Criminal Defense Lawyer Polk County, MO. Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one such as a moving violation or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life permanently. Not only will your standing among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be facing significant penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. In addition, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the right Polk County criminal defense lawyer representing you in front of a judge can your charges being lowered, if not entirely dropped, and having to face these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal care and attention, who will develop a proven, successful defense strategy tailor-made for your unique circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Polk County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Polk County-area citizens from all walks of life who are facing criminal charges reduce the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Polk County. We are waiting 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 in your corner, give us a call at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
Polk County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Polk County and Missouri.
A Complete Polk County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The knowledgeable Polk County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide 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 going in your way and losing your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Polk County 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 Polk County, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to chat about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or anything else. Regardless of where you are, the time of day, or your present circumstances, you will have a dedicated line to your attorney to be a friendly listener in your time of need.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you are ever questioned by the police, you may think that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, 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 call a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Polk County 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 just passing through, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch what you say, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are looking for witnesses to begin with. A rookie or overzealous officer could see your statement the wrong way and consider you a person of interest. 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 leaves no doubt that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, it’s a good idea to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
- When police want you to sign paperwork. Police cannot compel you to do anything unless they have a genuine hunch that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and greatly curtails their ability to obtain search warrants or force you to grant access to personal information. But, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police request that you sign one of these papers, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legal reason to ask for them, automatically renders 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 obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Polk County, MO. If you are ever arrested by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, explain that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Polk County criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Polk County, MO
If there’s one thing that Polk County drivers do not want to see in their rear-view mirror, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all around Polk County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to keep roads safe, but sometimes as a secondary revenue stream (especially if the municipality you were pulled over in has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not levy property tax on homeowners).
Being written a traffic ticket in Polk County, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Polk County traffic ticket, you indirectly plead guilty to the charges you were accused of and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type 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 in general 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 facing increased penalties.
Many Polk County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Polk County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unmatched legal knowledge to all its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our exceptional Polk County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, allowing you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Polk County, MO and do not want it to affect your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your Polk County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Polk County, MO include:
Contact Experienced Polk County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, ranging from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Polk County, 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 talk with you at any time to help you defend yourself against criminal indictments and keep your hard-won reputation amongst your community.
