Criminal Defense Lawyer Smithville, MO. Being arrested and accused of a crime, even a seemingly insignificant one such as a traffic ticket or driving while intoxicated, can alter someone’s life for good. Not only will your standing among colleagues, friends, and family be permanently changed, if found guilty you will be subject to significant penalties varying from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time in jail. In addition, if your charges are felonies, if you are convicted your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.
Having the ideal Smithville criminal defense lawyer representing you in the courtoroom can make the difference between your charges being lowered, if not completely dropped, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the best in personal care and attention, who will plan out a smart, winning defense strategy tailor-made for your distinct situation, and do all that they can to reduce—or even do away with—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.
The experienced Smithville, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to assist Smithville-area citizens from all walks of life who are looking at criminal charges minimize the effect they have on their reputation, freedoms, and lives. Our standard of providing successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Smithville. We are eager to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-strings-attached initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch with us online today.
Platte County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Platte County and Missouri.
A Complete Smithville, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer
The experienced Smithville, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte take a diverse 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 favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. Unlike other Smithville 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 Smithville, MO criminal defense lawyer 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case, legal strategy, 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 listen and understand you in your time of need.
When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you ever get in trouble with 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 give you any more trouble. However, this is a rare occurrence, 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 call a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could vastly improve the outcome of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Smithville defense lawyer is the right move to make:
- When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were near a crime scene and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine 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 looking for witnesses in the first place. An inexperienced or overzealous officer could read your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your witness statement, request 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 an innocent bystander. If the facts of your case are less obvious 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 provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily curtails their power to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. However, police will sometimes ask you to sign “releases”, which allow 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 forms, politely decline and request to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to obtain access to these records, even if they did not have a good reason to ask for them, automatically renders them admissible in court as evidence, so it is key 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 Smithville, 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 questions without an attorney being present, and call a Smithville criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.
Fixing Traffic Tickets In Smithville, MO
If there’s one thing that Smithville drivers do not like to see on their rear bumper, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Smithville, MO know that local municipal law enforcement uses traffic tickets not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).
Being given a traffic ticket in Smithville, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Smithville traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could be looking at 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, meaning that if you are pulled over another time during this period you could be facing increased penalties.
More and more Smithville drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Smithville traffic ticket lawyer, and with good reason. Combs Waterkotte brings unparalleled legal knowledge to all its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works non-stop to make sure that the charges on your traffic ticket are brought down to non-moving violations (which, once paid, do not stay on your record or affect insurance rates) or have your ticket dismissed due to police error. Most importantly, our top-notch Smithville traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value, giving you access to first-rate legal services at a price you can afford If you have recently been issued a traffic ticket in Smithville, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your Smithville traffic ticket fixed.
Other cases we take on in Smithville, MO include:
Contact Seasoned Smithville, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte
When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for failing to properly signal to grave felonies, talk to a knowledgeable Smithville, 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 charges and keep your hard-earned reputation amongst your community.
