelong criminal conviction with alcohol offenses can negatively impact college admissions, military eligibility, employment opportunities, travel, and immigration status.
Our attorneys can handle any DWI or DUI (Driving Under the Influence) issue. We also understand that the laws involved may be applied on a different level, for example depending on the place and substance that the state accuses you of driving while impaired. Any information you may need and everything you will need to know, we will educate you on it and our first consultation does not have any fees.
We will take a look at your options, provide recommendations, and start taking the proper steps in your prosecution. Our criminal defense lawyers have worked on—and won—cases where people have tested above the legal blood alcohol content limit and failed sobriety tests, and cases where individuals have tested positive for drugs. When you are first pulled over the police may attempt field sobriety testing to determine if you are impaired. This is a common aspect of police procedures for a DWI traffic stop.
The field sobriety testing helps the police officers with probable cause to arrest you if you fail the test and it determines you are driving under the influence. The Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) or Preliminary Alcohol Screening test (PAS) that uses a portable breath tester known as the Breathalyzer, will determine Blood Alcohol Content, BAC, but it is mainly used to determine probable cause.
At Twibell Pierson Criminal Law, we aim to get your case dismissed outright. Each case is different and sometimes the goal will be keeping the case off an individual’s record, through a Suspended Imposition Sentence. In most cases, a dismissal doesn’t have anything to do with you. It has to do with the actions of law enforcement.
We understand that these types of cases aren’t as black and white as prosecutors would like to make them out to be based upon a number. Whether you’ve been charged with a first offense or a felony DWI, at Twibell Pierson Criminal Law we have the experience to resolve your case.
Only an experienced DWI attorney can fully understand the applicable laws in the Missouri area and fight for your convictions and rights. Call Twibell Pierson today, at 417-862-1741.
All Driving While Impaired Cases are Serious
One misconception we often see among clients is that some types of cases are less “serious” than others. It is true that some charges may have less potential for the most severe penalties, but make no mistake, there is no such thing as a “minor” DWI conviction in Missouri. Being convicted of a DWI misdemeanor can result in loss of license, increased insurance rates, and, in some cases, loss of employment. When you need the best criminal defense attorney you need to call Twibell Pierson! Don’t take a chance on your future in the courts, jury or the judges on something you’re not familiar with that can affect you for the rest of your life.
That’s why we heavily stress the need to contact criminal defense lawyers as soon as you are arrested for suspicion of DWI. The more time your defense attorney has to examine your case and prepare your defense strategy, the more likely we are to get you the best possible outcome. Hiring a defense attorney in the first fifteen days after your arrest can also preserve your administrative rights to your driver’s license by requesting a hearing and challenging the Department of Revenue.
While first-time DWI’s have serious consequences, they are not nearly as severe as felony DWIs. A felony driving while intoxicated is when a person accumulates three or more DWI’s.
Felony DWI’s can include:
- Ten-year loss of license
- DWI Court
- Random Drug and Alcohol Testing
- 480 Hours of Community
- 2 years mandatory prison time (when five or more DWI’s)
- Convicted Felon for Life!
Driving while intoxicated felony cases are aggressively prosecuted by the prosecuting attorney mostly in a municipal court throughout southern Missouri such as Greene County, Christian County, Dallas County, Stone County, Lawrence County, Taney County, and Webster County. The importance of having experienced DWI attorneys in criminal cases cannot be overstated. The consequences for a felony DWI follow individuals to the courtroom and for the rest of their lives. Anything we discuss is protected with the attorney-client relationship. If you need insight on Twibell Pierson’s reputation in this line of work, be sure to search for reviews on the internet for testimonials we’ve been given. You will see that people acknowledge the quality work we do, the reason being that we care.
It’s imperative that our defense attorneys start building your case as soon as possible. Please call us today at 417-862-1741.
Don’t Risk Your Future – Get the Right DUI Attorney in Southwest Missouri
Don’t gamble your future on a conviction and the idea of having a DUI permanently on your record that can affect you in more ways than one should be nerve-wracking in itself. The criminal attorneys at our law firm are standing by to help you get the best possible outcome for your case. A felony DWI charge can disrupt your life for years, resulting in jail time or even prison. It’s not worth the risk! Call us today and engage the services of an attorney experienced in criminal defense cases who specializes in DWI Springfield charges.
If you are facing a DUI conviction, your best defense is to get legal advice and legal representation from the best DUI defense lawyers in the Missouri area. The attorneys at Twibell Pierson specialize in criminal case law and criminal defense, including DWI law, and have award-winning years of experience handling these cases, as well as lecturing on DWI and DUI defense throughout Missouri. Twibell Pierson will appeal the convictions on your behalf and plea bargain for you to receive a lesser penalty or have your case dismissed all in all. So make sure to give us a call or fill out a form so we can set up a no-fee consultation as soon as possible.