DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Audrain County, MO. If you have been arrested for DWI/DUI near Audrain County, MO, you’re facing more than just criminal charges—you’re also at risk of losing your driver’s license. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) initiates an automatic suspension or revocation of your license following a DWI arrest, but you have the right to challenge this action through an administrative hearing.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. You have only 15 days after your arrest to request this hearing. A Combs Waterkotte Audrain County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer can fight for your right to drive and build a strategic defense for your case. Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free consultation with one of our expert Audrain County, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys before the deadline passes.
Legal Videos
DWI Stop Advice – Always Have Your Paperwork Ready
DWI/DUI Stop Advice and Tips. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
(Making Of) DWI Behind the Scenes Video – Bonus Footage
Before we could shoot our behind-the-scenes video, there was… this. A quick glimpse at the setup, the laughs, and everything that didn’t quite make the final cut. While this is a fun video …
Behind the Scenes of a DWI/DUI Traffic Stop (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Missouri criminal defense and DWI attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
What Is the Process of Going to Court for a DWI?
What happens when you go to court for a DWI or DUI charge? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte outline what to expect when going to court for a DWI or DUI.
Long Term Consequences of a DWI
What are the long-term consequences of a DWI? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss the potential long-term consequences of a DWI or DUI conviction on your …
What to Do If You Are Pulled Over for DWI in Missouri
What actions should you take if you are pulled over for suspicion of a DWI in Missouri? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss how to handle the difficult situation of …
DWI Stop Advice – Always Have Your Paperwork Ready
DWI/DUI Stop Advice and Tips. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
(Making Of) DWI Behind the Scenes Video – Bonus Footage
Before we could shoot our behind-the-scenes video, there was… this. A quick glimpse at the setup, the laughs, and everything that didn’t quite make the final cut. While this is a fun video …
Behind the Scenes of a DWI/DUI Traffic Stop (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Missouri criminal defense and DWI attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
What Is the Process of Going to Court for a DWI?
What happens when you go to court for a DWI or DUI charge? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte outline what to expect when going to court for a DWI or DUI.
Long Term Consequences of a DWI
What are the long-term consequences of a DWI? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss the potential long-term consequences of a DWI or DUI conviction on your …
What to Do If You Are Pulled Over for DWI in Missouri
What actions should you take if you are pulled over for suspicion of a DWI in Missouri? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss how to handle the difficult situation of …
Audrain County, MO DWI Administrative Hearings: What You Need to Know
A DWI administrative hearing is a civil proceeding separate from your criminal DWI case in Audrain County, MO. It determines whether the state has the right to suspend or revoke your driver’s license based on the circumstances of your arrest. If you don’t request this hearing within 15 days from your arrest date, your suspension goes into effect automatically without hearing your side.
During the hearing, key factors that will be reviewed include:
- Did the officer have reasonable grounds to stop you?
- Were you operating a vehicle while intoxicated?
- Did you refuse a breath or blood test?
A successful hearing outcome could mean keeping your license and avoiding further penalties. However, if the DOR finds that all elements are met and supported by a preponderance of evidence, your license will be suspended or revoked, depending on prior offenses or test refusals.
Missouri License Suspension & Revocation Consequences
If you’re facing a DWI administrative suspension, the penalties depend on your prior offenses in Audrain County, MO or elsewhere in Missouri:
- First-Time DWI/DUI Offense: A 90-day suspension applies, but you might qualify for a Restricted Driving Privilege in Audrain County, MO after 30 days.
- Second DWI Offense: Comes with a 1-year revocation, or 5-year license denial if the previous offense was within 5 years.
- Refusing a Chemical Test: Missouri’s implied consent law enforces a 1-year revocation, and you cannot apply for a hardship license for 90 days.
With such a low burden of proof—the state only needs to prove it’s more likely than not that you were intoxicated—facing this process alone is a serious risk. Losing your license can affect your job, daily responsibilities, and overall mobility in Audrain County, MO.
With 40+ years of experience and 10,000+ cases successfully handled in Audrain County and across Missouri, the Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing team is ready to fight for your rights. Reach out to a skilled DWI administrative hearing lawyer in Audrain County, MO today to discuss your case and protect your driving future.
-
Protect Your License
![Image]()
Protect Your License
You have only 15 days to request an administrative hearing. Act quickly to protect your driver’s licenses.
Reach Out Now
-
Know Your Next Steps
![Image]()
Know Your Next Steps
Wondering what happens after your DWI/DUI arrest? The experienced Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.
Stay Informed
-
Get Started Now
![Image]()
Ready to Talk to an Expert?
Contact the skilled Combs Waterkotte DWI/DUI lawyers now at (314) 900-HELP to get started on your defense.
Get Started
Securing a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in Audrain County, MO
If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or denied, you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in Audrain County, MO. You will most likely need to have an SR-22 insurance form on file and an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed on your vehicle. If granted after 30 days following your 15-day administrative hearing period, the LDP allows you to drive in specific situations, such as:
- Attending Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) or other alcohol- or drug-treatment programs
- Seeking the required services of a certified IID provider
- A business, occupation, or employment
- Seeking medical treatment
- Attending school or other institution of higher education
- Any other circumstance the court finds would create an undue hardship
The LDP application process in Missouri can be complex, but working with an experienced Audrain County, MO DWI attorney can help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible.
Audrain County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Audrain County and Missouri.
The Importance of Hiring a Audrain County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer
Fighting a DWI license suspension in Audrain County, MO requires legal experience and technical knowledge—our Audrain County, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys have both. The DOR must prove specific legal elements to suspend your license, and if they fail to do so, you can keep your driving privileges.
For a suspension to proceed, you must have been under arrest at the time of the breathalyzer or blood test, and that arrest must have been based on probable cause that you were operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. (This is why our Audrain County, MO DWI/DUI defense team suggests that you refuse these tests, along with any field sobriety test, as law enforcement only conducts these tests to establish probable cause.)
However, in the event that you did take the test(s), significant time gaps between the alleged driving and the first law enforcement encounter can make it difficult to establish intoxication at the time of driving. Missouri law mandates that all breath and blood tests adhere to strict state regulations, including:
- Routine maintenance of testing devices every 35 days
- Proper certification of the testing officer
- Only state-approved testing devices may be used
- Strict calibration and accuracy standards
- The machine functions within precise limits regarding temperature and accuracy
If any of these procedures were not followed, your BAC results may be inadmissible, which can significantly strengthen your case. Our Audrain County, MO legal team conducts thorough investigations into testing equipment, maintenance records, and law enforcement procedures to find potential grounds for dismissing or reducing your suspension.
Appealing the Decision of a Audrain County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing
If your license has been suspended or revoked, you have the right to challenge the DOR’s decision by filing an appeal in the Audrain County, MO circuit court within 15 days of the final ruling. This appeal must be submitted in the circuit court of the county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be officially notified of the appeal. Our Audrain County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyers can handle the entire appeals process on your behalf to get the best possible outcome.
Once it’s filed, the case moves to a de novo hearing, where the Audrain County, MO circuit court will conduct a fresh review of the evidence without relying on or deferring to the DOR’s previous decision. And, unlike in an administrative hearing, circuit court appeals often allow live witness testimony providing our Audrain County, MO DWI/DUI attorneys to present a stronger defense.
Keep in mind that filing an appeal does not automatically stop your suspension or revocation. Your license penalty could take effect before the court hears your case, meaning you may be unable to drive while waiting for a ruling. If the circuit court determines that the DOR lacked sufficient evidence to suspend your license, your driving privileges may be restored, but only after serving part of your suspension.
If you choose a Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyer in the Audrain County, MO area, you aren’t just hiring the ideal DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Audrain County, MO and beyond – you’re safeguarding your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. In addition to knowledgeable DWI administrative hearing attorneys, our legal team is available 24/7 and offers expertise in the following areas for residents in Audrain County and beyond:
Act Now—Speak with a Audrain County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Today to Keep Your Driving Privileges
A DWI/DUI arrest in Audrain County, MO doesn’t just mean criminal charges—it puts your driver’s license at immediate risk. You have only 15 days to request a DWI administrative hearing, or else your license suspension or revocation will go into effect immediately—with no option to appeal. Act fast to get a Audrain County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side to give yourself the best chance at keeping your driving privileges.
Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a no-obligation case review where we can get to work on a defense to get you the best possible outcome in Audrain County, MO.
