DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Kennett, MO

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Kennett, MO. If you have been arrested for DWI/DUI near Kennett, 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 Kennett, 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 Kennett, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys before the deadline passes.

What is a DWI Administrative Hearing in Kennett, MO and Across Missouri?

A DWI administrative hearing is a separate civil process from your criminal case in Kennett, MO. This hearing determines whether the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) can legally suspend or revoke your driver’s license based on your arrest. If you fail to request a hearing, your license suspension will take effect automatically—without giving you a chance to challenge it.

During the hearing, key factors that will be reviewed include:

• Did law enforcement 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.

Missouri License Suspension & Revocation Consequences

If you’re facing a DWI administrative suspension, the penalties depend on your prior offenses in Kennett, MO or elsewhere in Missouri:

• First DWI Offense: A 90-day suspension applies, but you might qualify for a Restricted Driving Privilege in Kennett, MO after 30 days.
• Second DWI Offense: This means a 1-year license revocation and a possible 5-year license denial if your prior Kennett, MO DWI/DUI was within the last 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.

Since the burden of proof is minimal—just proving it’s more likely than not that you were intoxicated—navigating this hearing alone could jeopardize your license, job, and daily freedom in and around Kennett, 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 Kennett, MO area and across Missouri. Contact a skilled DWI administrative hearing lawyer in Kennett, MO now to discuss the specifics of your case and get expert legal advice and guidance on next steps.

How to Get a Hardship License (Limited Driving Privilege) in Kennett, MO

If you licenses has been suspended, revoked, or denied, you might qualify for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in Kennett, MO. To be eligible, you’ll likely need to file an SR-22 insurance form and install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on your vehicle. After 30 days from your 15-day administrative hearing period, an LDP may allow you to drive under specific conditions, like:

• 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 Kennett, MO DWI attorney can help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible.

Why You Need a Relentless DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer in Kennett, MO

Fighting a DWI license suspension in Kennett, MO requires legal experience and technical knowledge—our Kennett, 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.

A valid suspension requires that you were under arrest at the time of a breathalyzer or blood test and that the arresting officer had probable cause to believe you were intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle. (This is why our Kennett, 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, delays between the alleged driving and the first police encounter can weaken this argument, making it difficult to prove you were intoxicated while actually behind the wheel. Additionally, Missouri has strict regulations governing breath and blood testing procedures, including:

• Machines must be serviced every 35 days
• Testing officers must have valid certification
• The machine used must be approved under state regulations
• Calibration samples meet specific regulatory standards
• The machine functions within precise limits regarding temperature and accuracy

Failure to meet any of these requirements can render a BAC result inadmissible, providing a strong defense against license suspension. A comprehensive review of the testing equipment, maintenance records, and procedural compliance, done by our Kennett, MO experts, can uncover grounds to challenge the validity of the BAC reading.

Appealing the Decision of a Kennett, MO DWI Administrative Hearing

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 Kennett, 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 Kennett, 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.

Once the appeal is filed, the case moves to a de novo hearing—meaning the Kennett, 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 Kennett, MO DWI/DUI lawyers an opportunity to present a stronger defense for your case.

It is important to note though, that filing an appeal does not automatically pause your suspension or revocation. In fact, your penalty could go into effect before the appeal hearing occurs meaning you may not be able to drive until the Kennett, MO circuit court rules on your case. If the court ultimately determines that there was insufficient evidence for the suspension or revocation, your driving privileges may be reinstated but this ruling would come only after a period of restricted or suspended driving.

When you hire a Combs Waterkotte Kennett, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer, you’re not just choosing the ideal DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Kennett, MO and beyond – you’re securing your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with knowledgeable DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our legal team is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for residents in Kennett and beyond:

• Weapons Crime Attorney
• Violent Crime Lawyer

Act Now—Speak with a Kennett, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Today to Keep Your Driving Privileges

If you’ve been arrested for DWI/DUI in Kennett, MO, the clock is ticking on your right to fight for your license. Missing the 15-day deadline on an administrative hearing means automatic suspension or revocation with no way to appeal. You need a Kennett, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side right now to protect your driving privileges and fight for your future.

Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out 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 Kennett, MO.