| Have your heard the saying that the person who | | | | you can request a hearing with the Missouri |
| serves as his own attorney has a fool for a client? | | | | Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle and |
| You may want to take the advice of that old adage if | | | | License Division (MVD), within 15 days of the Missouri |
| you've been arrested for a Missouri DUI. Because | | | | DUI. It's up to the accused to produce evidence and |
| some of Missouri's dui laws are unusual when | | | | bear the burden of proof of innocence. And just so |
| compared to the rest of the country, and some of the | | | | you're aware, unlike chemical testing, a DUI test of field |
| DUI consequences are severe, you may want to hire | | | | sobriety is completely voluntary. |
| the best DUI attorney. | | | | There are other unusual Missouri laws. For example, |
| Like many other States, Missouri has drunk driving laws | | | | Missouri is one of the few States where it's still lawful |
| making it illegal for any adult to drive with a blood | | | | to transport open containers of alcohol. In addition, the |
| alcohol content (BAC) of.08 or higher, any driver under | | | | Missouri courts have held that prosecutors do not |
| the age of 21 to have a BAC of.02 or higher, and any | | | | have to prove that a police officer lawfully stopped a |
| commercial driver to have a BAC of.04 or higher. | | | | motorist. Therefore, it doesn't even matter if the |
| Missouri also has an implied consent law, meaning all | | | | reason you were pulled over was due to equipment |
| drivers who are suspected of driving under the | | | | malfunction, let alone the manner in which you were |
| influence must submit to a chemical test of their blood, | | | | driving. |
| breath or urine. If you refuse to submit to one of these | | | | Many circumstances can be considered to be |
| tests, you will lose your driver's license, right then and | | | | aggravated DUI in Missouri, including a blood alcohol |
| there, for a period of up to one year. | | | | level (BAC) of.15 or above, causing an accident with |
| However, unlike many States, before you take or | | | | death, injuries, and/or property damage, prior DUI |
| refuse a chemical test in Missouri, you have the right to | | | | convictions, reckless driving, speeding, or the |
| ask the arresting officer to wait 20 minutes (the | | | | transportation of a child at the time of the DUI arrest. |
| maximum allowed period of time) until you receive | | | | A conviction of aggravated DUI can bring severe |
| instruction from a Missouri dui lawyer. You also have | | | | consequences, including fines of thousands of dollars, |
| the right to a second BAC test, at the location of your | | | | mandatory imprisonment for many years, large |
| choice and at your own expense. In order to get your | | | | amounts of restitution, and the loss of your license and |
| license back, you must attend a substance abuse | | | | or vehicle for many years - maybe permanently. Even |
| traffic offender program, as well as pay a $45 fee. Or | | | | more reason to hire a DUI defense attorney. |