DWI Lawyer Sunset Hills, MO

Have the police charged you with driving while intoxicated in Sunset Hills? You may worry about what an arrest or conviction may mean for your reputation or future. However, you don’t have to face the criminal justice system alone. Having seasoned legal counsel in your corner can help you pursue a more favorable outcome to your case.

Contact Travis Noble, P.C., for a free initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable DWI defense lawyer to learn how our firm will fight to protect your rights and interests in a prosecution for intoxicated driving in Sunset Hills.

Why Choose a DWI Defense Attorney from Travis Noble, P.C.?

Hiring legal representation to help you face a prosecution for intoxicated driving can become one of the most important actions you take to defend yourself against criminal charges. Turn to a criminal defense lawyer from Travis Noble, P.C., to protect your rights and interests after a DWI arrest because:

Attorney Travis Noble Jr. has handled DWI cases for decades. Before entering legal practice, Mr. Noble served as a police officer and narcotics agent for over a decade, where he learned how police and prosecutors handle DWI cases. His insights enable him to capitalize on the mistakes made by officers and prosecuting attorneys in arrests and criminal cases.
Noble has more than a decade of experience representing clients facing prosecution for DWI. He has built a national reputation, giving lectures across the country and serving as a consultant to other attorneys on DWI defense strategies.
Noble has earned the respect of his legal peers for his commitment to client service and aggressive legal advocacy. His track record includes trying more DWI cases than most other attorneys in Missouri.

DWI Laws in Sunset Hills

In Missouri, a person may face prosecution for driving while intoxicated if they operate a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition after consuming alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal controlled substances. The criminal grading of a DWI offense in Sunset Hills will depend on a defendant’s history of intoxicated driving convictions or whether their current offense involves an aggravating factor. A first DWI offense constitutes a class B misdemeanor under Missouri law. However, the grading of a charge can increase due to factors such as:

Class A Misdemeanor – A defendant qualifies as a prior offender (has a prior intoxicated driving conviction in the past five years) or had a passenger under 17 in their vehicle at the time of their offense
Class E Felony – A defendant qualifies as a persistent offender (has two prior intoxicated driving convictions) or injured another person through an act of criminal negligence
Class D Felony – A defendant qualifies as an aggravated offender (has three prior intoxicated driving convictions or one prior intoxicated driving conviction plus a conviction for involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder based on a DWI offense, or second-degree assault), injured law enforcement or emergency services personnel through an act of criminal negligence, or caused severe injury to another person
Class C Felony – A defendant qualifies as a chronic offender (four prior intoxicated driving convictions or two or more involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder based on a DWI offense, or second-degree assault convictions)
Class B Felony – A defendant qualifies as a “habitual offender” (five or more prior intoxicated driving convictions, for our more convictions with at least one offense involving injury or death, or three or more convictions with at least two offenses involving injury or death)
Class A Felony – A defendant has a prior class B felony DWI conviction

Missouri’s implied consent law can also lead to administrative penalties for drivers arrested for DWI. The law presumes that a driver arrested for driving while intoxicated has consented to a breath, blood, or urine test following an arrest. However, when a driver refuses to consent to chemical testing after a DWI arrest, they may face a year-long driver’s license suspension regardless of the outcome of a DWI charge.

Consequences of a DWI Offense

A conviction for intoxicated driving in Sunset Hills can lead to various consequences for a defendant, including criminal penalties in a sentence. Sentences for a DWI conviction in Sunset Hills can include:

Class B Misdemeanor – Up to six months
Class A Misdemeanor – Up to one year
Class E Felony – Up to four years
Class D Felony – Up to seven years
Class C Felony – Three to 10 years
Class B Felony – Five to 15 years
Class A Felony – 10 to 30 years or life imprisonment

In certain circumstances, a court may impose a term of probation instead of incarceration for a DWI conviction, with misdemeanor convictions having probation terms between six months and two years, or felony convictions having probation terms between one and five years.

Criminal sentences for DWI convictions can also include fines and restitution obligations that require a defendant to reimburse their victim(s) for financial losses caused by the defendant’s offense. A defendant may also face a suspension of driving privileges, with the duration of a suspension based on the grading of an offense.

A conviction will also result in a defendant having a criminal record that can make it challenging to pursue employment, educational, or housing opportunities due to the stigma of intoxicated driving, especially when a defendant has multiple offenses. Due to the potential long-lasting consequences of a DWI conviction, you need dedicated legal counsel to help you protect your rights, reputation, and future.

Potential Defenses to a DWI Prosecution

A driver charged with DWI may have certain factual or legal defenses against the prosecution’s case, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding their arrest. Common strategies used in DWI cases include:

Challenging the Legality of the Traffic Stop – A defendant may argue that police lacked reasonable suspicion or probable cause of DWI or another traffic violation or criminal offense to justify the stop, or assert that police conducted an improper DWI checkpoint (i.e., not objectively selecting vehicles).
Challenging Field Sobriety Test Results – If police conducted field sobriety tests, a defendant may contest the reliability of the results by highlighting factors that could have affected testing, such as uneven ground, bad weather, or a defendant’s medical conditions, like arthritis.
Challenging Chemical Test Results – A defendant may seek to exclude chemical test results from a DWI case by arguing that police failed to follow testing protocols or calibrate testing equipment.

How Can a DWI Lawyer Help You?

Consulting legal counsel for guidance and advocacy when facing prosecution for intoxicated driving can help you achieve a better outcome in your case. Let a criminal defense attorney from Travis Noble, P.C., help you pursue a favorable resolution to a DWI charge in Sunset Hills by:

Thoroughly investigating your charges to obtain evidence that police and prosecutors overlook, which may help you build a compelling defense argument
Evaluating your legal options to determine the best case strategy under the facts of your case
Helping you make informed decisions about how to proceed with your charges by ensuring you understand the nature of the charged offense and the potential outcomes of your case
Vigorously pursuing the best possible outcome to your case, whether through a favorable plea agreement or by advocating for a dismissal or acquittal in court

Contact Our Firm Today for Guidance

If you’ve been arrested and charged with DWI in Sunset Hills, you need an experienced legal advocate to stand up for your rights and interests.

Contact Travis Noble, P.C., today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your options for pursuing a favorable outcome that allows you to move forward with your life.

Areas Served

(314) 721-6614