Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense. Missouri imposes both criminal and administrative penalties on those who drive while drunk, because their actions put themselves and others at risk of serious harm or death.
Criminally, the laws in the state allow the court to add points to your license and potentially have your license suspended or revoked. You could, in some cases, face time in jail, too.
Administratively, you may face additional penalties for refusing a Breathalyzer test or having a blood alcohol content (BAC) that is over the limit. You could have your license suspended immediately, for example, even if your ticket is later dismissed or reduced in court.
What happens if you have multiple convictions for a DWI?
If you have a second DWI offense, even if you have decades between them, you will generally face a year’s revocation of your license. If this is the second offense within five years, you could have your license denied.
For a third offense, you can have your license denied for 10 years. After completing that revocation period, you’ll then have to go through the state’s license reinstatement requirements to attempt to get it back.
You have the opportunity to speak up for yourself
You do have a chance to stand up for yourself when you’re dealing with accusations of a DWI. When you receive a notice that your license will be suspended or revoked, you’ll have 15 todays to request a hearing. You may be able to successfully defend yourself and convince the court to allow you to keep your license.
If your license does end up being suspended, you may be able to get a restricted driving privilege, or RDP, that will help you keep your license to get to work or take care of other responsibilities.
These and other penalties are possible if this is not your first offense, so it’s a good idea to learn more about what to expect and the options you have for defending your case. With the right approach, you may be able to minimize the penalties and resolve your case without losing your license.