Criminal Defense Lawyer Columbia, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Columbia, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life forever. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties varying from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Furthermore, 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 correct Columbia criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being reduced, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal attention and care, who will map out a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your own situation, and do all that they can to minimize—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Columbia-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unrivalled among criminal defense lawyers in Columbia. We are ready to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-obligation initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte to work for you, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.

A Complete Columbia, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The knowledgeable Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a extensive array of case types and criminal charges, such as:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Choosing the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Columbia criminal defense lawyers, our firm places total client satisfaction at the center of our practice. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can be assured that you can call your Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct line to your attorney to lend an ear 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 what they want to hear, you will be fine and they will not hassle you further. However, this is not always the case, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to call a veteran St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not believe you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the result of your case. Here are a few instances where calling a Columbia defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and were in no way involved it, it’s logical 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 talking to you in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and consider you a prime suspect. If police want your eyewitness account, ask them if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you fit into the situation, and make sure what you tell the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious and could make you a suspect, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights.
• When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot order you to do anything unless they have a genuine hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their ability to get search warrants or make you grant access to personal information. However, police will occasionally ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely decline and request to speak with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to request them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is crucial 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 Columbia, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any interrogation without a lawyer in the room, and call a Columbia criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Columbia, MO

If there’s one thing that Columbia drivers do not like to see behind them, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Columbia, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Getting a traffic ticket in Columbia, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you elect to pay your Columbia traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the degree of your offense, you could be looking at a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will dramatically increase. Tickets generally cannot be removed from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, meaning that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be looking at increased penalties.

A growing number of Columbia drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Columbia traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal intelligence to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, are removed from your record or influence insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our exceptional Columbia 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 issued a traffic ticket in Columbia, 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 Columbia traffic ticket.

Other cases we take on in Columbia, MO include:

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney
• DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Contact Seasoned Columbia, 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 seasoned Columbia, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free case review. Our firm is here to chat with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst friends and in the community.