DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Ste. Genevieve County, MO. A DWI/DUI arrest in Ste. Genevieve County, 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 Ste. Genevieve County, MO, but you have the right to fight back and tell your side of the story 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 Ste. Genevieve County, 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 Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys build a powerful defense for your case.
Legal Videos
DWI Stop Advice – Always Have Your Paperwork Ready
DWI/DUI Stop Advice and Tips. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
(Making Of) DWI Behind the Scenes Video – Bonus Footage
Before we could shoot our behind-the-scenes video, there was… this. A quick glimpse at the setup, the laughs, and everything that didn’t quite make the final cut. While this is a fun video …
Behind the Scenes of a DWI/DUI Traffic Stop (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Missouri criminal defense and DWI attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
What Is the Process of Going to Court for a DWI?
What happens when you go to court for a DWI or DUI charge? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte outline what to expect when going to court for a DWI or DUI.
Long Term Consequences of a DWI
What are the long-term consequences of a DWI? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss the potential long-term consequences of a DWI or DUI conviction on your …
What to Do If You Are Pulled Over for DWI in Missouri
What actions should you take if you are pulled over for suspicion of a DWI in Missouri? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss how to handle the difficult situation of …
DWI Stop Advice – Always Have Your Paperwork Ready
DWI/DUI Stop Advice and Tips. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
(Making Of) DWI Behind the Scenes Video – Bonus Footage
Before we could shoot our behind-the-scenes video, there was… this. A quick glimpse at the setup, the laughs, and everything that didn’t quite make the final cut. While this is a fun video …
Behind the Scenes of a DWI/DUI Traffic Stop (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Missouri criminal defense and DWI attorneys Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte provide a real-time walkthrough of the proper actions to take—and crucial mistakes to avoid—during a DWI/DUI …
What Is the Process of Going to Court for a DWI?
What happens when you go to court for a DWI or DUI charge? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte outline what to expect when going to court for a DWI or DUI.
Long Term Consequences of a DWI
What are the long-term consequences of a DWI? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss the potential long-term consequences of a DWI or DUI conviction on your …
What to Do If You Are Pulled Over for DWI in Missouri
What actions should you take if you are pulled over for suspicion of a DWI in Missouri? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss how to handle the difficult situation of …
Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI Administrative Hearings: What You Need to Know
A DWI administrative hearing is a separate civil process from your criminal case in Ste. Genevieve 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.
During the hearing, the following elements are examined:
- Did law enforcement have reasonable suspicion 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 Ste. Genevieve County, MO or elsewhere in Missouri:
- First DWI Offense: A 90-day suspension applies, but you might qualify for a Restricted Driving Privilege in Ste. Genevieve County, MO after 30 days.
- Second DWI/DUI Offense: Leads to a 1-year revocation period in Ste. Genevieve County, 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 standard of proof—essentially the prosecution must show that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that you were intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle— trying to handle this hearing alone is a risk. These penalties can impact your employment, daily responsibilities in Ste. Genevieve County, MO, and freedom to drive.
With 40+ years of experience and 10,000+ cases successfully handled in Ste. Genevieve County 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 Ste. Genevieve County, MO today to discuss your case and protect your driving future.
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You have only 15 days to request an administrative hearing. Act quickly to protect your driver’s licenses.
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How to Get a Hardship License (Limited Driving Privilege) in Ste. Genevieve County, MO
If you’re facing a license suspension, revocation, or denial in Ste. Genevieve County, 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 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
If you need to restore limited driving privileges, consult a knowledgeable Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI lawyer as soon as possible to help improve your chances of approval.
Ste. Genevieve County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Ste. Genevieve County and Missouri.
Why You Need a Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer
Our Ste. Genevieve County, 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 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 our Ste. Genevieve County, 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, 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:
- Testing machines be maintained every 35 days by a licensed technician
- Testing officers must have valid certification
- Only state-approved testing devices may be used
- Strict calibration and accuracy 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 Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.
Appealing the Decision of a Ste. Genevieve County, 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 Ste. Genevieve County, 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 Ste. Genevieve County, 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 Ste. Genevieve County, 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 Ste. Genevieve County, 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 choose a Combs Waterkotte Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer, you’re not just choosing the ideal DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Ste. Genevieve County, MO and beyond – you’re protecting your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with experienced DWI administrative hearing attorneys, our staff is available 24/7 and offers expertise in the following areas for residents in Ste. Genevieve County and beyond:
Act Now—Speak with a Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Today to Keep Your Driving Privileges
A DWI/DUI arrest in Ste. Genevieve 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 effect immediately—with no option to appeal. Act fast to get a Ste. Genevieve County, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side 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 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 Ste. Genevieve County, MO.
