Criminal Defense Lawyer Ralls County, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can change someone’s life for good. Not only will your reputation among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently affected, if found guilty you will be looking at substantial penalties ranging from fines to time spent performing community service to even jail time. Also, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily restricted, including a prohibition on voting or owning a firearm.
Having the right Ralls County criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being reduced, if not entirely eliminated, and having to suffer these punishments. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal attention and care, who will plan out a proven, successful defense strategy made especially for your own circumstances, and do everything in their power to minimize—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Ralls County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Ralls County-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their lives, reputations, and freedom. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unmatched among criminal defense lawyers in Ralls County. 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, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.
Ralls County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Ralls County and Missouri.
A Complete Ralls County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The skilled Ralls County, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a wide array 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 make the difference between your case going in your way and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Ralls County criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest easy knowing that you can contact your Ralls County, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, or any other topic. No matter where you are, the time of day, or your current situation, 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 think 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 talk to a trusted St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.
It is entirely possible that you may not think that it is necessary to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the circumstances of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Ralls County defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s safe 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 to begin with. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could read 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 talk to an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you say to the police emphasizes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious 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 order you to do anything unless they have a genuine suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution grants you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily sanctions their power to get 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 tests or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your bloodstream. If the police want you to sign one of these documents, politely refuse and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily allowing the police to gain 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 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 Ralls County, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, tell them that you do not want to answer any inquiries without a lawyer by your side, and call a Ralls County criminal defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Ralls County, MO
If there’s one thing that Ralls County drivers do not want to see on their rear bumper, it’s the unmistakable sight of police sirens pulling them over for a moving violation. Motorists all around Ralls County, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as additional revenue sources (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a declining property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Getting a traffic ticket in Ralls County, MO isn’t just a pain, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Ralls County 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 drastically increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for at least three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at increased penalties.
Many Ralls County drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Ralls County traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even small moving violations. Our firm works without rest to make sure 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 rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Best of all, our top-notch Ralls County traffic ticket lawyer services come at an excellent value: just $49.99 for most cases, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been written a traffic ticket in Ralls 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 Ralls County traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Ralls County, MO include:
Contact Trusted Ralls County, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been charged with a crime, from a simple traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to substantial felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Ralls 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 eager to talk with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst family and friends.
