DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Henry County, MO. A DWI/DUI arrest in Henry County, MO doesn’t just mean criminal charges—it also puts your driver’s license at immediate risk. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) automatically moves to suspend or revoke your license in Henry County, MO, but you have the right to fight back and tell your side of the story through an administrative hearing.
You have only 15 days following your arrest to request this hearing. Don’t wait—protect your license by contacting a Henry County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer at Combs Waterkotte now. Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our expert Henry County, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys who can fight for your driving privileges and build a strong defense for your case in Henry County, MO.
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 …
Understanding DWI Administrative Hearings in Henry County, MO
A DWI administrative hearing is not a criminal trial—it’s a civil proceeding that determines where your driver’s license will be suspended or revoked after a DWI arrest in Henry County, MO. If you don’t request this hearing, your suspension takes effect automatically, and you lose the chance to contest it.
During the hearing, key factors that will be reviewed include:
- Did the officer have reasonable suspicion to pull you over?
- Were you operating a vehicle while intoxicated?
- Did you refuse a breath or blood test?
Winning the hearing can mean keeping your license and avoiding additional penalties. If the DOR determines that the three above questions are affirmatively answered and proven by a preponderance of evidence, your license will be suspended or revoked based on any prior offenses or test refusal.
License Suspension & Revocation Penalties in Missouri
The outcome of an administrative hearing depends on your driving history in Henry County and across Missouri:
- First DWI/DUI Offense: A 90-day suspension applies, but you might qualify for a Restricted Driving Privilege in Henry County, MO after 30 days.
- Second-Time DWI/DUI Offense: Leads to a 1-year revocation period in Henry County, MO, or a 5-year license denial if the prior offense was within the past 5 years.
- Chemical Test Refusal: Triggers a 1-year revocation under Missouri’s implied consent law and makes you 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 Henry County, MO.
The Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing team has over 40 years of experience and has successfully handled more than 10,000 cases just like yours in the Henry County, MO area and across Missouri. Contact a skilled DWI administrative hearing lawyer in Henry County, MO now to discuss the specifics of your case and get expert legal advice and guidance on next steps.
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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 Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in Henry County, MO
If you’re facing a license suspension, revocation, or denial in Henry County, MO, you might still be able to legally drive under specific circumstances with a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP). Eligibility often requires filing an SR-22 insurance certificate and installing an Ignition Interlock Device (IID). Once approved, an LDP—available after 30 days from the administrative hearing period—may allow you to drive for:
- Employment, business, or occupation-related travel
- Medical appointments and treatment
- School or higher education attendance
- Substance abuse programs, such as Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP)
- IID installation or maintenance visits
- Any additional hardship reasons approved by the court
The LDP application process in Missouri can be complex, but working with an experienced Henry County, MO DWI attorney can help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible.
Henry County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Henry County and Missouri.
Why You Need a Henry County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer
Having a skilled DWI administrative hearing attorney in Henry County, MO can make the difference between keeping your license and facing a suspension. Our DWI/DUI defense lawyers know how to challenge procedural errors and legal flaws in your Henry County, MO case, and if the DOR fails to prove even one of the above required elements, your suspension can be overturned.
For a license suspension to be upheld, the arresting officer must have had probable cause to believe you were operating a vehicle while intoxicated at the time of your breathalyzer or blood test. (This is why the Combs Waterkotte Henry County, 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.)
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. Also, Missouri law mandates strict compliance with Department of Health and Senior Services regulations regarding breath and blood testing procedures. These regulations require that:
- Routine maintenance of testing devices every 35 days
- The operator collecting the sample be properly certified
- The machine used must be approved under state regulations
- Calibration samples meet specific regulatory standards
- Testing machine must function within state’s 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 Henry County, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.
How to Appeal a Henry County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Decision
A license suspension or revocation after a DWI administrative hearing is not necessarily final—you can appeal the DOR’s decision by filing an appeal in the Henry County, MO circuit court within 15 days of the ruling. This appeal must be submitted in the circuit court of the county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be officially served with notice of the appeal. A Henry County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer from Combs Waterkotte can guide you through the process and represent you in court to get the best possible outcome.
The appeal moves to a de novo hearing, where the Henry County, MO circuit court reviews all evidence from scratch rather than relying on the DOR’s original decision. Unlike the initial administrative hearing, circuit court appeals allow live witness testimony, giving our Henry County, MO DWI/DUI lawyers an opportunity to present a stronger, more detailed 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.
When you hire a Combs Waterkotte Henry County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer, you aren’t just selecting the ideal DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Henry County, MO and throughout Missouri – you are securing your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with esteemed DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our legal team is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for Henry County, MO residents:
Act Now—Speak with a Henry County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Today to Keep Your Driving Privileges
A DWI/DUI arrest in Henry 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 Henry County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side to give yourself the best chance at keeping your driving privileges.
Call Combs Waterkotte as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation case review. Our legal team is ready to start building a strong defense and fight for the best possible outcome for your case in Henry County, MO.
