DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Troy, MO

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Troy, MO. A DWI/DUI arrest in Troy, MO doesn’t just mean criminal charges—it also puts your driver’s license at immediate risk. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) automatically moves to suspend or revoke your license in Troy, MO, but you have the right to fight back and tell your side of the story through an administrative hearing.

You have only 15 days following your arrest to request this hearing. Don’t wait—protect your license by contacting a Troy, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer at Combs Waterkotte now. Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our expert Troy, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys who can fight for your driving privileges and build a strong defense for your case in Troy, MO.

What is a DWI Administrative Hearing in Troy, MO and Across Missouri?

A DWI administrative hearing is a civil proceeding separate from your criminal DWI case in Troy, MO. It determines whether the state has the right to suspend or revoke your driver’s license based on the circumstances of your arrest. If you don’t request this hearing within 15 days from your arrest date, your suspension goes into effect automatically without hearing your side.

During the hearing, key factors that will be reviewed include:

• Did law enforcement have reasonable suspicion to stop you?
• Were you driving while impaired?
• Did you refuse a breath or blood test?

Winning your hearing means you keep your license and avoid further consequences. However, if the DOR determines that these elements are proven by a preponderance of evidence, your license suspension or revocation will be enforced according to state laws and prior offenses.

License Suspension & Revocation Penalties in Missouri

If you’re facing a DWI administrative suspension, the penalties depend on your prior offenses in Troy, MO or elsewhere in Missouri:

• First DWI Offense: Results in a 90-day suspension, with eligibility for a Restricted Driving Privilege in the Troy, MO area after 30 days.
• Second DWI Offense: Comes with a 1-year revocation, or 5-year license denial if the previous offense was within 5 years.
• Chemical Test Refusal: Missouri’s implied consent law enforces a 1-year revocation, and you cannot apply for a hardship license for 90 days.

With such a low burden of proof—the state only needs to prove it’s more likely than not that you were intoxicated—facing this process alone is a serious risk. Losing your license can affect your job, daily responsibilities, and overall mobility in Troy, MO.

The Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyers have over 40 years of experience, successfully handling 10,000+ cases like yours in Troy, MO and across Missouri. Contact us right away to fight for your driving privileges and get the legal defense you need in Troy, MO.

Securing a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in Troy, MO

If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or denied, you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in Troy, MO. You will most likely need to have an SR-22 insurance form on file and an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed on your vehicle. If granted after 30 days following your 15-day administrative hearing period, the LDP allows you to drive in specific situations, such as:

• Attending a Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) or other treatment programs
• Visiting an IID provider for required maintenance or installation
• Commuting for work or business-related activities
• Seeking medical care
• Attending school or higher education programs
• Any other circumstance the court determines would cause undue hardship

If you need to restore limited driving privileges, consult a knowledgeable Troy, MO DWI lawyer now to help improve your chances of approval.

Why You Need a Troy, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Our Troy, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys can raise a variety of legal and procedural challenges in an administrative alcohol hearing, and the failure of the DOR to prove even one of the above elements can prevent your license suspension.

For a suspension to proceed, you must have been under arrest at the time of the breathalyzer or blood test, and that arrest must have been based on probable cause that you were operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. (This is why our Troy, MO DWI/DUI defense team suggests that you refuse these tests, along with any field sobriety test, as law enforcement only conducts these tests to establish probable cause.)

However, in the event that you did take the test(s), significant time gaps between the alleged driving and the first law enforcement encounter can make it difficult to establish intoxication at the time of driving. Missouri law mandates that all breath and blood tests adhere to strict state regulations, including:

• Machines must be serviced every 35 days
• Proper certification of the testing officer
• Use of state-approved testing machines
• Calibration and accuracy must meet legal standards
• Testing machine must function within state’s precise limits regarding temperature and accuracy

If any of these requirements were not met, we can challenge the BAC results, which could lead to the dismissal of your suspension. Our team of Troy, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.

Appealing the Decision of a Troy, MO DWI Administrative Hearing

If your license has been suspended or revoked, you have the right to challenge the DOR’s decision by filing an appeal in the Troy, MO circuit court within 15 days of the final ruling. This appeal must be submitted in the circuit court of the county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be officially notified of the appeal. Our Troy, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyers can handle the entire appeals process on your behalf to get the best possible outcome.

Once the appeal is filed, the case moves to a de novo hearing—meaning the Troy, MO circuit court will conduct an entirely new review of the evidence, without relying on the DOR’s previous decision. Unlike administrative hearings, circuit appeals allow live witness testimony, providing our Troy, MO DWI/DUI lawyers an opportunity to present a stronger defense for your case.

However, it’s important to understand that filing an appeal does not automatically delay your suspension or revocation. Your driving privileges may still be affected before the appeal hearing occurs, meaning you could be unable to drive until the court makes its ruling. If the court ultimately finds insufficient evidence to uphold the suspension, your license can be reinstated, but only after you have already served part of your suspension.

If you hire a Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyer in the Troy, MO area, you aren’t just selecting a leading DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Troy, MO and throughout Missouri – you are protecting your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with esteemed DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our staff is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for residents in Troy and beyond:

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney

Don’t Wait—Contact a Troy, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Right Away to Keep Your Driving Privileges

A DWI/DUI arrest in Troy, MO doesn’t just mean criminal charges—it puts your driver’s license at immediate risk. You have only 15 days to request a DWI administrative hearing, or else your license suspension or revocation will go into effect immediately—with no option to appeal. Act fast to get a Troy, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side to give yourself the best chance at keeping your driving privileges.

Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a no-obligation case review where we can get to work on a defense to get you the best possible outcome in Troy, MO.