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DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Webster Groves, MO

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Last Updated: March 12, 2025

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Webster Groves, MO. If you have been arrested for DWI/DUI near Webster Groves, 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.

Time is critical—you have just 15 days from your arrest to request a hearing. Don’t delay. Protect your driving privileges in Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, MO DWI/DUI defense attorneys build a powerful defense for your case.


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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 …

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(Making Of) DWI Behind the Scenes Video – Bonus Footage

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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 …

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What Is the Process of Going to Court for a DWI?

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Long Term Consequences of a DWI

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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 …

What should you look for when hiring a DWI attorney?
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What should you look for when hiring a DWI attorney?

A drunk driving charge (DWI/DUI) doesn't have to wreck your bank account or cost you your driving license. Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss what you should look …

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What is an ignition interlock device and when is it required?

What is the purpose of the ignition interlock device, and when are you required to install one on your vehicle? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss what an ignition …

DWI Stop Advice - Always Have Your Paperwork Ready
Play video

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
Play video

(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)
Play 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?
Play video

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
Play video

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
Play video

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 …

What should you look for when hiring a DWI attorney?
Play video

What should you look for when hiring a DWI attorney?

A drunk driving charge (DWI/DUI) doesn't have to wreck your bank account or cost you your driving license. Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss what you should look …

What is an ignition interlock device and when is it required?
Play video

What is an ignition interlock device and when is it required?

What is the purpose of the ignition interlock device, and when are you required to install one on your vehicle? Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte of Combs Waterkotte discuss what an ignition …


DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer Webster Groves, MO | Webster Groves, MO DWI Law Firm | Combs Waterkotte

Webster Groves, MO DWI Administrative Hearings: What You Need to Know

A DWI administrative hearing is not a criminal trial—it’s a civil proceeding that determines where your driver’s license will be suspended or revoked after a DWI arrest in Webster Groves, MO. If you don’t request this hearing, your suspension takes effect automatically, and you lose the chance to contest it.

During the hearing, key factors that will be reviewed include:

  • Did law enforcement have reasonable grounds to pull you over?
  • 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.

License Suspension & Revocation Penalties in Missouri

The consequences of an administrative hearing suspension depend on your record in Webster Groves, MO and beyond:

  • First DWI/DUI Offense: Results in a 90-day suspension, with eligibility for a Restricted Driving Privilege in the Webster Groves, MO area after 30 days.
  • Second DWI Offense: Leads to a 1-year revocation period in Webster Groves, MO, or a 5-year license denial if the prior offense was within the past 5 years.
  • Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test: 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 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 Webster Groves, MO, and freedom to drive.

With 40+ years of experience and 10,000+ cases successfully handled in Webster Groves 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 Webster Groves, MO today to discuss your case and protect your driving future.

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Securing a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) in Webster Groves, MO

If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or denied, you may be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) in Webster Groves, 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:

  • Employment, business, or occupation-related travel
  • Medical appointments and treatment
  • School or higher education attendance
  • Substance abuse programs, such as Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP)
  • IID installation or maintenance visits
  • Any additional hardship reasons approved by the court

The LDP application process in Missouri can be complex, but working with an experienced Webster Groves, MO DWI attorney can help you regain your driving privileges as quickly as possible.

Why You Need a Webster Groves, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer

Our Webster Groves, 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 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 Webster Groves, 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, 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. Also, Missouri law mandates strict compliance with Department of Health and Senior Services regulations regarding breath and blood testing procedures. These regulations require that:

  • Testing machines be maintained every 35 days by a licensed technician
  • Testing officers must have valid certification
  • Use of state-approved testing machines
  • Calibration and accuracy must meet legal 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 Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, 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 in the Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, 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.

DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer in Webster Groves, MO | DWI Attorney Webster Groves, MO | Combs Waterkotte

If you partner with a Combs Waterkotte Webster Groves, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer, you aren’t just selecting a leading DWI administrative hearing lawyer lawyer in Webster Groves, MO and beyond – you’re protecting your license, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with knowledgeable DWI administrative hearing lawyers, our staff is available 24/7 and provides expertise in the following areas for residents in Webster Groves and beyond:

Time is Running Out—Get a Webster Groves, MO DWI Administrative Hearing Lawyer on Your Side to Keep Your Driving Privileges

A DWI/DUI arrest in Webster Groves, 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 Webster Groves, MO DWI administrative hearing lawyer on your side to give yourself the best chance at keeping your driving privileges.

Call Combs Waterkotte as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, 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 Webster Groves, MO.

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