Lee’s Summit, MO

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Lee’s Summit, MO. A DWI/DUI arrest in Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, MO, but you have the right to fight back and tell your side of the story 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 Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys before the deadline passes.

What is a DWI Administrative Hearing in Lee’s Summit, MO and Across Missouri?

A DWI administrative hearing is a separate civil process from your criminal case in Lee’s Summit, 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 stop you?
• 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 Lee’s Summit, MO or elsewhere in Missouri:

• First DWI/DUI Offense: A 90-day suspension applies, but you might qualify for a Restricted Driving Privilege in Lee’s Summit, MO after 30 days.
• Second DWI/DUI Offense: Leads to a 1-year revocation period in Lee’s Summit, MO, or a 5-year license denial if the prior offense was within the past 5 years.
• Refusing a Chemical Test: 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 Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, MO and across Missouri. Contact a skilled DWI administrative hearing lawyer in Lee’s Summit, MO now to discuss the specifics of your case and get expert legal advice and guidance on next steps.

How to Get a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in Lee’s Summit, MO

If you licenses has been suspended, revoked, or denied, you might qualify for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in Lee’s Summit, 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 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 Lee’s Summit, MO DWI lawyer now to help improve your chances of approval.

The Importance of Hiring a Lee’s Summit, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Having a skilled DWI administrative hearing attorney in Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, MO case, and if the DOR fails to prove even one of the above required elements, your suspension can be overturned.

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 Lee’s Summit, 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
• 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

If any of these procedures were not followed, your BAC results may be inadmissible, which can significantly strengthen your case. Our Lee’s Summit, 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.

How to Appeal a Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, MO circuit court within 15 days of the final ruling. This appeal must be filed in the circuit court of the Lee’s Summit, MO county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be formally served with notice of the appeal. A Combs Waterkotte Lee’s Summit, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer can handle filing this appeal for you and represent you to get the best possible outcome.

The appeal moves to a de novo hearing, where the Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, 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.

If you choose a Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyer in the Lee’s Summit, MO area, you’re not just hiring a leading DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Lee’s Summit, MO and throughout Missouri – you’re protecting your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. In addition to experienced DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our legal team is available 24/7 and offers expertise in the following areas for residents in Lee’s Summit and beyond:

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

Time is Running Out—Get a Lee’s Summit, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer on Your Side to Keep Your Driving Privileges

A DWI/DUI arrest in Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, 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 Lee’s Summit, MO DWI defense team is ready to fight for you and build a strong case to protect your future.