DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer California, MO. If you’ve been arrested for DWI/DUI in California, MO, your ability to drive is at stake. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) will automatically suspend or revoke your license, but you have a limited window 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 California, 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 California, 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 …
What is a DWI Administrative Hearing in California, MO and Across Missouri?
A DWI administrative hearing is a civil proceeding separate from your criminal DWI case in California, 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, the following elements are examined:
- Did the officer have reasonable suspicion to stop you?
- Were you operating a vehicle while intoxicated?
- Did you refuse a breath or blood test?
Winning your hearing means you keep your license and avoid further consequences. However, if the DOR determines that these elements are proven by a preponderance of evidence, your license suspension or revocation will be enforced according to state laws and prior offenses.
Understanding Missouri’s License Suspension & Revocation Penalties
The outcome of an administrative hearing depends on your driving history in California and across Missouri:
- First DWI/DUI Offense: A 90-day suspension applies, but you might qualify for a Restricted Driving Privilege in California, MO after 30 days.
- Second DWI/DUI Offense: This means a 1-year license revocation and a possible 5-year license denial if your prior California, MO DWI/DUI was within the last 5 years.
- Refusing a Chemical Test: This results in a 1-year licence revocation under Missouri’s implied consent law, and means you are ineligible 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 California, MO.
With 40+ years of experience and 10,000+ cases successfully handled in California 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 California, MO today to discuss your case and protect your driving future.
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Protect Your License
You have only 15 days to request an administrative hearing. Act quickly to protect your driver’s licenses.
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Know Your Next Steps
Wondering what happens after your DWI/DUI arrest? The experienced Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.
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Contact the skilled Combs Waterkotte DWI/DUI lawyers now at (314) 900-HELP to get started on your defense.
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How to Get a Hardship License (Limited Driving Privilege) in California, MO
If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or denied, you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in California, 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 a Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) or other treatment programs
- Visiting an IID provider for required maintenance or installation
- Commuting for work or business-related activities
- Seeking medical care
- Attending school or higher education programs
- Any other circumstance the court determines would cause undue hardship
If you need to restore limited driving privileges, consult a knowledgeable California, MO DWI lawyer now to help improve your chances of approval.
Moniteau County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Moniteau County and Missouri.
The Importance of Hiring a California, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer
Our California, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys can raise a variety of legal and procedural challenges in an administrative alcohol hearing, and the failure of the DOR to prove even one of the above elements can prevent your license suspension.
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 the Combs Waterkotte California, MO DWI/DUI defense team suggests that you refuse these tests, along with any field sobriety test, as officers only conduct these tests to establish probable cause.)
Our attorneys closely examine the details of your arrest and testing procedures, looking for flaws such as time gaps between driving and law enforcement contact. 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
- The machine used must be approved under state regulations
- Strict calibration and accuracy standards
- The machine functions within precise limits regarding temperature and accuracy
If any of these requirements were not met, we can challenge the BAC results, which could lead to the dismissal of your suspension. Our team of California, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.
How to Appeal a California, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Decision
If your license has been suspended or revoked, you have the right to challenge the DOR’s decision by filing an appeal with the California, MO circuit court within 15 days of the final ruling. This appeal must be filed in the circuit court of the California, MO county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be formally served with notice of the appeal. A Combs Waterkotte California, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer can handle filing this appeal for you and represent you to get the best possible outcome.
Once the appeal is filed, the case moves to a de novo hearing—meaning the California, MO circuit court will conduct an entirely new review of the evidence, without relying on the DOR’s previous decision. Unlike administrative hearings, circuit appeals allow live witness testimony, providing our California, MO DWI/DUI lawyers an opportunity to present a stronger defense for your case.
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.
When you choose a Combs Waterkotte California, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer, you aren’t just hiring a top-rated DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in California, MO and beyond – you are safeguarding your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with experienced DWI administrative hearing attorneys, our legal team is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for residents in California and beyond:
Act Now—Speak with a California, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Today to Keep Your Driving Privileges
A DWI/DUI arrest in California, 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 California, 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 free case review. Our California, MO DWI defense team is ready to fight for you and build a strong case to protect your future.
