DWI lawyer with payment plans in Franklin County, MO. When you’re hit with a DWI charge in Franklin County, MO, the stress isn’t just about court dates and possible penalties—it’s also about how you’ll afford a quality defense. At Combs Waterkotte, we know most people don’t plan for a DWI arrest. That’s why we believe top-tier defense should be financially within reach and offer reasonable, flexible payment plans for DWI cases across the Franklin County, MO area.
No one should feel forced to risk their future or “go it alone” because of upfront legal fees. With the respected Franklin County, MO DWI defense firm advocating for you—and payment arrangements tailored to your situation—you can aggressively contest the charges, safeguard your license and record, and move forward with confidence.
Call Combs Waterkotte right away at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an expert DWI lawyer with payment plans in Franklin County, MO. Our DWI defense team has over 60 years of combined experience and has successfully handled more than 10,000 cases just like yours in Franklin County and across Missouri.
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 …
Key Takeaways
This article explains how Combs Waterkotte helps clients facing DWI charges in Franklin County, MO secure high-level defense with payment plans that fit real-life budgets. It highlights the serious legal and license-related consequences of a DWI, the urgency of getting counsel involved early, and the ways flexible pricing can remove cost as a barrier to quality representation. You’ll also learn how our Franklin County, MO DWI defense attorneys attack weak evidence, challenge improper stops or testing, pursue options that protect your driving privileges, and guide you through the process with an aggressive, experienced, and client-centered approach—without adding unnecessary financial stress.
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
400+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 60 Years
Why Work With Combs Waterkotte for a DWI Defense—and a Payment Plan in Franklin County, MO?
Let’s be honest: a DWI charge doesn’t wait for you to “get your finances together.” It can threaten your license, your schedule, and your stability almost immediately—while fines and fees keep piling on. And for most people in Franklin County, MO, a criminal charge isn’t something they saved for. It hits in the middle of real life: bills, work, family, and everything else.
We get it—good people find themselves in bad situations. That’s exactly why Combs Waterkotte offers flexible options. Our Franklin County, MO DWI lawyers with payment plans make high-level defense accessible by providing:
- Lower initial payments for many first-time and repeat DWI cases in Franklin County, MO.
- Budget-friendly payment plans designed around real life—your paycheck schedule, your obligations, and the details of your charge.
- Easy ways to pay including major credit cards, debit cards, electronic payments, checks, money orders, and more.
- Transparent flat-fee pricing for most DWI matters, so you know the cost from the start—with weekly, biweekly, or monthly installments available instead of surprise hourly invoices.
And here’s what matters most: needing a payment plan never means getting a “payment-plan defense.” Our Franklin County, MO DWI defense lawyers still bring the same pressure, preparation, and trial readiness that wins cases. This isn’t a luxury purchase—it’s your record, your license, and your future. Combs Waterkotte fights like it.

Why You Need a Skilled Franklin County, MO DWI Lawyer—Fast
DWI charges in Franklin County and across Missouri move quickly. From driver’s license suspension deadlines to police reports and evidence preservation, the first few days are critical. Prosecutors jump into action immediately, and every decision you make during this time can dramatically affect your case.
A skilled Franklin County, MO DWI defense attorney steps in fast to:
- Take immediate action to protect your driver’s license
- Scrutinize breath and blood testing and field sobriety methods
- Uncover mistakes, rights violations, or weak evidence
- Negotiate for reduced penalties, treatment options, or case dismissal
- Prepare and fight aggressively at trial when necessary
But, most importantly, they protect your future. A DWI conviction in Franklin County, MO can follow you for life. With payment plans available, there is no reason to wait.
What’s at Stake in a DWI Case in the Franklin County, MO Area?
A DWI offense is not “just a ticket.” It’s a criminal case—and the consequences can hit every part of your life: your license, your job, your finances, and your future. Depending on the facts, penalties may include:
- Mandatory ignition interlock devices
- Higher insurance premiums
- Driver’s license suspension or revocation
- Possible jail time
- Major fines, fees, and costs
- Employment consequences
- A criminal record that can follow you for decades or life
Even the financial impact can be crushing. Working with a Franklin County, MO DWI defense lawyer with payment plans helps you fight the charge without putting your entire budget in jeopardy.
How Our Franklin County, MO DWI Defense Attorneys Fight for You
At Combs Waterkotte, no two DWI cases are treated the same. We take a tailored approach, building your defense around the exact facts of your Franklin County, MO arrest, your driving history, and what matters most to you moving forward.
Our DWI defense strategies often include:
- Scrutinizing whether the traffic stop was lawful
- Exposing flaws in breathalyzer and blood testing
- Analyzing police body cam footage for errors or inconsistencies
- Examining the officer’s training and certification
- Investigating improper testing procedures or equipment failures
- Negotiating strategically for reduced penalties or dismissal
We look at every angle and leave no stone unturned. You deserve a relentless defense—especially when your freedom, future, and finances are on the line.

Free book
Don’t “Blow” Your DWI/DUI Case: Key Mistakes to Avoid
Combs Waterkotte, Missouri and Southern Illinois’s leading DWI/DUI law firm, has handled over 10,000 cases successfully. This ebook guides you through the DWI/DUI defense process and helps you avoid key mistakes.
Facing a Franklin County, MO DWI charge? When you select a Combs Waterkotte Franklin County, MO DWI lawyer with payment plans, you’re not only partnering with a top-rated DWI attorney in Franklin County and throughout Missouri – you are protecting your financial situation, your rights, your freedom, and your future. Along with a knowledgeable DWI lawyer with payment plans, our legal team is available 24/7 and offers expertise in the following areas for residents in Franklin County and beyond:
What to Do Right Away After a DWI Arrest in Franklin County, MO
Here are the steps to follow if you’ve been arrested for DWI in the Franklin County, MO area:
Step 1: Stay Respectful and Don’t Fight the Officer on the Roadside
A DWI stop in or around Franklin County, MO, or anywhere else for that matter, is stressful, embarrassing, and scary—but getting angry or arguing with the officer will only make things worse. Anything you say or do can be written into the police report and used against you later. Stay as calm and polite as you can, keep your hands visible, follow basic instructions, and avoid making any sudden movements or emotional outbursts that could be misinterpreted as aggression or noncompliance.
Step 2: Assert Your Right to Stay Silent
Aside from providing basic identifying information (name, license, registration, and insurance), you do not have to answer investigative questions. When an officer asks, “How much did you drink?” or “Where are you coming from?”, they’re collecting statements to strengthen the case against you. A respectful response like, “I’m going to remain silent and I want to speak with a lawyer,” can protect you by limiting unnecessary admissions.
Step 3: Contact a DWI Lawyer With Payment Plans in Franklin County, MO Right Away
The most important step after a DWI arrest in the Franklin County, MO area is getting experienced legal help as quickly as possible. Early representation allows your lawyer to request videos and reports, challenge license suspensions, preserve evidence, and start negotiating with prosecutors before they lock into a harsh position. Call (314) 900-HELP or contact Combs Waterkotte immediately. Our Franklin County, MO DWI lawyers with payment plans make it possible to get high-level defense on your side without waiting for “better timing” or scrambling for one giant upfront fee. We’ll walk you through your options, explain your risks in plain English, and build a plan, for your case and for your budget, from day one.
Step 4: Don’t Assume “Tests” Are Designed to Be Fair
In Missouri, refusing certain tests can carry consequences, so you should understand what you’re being asked to do. Roadside field sobriety tests (walking the line, one-leg stand, etc.) are not legally required and are often used to justify an arrest—even when conditions are unfair, you’re nervous, or the environment makes “passing” unlikely. Portable roadside breath tests are also different from official station testing and can be unreliable. These tools are designed to strengthen the State’s case, not protect you. Our Franklin County, MO DWI lawyers generally recommend refusing tests, then letting your attorney evaluate whether any testing was done legally and correctly.
Step 5: Take Note of Deadlines for Your License
In Franklin County, MO DWI cases, there’s a tight window to fight the administrative suspension of your license—sometimes only a couple of weeks from the arrest date. Miss that deadline and your suspension can kick in automatically, even while the criminal case is still pending. Hold onto every document you were given and contact a Franklin County, MO DWI lawyer as soon as you’re released so the proper requests can be filed and your driving privileges protected.
Step 6: Write Down Everything You Remember in Franklin County, MO
The best time to capture details is right after the arrest. Write down everything you can remember: the reason given for the stop, exact locations, timestamps, what was said, when tests were offered, what you were instructed to do, and any factors that affected testing (footwear, injuries, nerves, uneven ground). Even “minor” details can reveal weaknesses in the State’s evidence. A written summary gives your Franklin County, MO DWI attorney a head start on building your defense.
Step 7: Follow All Bond Conditions and Court Dates
Missing a court date or violating bond conditions in Franklin County, MO can turn a bad situation into a worse one—new charges, a warrant, or stricter restrictions. Review your paperwork for your court date and any terms involving travel, alcohol, IID requirements, or check-ins, and follow them exactly. A Franklin County, MO DWI lawyer can help you stay organized, avoid missteps, and may be able to appear for certain settings to reduce disruption to your work and family.

Franklin County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Franklin County and Missouri.
Get Affordable, Aggressive Franklin County, MO DWI Representation Today — Call Combs Waterkotte
A DWI charge can feel like everything is crashing down at once—fear about the consequences, pressure from the system, and the added worry of how you’ll afford the legal help you need in Franklin County, MO. Combs Waterkotte is here to change that.
You can afford a top DWI lawyer in Franklin County, MO—because we make it possible.
Call (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We’ll break down what you’re facing, explain your options, discuss flexible payments, and start building your defense right away. Your future matters—and you shouldn’t have to face this alone.

