Criminal Defense Lawyer Hazelwood, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a small one such as a traffic ticket or DWI, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be looking at significant penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even time in jail. Also, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the ideal Hazelwood criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can be what separates your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the utmost in personal care and attention, who will plan out an intelligent, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your own circumstances, and do everything in their power to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Hazelwood-area citizens of all kinds who are facing 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 Hazelwood. We are eager 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, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
St. Louis County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in St. Louis County and Missouri.
A Full-Service Hazelwood, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse 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 being decided in your favor and losing your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Hazelwood 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 Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time, day or night, to discuss the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. No matter where you are, what time it is, 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 ever get in trouble with 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 give you any more trouble. However, this situation happens rarely, if ever, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to talk to an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Hazelwood defense lawyer is the right decision:
- When police “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s logical to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, 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, go over what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are murky and could make you a suspect, you should hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign something. Police cannot compel 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 limits their power to obtain search warrants or require you to grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes 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 want you to sign one of these papers, politely refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to gain access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically makes them admissible in court as evidence, so it is critical to know your rights at all times.
- When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most logical time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Hazelwood, MO. If you are ever taken into custody by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any interrogation without an attorney being present, and call a Hazelwood criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Hazelwood, MO
If there’s one thing that Hazelwood drivers do not like to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all over Hazelwood, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to punish reckless drivers, 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).
Being written a traffic ticket in Hazelwood, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a financial penalty. If you choose to pay your Hazelwood traffic ticket, you effectively plead guilty to the charges you were pulled over for 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 a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over again during this period you could be subject to harsher penalties.
An increasing number of Hazelwood drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Hazelwood traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to all its cases, even minor 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 affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to an irregularity in your stop. Most importantly, our top-notch Hazelwood traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to premier legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Hazelwood, MO and do not want it to hamper your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and begin the process of getting your Hazelwood traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Hazelwood, MO include:
Contact Experienced Hazelwood, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to serious felonies, talk to a seasoned Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to set up a free case review. Our firm is eager to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal accusations and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.
