Kennett, MO

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Kennett, MO. If you’ve been arrested for DWI/DUI in Kennett, 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.

Time is critical—you have just 15 days from your arrest to request a hearing. Don’t delay. Protect your driving privileges in Kennett, MO and beyond by calling a trusted DWI administrative hearing lawyer at Combs Waterkotte right away. Call (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation and let one of our experienced Kennett, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys build a powerful defense for your case.

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.

At the hearing, the following key elements are evaluated:

• Did the officer have reasonable grounds to pull you over?
• 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.

License Suspension & Revocation Penalties in Missouri

The outcome of an administrative hearing depends on your driving history in Kennett and across Missouri:

• First DWI/DUI Offense: Results in a 90-day suspension, with eligibility for a Restricted Driving Privilege in the Kennett, MO area 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.
• Chemical Test Refusal: 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 Kennett, MO.

The Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyers have over 40 years of experience, successfully handling 10,000+ cases like yours in Kennett, MO and across Missouri. Contact us right away to fight for your driving privileges and get the legal defense you need in Kennett, MO.

Securing a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in Kennett, MO

If you’re facing a license suspension, revocation, or denial in Kennett, 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:

• 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

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.

The Importance of Hiring a Kennett, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Our Kennett, 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 Kennett, 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, 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
• Proper certification of the testing officer
• Only state-approved testing devices may be used
• 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 Kennett, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.

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.

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 partner with a Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyer in or around Kennett, MO, you’re not just choosing a top-rated DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Kennett, MO and throughout Missouri – you’re securing your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. In addition to esteemed DWI administrative hearing attorneys, our legal team is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for Kennett, MO residents:

• Violent Crime Lawyer
• Drug Crimes Lawyer
• Gun Crime Lawyer
• Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
• Homicide Lawyer
• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer

Don’t Wait—Contact a Kennett, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Right Away to Keep Your Driving Privileges

A DWI/DUI arrest in Kennett, 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 immediate effect—with no option to appeal. Act fast to hire a Kennett, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer to give yourself the best chance at keeping your driving privileges.

Call Combs Waterkotte as soon as possible 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.