DUI & DWI Lawyer in St. Louis, MO

Representing Drivers Across Chesterfield, St. Charles & St. Louis, MO

If you were pulled over for suspected drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs, you may face DWI (driving while intoxicated) charges in Missouri. Also referred to as DUI (driving under the influence) in other states, DWI is a serious charge that can affect your ability to drive, financial stability, and freedom. Contact legal counsel immediately if you have been arrested for DWI or DUI.

At Cavanagh & Associates, we provide aggressive, experienced DWI defense counsel to clients across St. Charles, St. Louis, Chesterfield, and the surrounding areas. Although DWI is one of the most commonly charged crimes, it can carry severe and lasting consequences. Legal counsel can examine the evidence, explain the proceedings, and build a defense responsive to the allegations.

Clients work directly with Attorney Jack Cavanagh rather than a paralegal. His background as a former prosecutor informs the personal attention he gives each DWI case.

Call St. Louis DWI attorney Jack Cavanagh at (314) 309-2799 to discuss your defense.

License Suspension & DWI

What happens to my license if I am arrested for DWI? The answer depends on factors specific to your case. A St. Louis DWI lawyer can evaluate the circumstances and explain the proceedings you face.

Many people are unaware that if you’re arrested for DWI or DUI, you face two potential cases:

• A criminal case against you filed by the prosecuting attorney’s office in the jurisdiction where the offense occurred; and
• A civil case against your license filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue.

The criminal charge and the administrative case involving your license are decided independently. We represent clients in both proceedings, addressing the allegations filed by the prosecuting attorney and the separate action involving the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Missouri Administrative Hearing Deadline

A written request for a Missouri Department of Revenue administrative hearing must be received or postmarked within 15 days of the Notice of Suspension or Revocation of Driving Privilege. You or your attorney of record may submit the request. If the deadline passes without a hearing request, the suspension or revocation takes effect automatically.

When an administrative hearing is granted, you may continue driving legally until 15 days after the hearing decision is mailed. Prompt action preserves the opportunity to challenge the administrative action while the criminal case proceeds separately.

Is a DUI/DWI a Felony in Missouri?

A first DWI offense in Missouri is a class B misdemeanor. A DWI becomes a class A misdemeanor when the defendant is a prior offender or when a person under 17 was in the vehicle.

Missouri’s DWI classifications become more serious based on prior offenses and other statutory factors:

• Persistent offender: A class E felony.
• Aggravated offender: A class D felony.
• Chronic or habitual offender: A class C, class B, or class A felony, depending on the applicable classification.

A first-offense conviction requires at least two years of probation before a suspended imposition of sentence may be granted. If a first offense involves a BAC, or blood alcohol concentration, greater than twenty-hundredths of one percent, Missouri law imposes a minimum five-day term of imprisonment.

Minimum imprisonment before parole or probation eligibility also increases with offender status. The minimum is 10 days for a prior offender, 30 days for a persistent offender, 60 days for an aggravated offender, and two years for chronic or habitual offenders.

Protecting Your Freedom & Driver’s License

Because the criminal and administrative proceedings follow separate timelines, consult a lawyer immediately to defend your license and respond to the criminal charge.

Jack Cavanagh began his legal career in 1962 and has handled hundreds of judge and jury trials. We draw on that courtroom background when addressing the criminal allegations and separate license proceeding that can follow a Missouri DWI arrest.

Call us today at (314) 309-2799 to discuss your DWI defense.