High Stakes of Drunk Driving in Missouri

If you live in Missouri and are facing a drunk driving charge, you may benefit greatly from the help of a lawyer who specializes in Missouri drunk driving laws. The first DUI in Missouri is bad enough, but if there are subsequent ones the consequences grow in intensity and import. The consequences can have influence on your future. Criminal convictions can limit your future employment opportunities. Suspensions of your driver's license can lead to loss of your job if you cannot get to work. With the strain on the current economy, you can have difficulty getting a job close to your home which could lead to the loss of your home.

With the first Missouri drunk driving charge, the consequences do not sound so bad, relatively speaking. However, they are serious. Drivers convicted of a DUI in Missouri can serve up to six months in jail and pay a $500 fine. They also have their driver's licenses suspended for 30 days after which they must provide proof of insurance and a $45 reinstatement fee to get back their license. This is followed by 60 days of restricted license suspension and a possible ignition interlock device. This device involves a breathalyzer connected to the ignition of the driver's car. If the blood alcohol concentration levels are higher than the programmed permissible level, the ignition relay is held open, preventing the car from starting.

The second DUI in Missouri results in a possible fine of $1,000 and up to a year of jail time. If the DUI is within five years of the first Missouri drunk driving offense, the driver's license is suspended for five years. Otherwise, there is a one year license suspension followed by a required ignition interlock device. When the license is reinstated, the driver must provide proof of insurance and pay a $45 reinstatement fee.

If a driver has a third Missouri drunk driving, there is a possibility of four years of jail time and a $5,000 fine. These are accompanied by the suspension of the driver's license for ten years. In order to get the driver's license back after this period, the driver must show proof of insurance, pay a $45 reinstatement fee and use a required ignition interlock device. With these high stakes for a DUI in Missouri, it is certainly a wise decision to hire a good attorney who is familiar with the laws on drunk driving in Missouri and the local court system.