New London, MO

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

Understanding DWI Administrative Hearings in New London, MO

A DWI administrative hearing is a separate civil process from your criminal case in New London, 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.

Missouri License Suspension & Revocation Consequences

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

• First DWI/DUI Offense: Results in a 90-day suspension, with eligibility for a Restricted Driving Privilege in the New London, MO area after 30 days.
• Second-Time DWI/DUI Offense: Comes with a 1-year revocation, or 5-year license denial if the previous offense was within 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.

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 New London, MO.

With 40+ years of experience and 10,000+ cases successfully handled in New London and across Missouri, the Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing team is ready to fight for your rights. Reach out to a skilled DWI administrative hearing lawyer in New London, MO today to discuss your case and protect your driving future.

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

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

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

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

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 New London, 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:

• Routine maintenance of testing devices every 35 days
• Proper certification of the testing officer
• Use of state-approved testing machines
• Calibration samples meet specific regulatory standards
• The machine functions within 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 New London, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.

Appealing the Decision of a New London, MO 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 with the New London, MO circuit court within 15 days of the final ruling. This appeal must be filed in the circuit court of the New London, MO county where your arrest occurred, and the DOR must be formally served with notice of the appeal. A Combs Waterkotte New London, 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 New London, 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 New London, MO DWI/DUI lawyers an opportunity to present a stronger, more detailed 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.

When you choose a Combs Waterkotte New London, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer, you’re not just choosing a leading DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in New London, MO and throughout Missouri – you’re securing your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with esteemed DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our staff is available 24/7 and offers expertise in the following areas for residents in New London and beyond:

• 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 New London, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Right Away to Keep Your Driving Privileges

If you’ve been arrested for DWI/DUI in New London, 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 New London, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side right now to protect your driving privileges and fight for your future.

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