Criminal Defense Lawyer Portage Des Sioux, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be facing substantial penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Portage Des Sioux criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can be what separates your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will plan out a smart, winning defense strategy made especially for your unique situation, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The veteran Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Portage Des Sioux-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Portage Des Sioux. We are eager to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-strings-attached initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte on your side, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
St. Charles County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Charles County and Missouri.
A Complete Portage Des Sioux, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive variety of case types and criminal charges, including:
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Assault/Battery
- Domestic Violence
- Theft/Larceny
- Probation Violations
- Drug Charges
Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Portage Des Sioux criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can call your Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to chat about the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to listen and understand you in your time of need.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you are ever questioned by the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is wholly possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Portage Des Sioux defense lawyer is the right thing to do:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s safe to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly see what happened: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could take your statement the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your witness statement, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could lead to you being a person of interest, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their power to get search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. However, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police want you to sign one of these papers, politely decline and ask to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for them, automatically makes them admissible in court as evidence, so it is key to know your rights at all times.
- When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most undoubtable time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Portage Des Sioux, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any inquiries without an attorney being present, and call a Portage Des Sioux criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Portage Des Sioux, MO
If there’s one thing that Portage Des Sioux drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Portage Des Sioux, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in Portage Des Sioux, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you decide to pay your Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be struck from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this window you could be looking at stiffer penalties.
A growing number of Portage Des Sioux drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal acumen to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works tirelessly to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our premier Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Portage Des Sioux, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of fixing your Portage Des Sioux traffic ticket.
Other cases we take on in Portage Des Sioux, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Portage Des Sioux, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for rolling a stop sign to grave felonies, talk to a skilled Portage Des Sioux, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free review of your case. Our firm is eager to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst friends and in the community.
