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In Missouri, driving while in an intoxicated condition is a serious offense. A defendant convicted of DWI may face severe punishment, including massive fines, jail time, license suspension or revocation, and other devastating, life-changing consequences.

On suspicion of driving while under the influence, a police officer may stop your vehicle and request that you take a roadside Breathalyzer test.

In Missouri, motorists are prohibited from operating a vehicle while intoxicated – under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both.

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Missouri, you undoubtedly want to figure out how you can keep a DUI conviction off of your criminal record. A DUI can keep you from getting the education or job you want, disqualify you from receiving loans, increase the cost of your auto insurance, and even affect your custody of your children.

If you are faced with charges in Missouri for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), you must learn more about your rights and responsibilities under state DUI laws. Your actions before, during, and after you were stopped may alter the outcome of a DUI arrest.

If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, commonly referred to as a DWI (driving while intoxicated) in Kansas, you may feel you have to accept whatever penalties are handed down to you. However, a DUI charge in Missouri is almost always worth fighting, even if you know you were intoxicated at the time of the incident.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were 5,477 crashes where alcohol was involved or where there was suspected alcohol use in 2019. While there isn’t a crash every time someone drives under the influence, there’s often a different consequence – a DUI.

In the last decade, there has been a 34% decrease in the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities. That’s good news. There is also bad news. During the same period, the number of drug-related driving fatalities has increased by 49%. The opioid crisis has played a role in the jump; so has marijuana.

Drunk driving is a startling common mistake that can have disastrous consequences for everyone involved. For DUI offenders, the consequences can vary from a suspended license, a criminal record, or jail time. If you have been charged with a DUI in Kansas City, there are some frequently asked questions that may be able to help you better understand your situation.

To be found guilty of “driving while intoxicated” in a Missouri DUI / DWI case, the defendant must actually be found to have been “driving” or “operating” the vehicle, otherwise, it is a mere case of at worst public intoxication or possibly minor in possession if the driver is Under 21 years of age.