University City, MO

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer University City, MO. A DWI/DUI arrest in University City, 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 University City, 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 University City, 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 University City, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys before the deadline passes.

University City, MO DWI Administrative Hearings: What You Need to Know

A DWI administrative hearing is a separate civil process from your criminal case in University City, 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, key factors that will be reviewed include:

• Did the officer have reasonable grounds to stop you?
• Were you driving while impaired?
• 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.

Understanding Missouri’s License Suspension & Revocation Penalties

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

• First DWI/DUI Offense: This results in a 90-day license suspension and you could be eligible for a Restricted Driving Privilege in University City after 30 days.
• Second DWI Offense: Leads to a 1-year revocation period in University City, MO, or a 5-year license denial if the prior offense was within the past 5 years.
• Chemical Test Refusal: 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 University City, MO.

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

How to Get a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in University City, MO

If you’re facing a license suspension, revocation, or denial in University City, 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 University City, MO DWI attorney can help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible.

Why You Need a University City, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Fighting a DWI license suspension in University City, MO requires legal experience and technical knowledge—our University City, 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 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 University City, 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. Also, Missouri law mandates strict compliance with Department of Health and Senior Services regulations regarding breath and blood testing procedures. These regulations require that:

• Machines must be serviced every 35 days
• Proper certification of the testing officer
• The machine used must be approved under state regulations
• Strict calibration and accuracy 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 University City, MO DWI experts has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Missouri keep their licenses.

How to Appeal a University City, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Decision

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 University City, 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 University City, 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.

The appeal moves to a de novo hearing, where the University City, 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 University City, MO DWI/DUI lawyers an opportunity to present a stronger, more detailed defense.

It is important to note though, that filing an appeal does not automatically pause your suspension or revocation. In fact, your penalty could go into effect before the appeal hearing occurs meaning you may not be able to drive until the University City, MO circuit court rules on your case. If the court ultimately determines that there was insufficient evidence for the suspension or revocation, your driving privileges may be reinstated but this ruling would come only after a period of restricted or suspended driving.

If you choose a Combs Waterkotte DWI administrative hearing lawyer in or around University City, MO, you’re not just hiring a top-rated DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in and around University City, MO – you’re protecting your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with knowledgeable DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our legal team is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for University City, MO residents:

• 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 University City, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer on Your Side to Keep Your Driving Privileges

A DWI/DUI arrest in University City, 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 University City, 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 free case review. Our University City, MO DWI defense team is ready to fight for you and build a strong case to protect your future.