DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Lewis County, MO

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

You have only 15 days following your arrest to request this hearing. Don’t wait—protect your license by contacting a Lewis 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 Lewis County, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys who can fight for your driving privileges and build a strong defense for your case in Lewis County, MO.

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

A DWI administrative hearing is a separate civil process from your criminal case in Lewis County, 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 law enforcement have reasonable suspicion to pull you over?
• Were you driving 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 consequences of an administrative hearing suspension depend on your record in Lewis County, MO and beyond:

• First DWI Offense: Results in a 90-day suspension, with eligibility for a Restricted Driving Privilege in the Lewis County, MO area after 30 days.
• Second DWI/DUI Offense: This means a 1-year license revocation and a possible 5-year license denial if your prior Lewis County, MO DWI/DUI was within the last 5 years.
• Chemical Test Refusal: Missouri’s implied consent law enforces a 1-year revocation, and you cannot apply 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County, MO area and across Missouri. Contact a skilled DWI administrative hearing lawyer in Lewis County, MO now to discuss the specifics of your case and get expert legal advice and guidance on next steps.

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

If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or denied, you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in Lewis County, 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 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 Lewis County, MO DWI attorney can help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible.

The Importance of Hiring a Lewis County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

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

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 the Combs Waterkotte Lewis 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. Missouri law mandates that all breath and blood tests adhere to strict state regulations, including:

• Machines must be serviced every 35 days
• The operator collecting the sample be properly certified
• Use of state-approved testing machines
• Calibration and accuracy must meet legal standards
• Testing machine must function within state’s 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 Lewis County, 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.

Appealing a Missouri DWI Administrative Hearing

If your license has been suspended or revoked, you have the right to challenge the DOR’s decision by filing an appeal in the Lewis County, MO circuit court within 15 days of the final ruling. This appeal must be submitted in the circuit court of the county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be officially notified of the appeal. Our Lewis County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyers can handle the entire appeals process on your behalf to get the best possible outcome.

Once it’s filed, the case moves to a de novo hearing, where the Lewis County, MO circuit court will conduct a fresh review of the evidence without relying on or deferring to the DOR’s previous decision. And, unlike in an administrative hearing, circuit court appeals often allow live witness testimony providing our Lewis County, MO DWI/DUI attorneys to present a stronger defense.

However, it’s important to understand that filing an appeal does not automatically delay your suspension or revocation. Your driving privileges may still be affected before the appeal hearing occurs, meaning you could be unable to drive until the court makes its ruling. If the court ultimately finds insufficient evidence to uphold the suspension, your license can be reinstated, but only after you have already served part of your suspension.

If you choose a Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyer in or around Lewis County, MO, you aren’t just selecting the ideal DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Lewis County, MO and beyond – you’re protecting your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. In addition to knowledgeable DWI administrative hearing attorneys, our staff is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for Lewis County, MO residents:

• Drivers License Reinstatement Attorney
• Careless Imprudent Driving Attorneys
• Weapons Crime Attorney

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

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

Call Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, no-obligation case review. Our Lewis County, MO DWI defense team is ready to fight for you and build a strong case to protect your future.