DWI

Missouri DWI Defense Lawyer

One of the predominant feelings associated with being charged with drunk driving is the fear of being bound to a system that seems stacked against you. A DWI/DUI case can seem impossible to emerge from successfully. DWI/DUI cases can be some of the most daunting cases to fight. Not only do you have the elements of the law to tackle like in most other criminal cases but you also have to fight the driver’s license case as well as take on the science that the Prosecutor claims makes his case bulletproof (which it isn’t).

In most criminal cases of driving while intoxicated (DWI), the police officers are coached beforehand, increasing the intimidation factor for defendants. These officers are trained to administer roadside exercise tests that they claim provide proof a driver is intoxicated. These officers have done these tests hundreds of times (and some still can’t do them right) but they expect you to ace the tests, sometimes late at night on the side of the road, without ever having practiced before. This so called “evidence of intoxication” is hardly ever administered by the book and is a lot of times unreliable.

At Charpentier Law in St. Louis, Missouri, attorney Jason A. Charpentier Profile knows how to mount a powerful DWI/DUI defense. He begins his aggressive defense by focusing on the early stages of the criminal case, preparing clients and spending time conducting the investigation and research necessary to help our clients prevail. In almost every case we will visit the scene of arrest and take pictures of the road and lighting conditions. We will also collect evidence of the traffic conditions at the time of arrest and retrace the officers steps outlined in his or her report to see if what they claim happened is reasonable. You’d be surprised by how many officers just recite the same facts over and over again in their arrest reports. Contact us today to obtain a free case analysis.

An Aggressive DWI/DUI Defense

Our firm's approach is aggressive from the outset. We go to the incident site with our clients — conducting an investigation, having our clients recount events, and soliciting testimonials from witnesses.

We may be able to challenge the Breathalyzer results or exclude any evidence police obtained through illegal search and seizure. Defense lawyer Jason A. Charpentier is certified in Field Sobriety Testing by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, so he knows what is required to administer and score the test correctly — and how to prove it when the police got it wrong.

We handle a variety cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including underage drinking and driving and cases involving drunk-driving accidents.

There Are Two Separate Cases Involved in DWI

If you are arrested for drinking and driving in Missouri, there are two aspects to your DWI/DUI defense case: a criminal case and a civil driver's license suspension case. The two cases are independent and separate of each other and it is quite possible to have the criminal charges reduced or dismissed and still lose the driver’s license case.

When we take a DWI/DUI case we almost always handle both the criminal and the driver’s license case. It is important to contact us immediately upon arrest for DWI because under Missouri law you only have 15 days from the date of your arrest to request a hearing with the Department of Revenue and try and save your license.

By handling both the criminal and driver’s license case it allows us to get the arresting officer under oath at the driver’s license hearing, usually before the criminal case comes up. We can use the officer’s testimony from the driver’s license hearing to provide a legal reason to have the charges dismissed or reduced with the cranial case. For instance, if the officer testifies he pulled you over outside his jurisdiction or that he didn’t perform the field sobriety test according to the standards then we can make a motion with the court to suppress the evidence from the stop. We work on behalf of each of our clients to help them keep them from having their driver's license suspended or to get them a hardship license.

For more information on our criminal defense work, the process of defending DWI/DUI cases, or for an appointment for a free case analysis, contact Charpentier Law today.