Criminal Defense Lawyer St Charles, MO
Each criminal defense lawyer from Traffic Ticket Center provides representation to individuals and businesses facing criminal charges of all types. With more than a decade of experience, the lawyers at Traffic Ticket Center have the knowledge necessary to provide you or your business quality, comprehensive criminal defense representation. Some of the criminal charges we can assist you with include:
- Driving Offenses: Including representation of clients charged with DUI, DWI, reckless driving, and clients with repeated driving offenses.
- Violent Offenses: Including representation of clients charged with murder, manslaughter, vehicle manslaughter, assault, battery, or sex crimes.
- Juvenile and Domestic Relations Offenses: Including representation of clients who are juveniles as well as adults who are charged with crimes against juveniles.
- Property Offenses: Including representation of clients charged with larceny or theft.
- White Collar Crimes: Including representation of clients charged with fraud, perjury, and embezzlement.
In addition to providing representation for the criminal charges listed above, a criminal defense lawyer can provide representation for clients facing parole violations, as well as business clients facing charges regarding liquor license violations. Learn about What is a good criminal defense against a DUI?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make after being charged with a criminal offense is waiting too long to hire a criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights. The criminal court system can move quickly and hiring a lawyer early will provide them with more valuable time to prepare for your defense. Learn more about Why Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Additionally, you want to make sure that you understand your court deadlines and obligations early in the life of your case. Missing deadlines can cause you significant hardship, including delay in your proceedings, fines, and other serious risks to a successful resolution of your case. Representing yourself is not a substitute for competent legal counsel, even at early stages of your case. A qualified criminal defense lawyer will know the ins and outs of the court, will understand your rights under the law, and will be able to advocate for you in difficult situations.
Hiring a criminal defense lawyer early can also help you get back to your regular life faster. Being charged with a crime may mean jail time, fines, and loss of your professional or driver’s license. The uncertainty of not knowing your future can weigh heavily, but a criminal defense lawyer in St. Charles, MO may be able to help speed the process, resolve your charges more efficiently, and help you get back on the right path.
Steps To Take After a Reckless Driving Charge
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is not taking their reckless driving charge seriously. While a police officer charging you is not the same as a court convicting you, you should prepare yourself for all outcomes before going to your court date. If convicted of reckless driving, there will likely be life-changing effects that can result in changes to where you live, the types of jobs you can get, and even whether the judge allows you to drive. Clearly, you should view a reckless driving charge more seriously than a regular traffic violation. But, what are the dos and don’ts of a reckless driving charge? Below is a list of things that you should and should not do to help you present the best possible case when you defend yourself against this charge.
The Don’ts
- Don’t Pay Your Ticket. If a police officer even gives you the option of paying your reckless driving ticket instead of appearing in court, do not do this. Typically, an officer will require you to go to court for a reckless driving ticket because it is at least a misdemeanor. However, paying your ticket means you accept all blame and accept the charge of recklessly driving. This will automatically give you a criminal record. This can affect your credit score, employment opportunities, and will show up on background and traffic checks. Always give yourself a fighting chance.
- Don’t Skip Out On Court. If an officer says you must go to court, the law requires you to do so. Not only would this give you the same outcome as above (admitting to guilt), but a judge could arrest you for not showing up.
- Don’t Represent Yourself. A court will not require you to get a St. Charles, MO criminal defense lawyer. However, without the proper legal experience, you likely will not have a solid defense and evidence to support it. A criminal defense lawyer in St. Charles, MO can also speak with the police officer before the hearing to come to an agreement on a lesser charge or even to have your charge removed.
The Dos
- Do Be Respectful. Even if you feel like you got the short end of the stick and the officer is being unfair, never show up to court with an attitude. Give the officer, the court, and the judge respect by showing up in business casual clothes, remaining quiet during the other court hearings, and answering respectfully when spoken to.
- Do See What Helps Your Case. There are many classes you can take that are designed specifically for reckless and aggressive driving. Speak with your attorney about when you should take these courses, volunteer work you can do, and any other documents or acts of service that show you are remorseful for the situation and you are a good citizen.
- Do Hire the Right Attorney. When you are looking for an attorney, make sure it is someone who understands the traffic laws in Missouri and will help you craft the best possible defense.
It Can it Help Your Case to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer in St Charles, MO for a DWI Case
The last thing anyone anticipates happening is being arrested and accused of a crime while out having a good time. A person may get arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) if they appeared to be drunk behind the wheel. After being put into handcuffs, booked at the local police station and then released, the accused may be on the verge of panic over what may happen next. A person who is facing a DWI charge, can meet with a criminal defense lawyer in St Charles, MO for legal insight and representation.
Q: What is the benefit of hiring a lawyer for a DWI arrest?
A: When someone faces a criminal charge, they are often most worried about what consequences they may have to endure for the wrongdoing. Every judge has his or her own approach to criminal cases, and some may be more forgiving than others for an honest misjudgement. A huge potential benefit of obtaining legal representation from a criminal defense lawyer in St Charles, MO for a DWI charge, is that the lawyer can advocate for your behalf and help protect you from having to serve a harsher punishment than what may be necessary to fully learn your lesson. Or, in cases where you are innocent, a St Charles, MO criminal defense lawyer in can create a defense strategy in an effort to get your charges minimized or dropped entirely.
Q: Do I have to be driving to get arrested for a DWI?
A: In general, state law defines DWI as a person who was driving or in control of a vehicle while impaired by the use of alcohol. It is possible that the accused was only sitting in his or her car while parked at the time of the arrest. But, the officer may have assumed there was an intention to start driving on the road since the engine was running. Factors that may contribute to whether someone is convicted or not of a DWI include:
- Whether the car was located near the roadway
- Whether the supposed intoxicated driver was sitting in the vehicle, standing outside of it, or in the passenger seat while the engine was on
- Whether the engine was off, and if the keys were in the ignition or glove box tucked away
- Whether the vehicle was even operational
Q: What evidence may be used against me in court?
A: At the time of the arrest, the officer may gather as much proof as possible to be used in court against you. Criminal cases depend on the reliability of and how much evidence can be brought forward to convict the accused. The average person does not understand the inner workings of the legal system, and may need help from a criminal defense lawyer in St Charles, Missouri to defend him or herself. A quality criminal defense lawyer will do whatever is within his or her legal power to discredit the prosecutor’s proof, which may consist of:
- A testimony from the arresting officer about how the accused was driving
- A testimony from the arresting officer about how the accused was acting, his or her physical appearance, and body language
- Photographs or visual recordings of the arrest
- Statements made by the accused during the arrest that were self incriminating
If you or your business have been charged with a crime, consider calling a criminal defense lawyer from Traffic Ticket Center today to set up an initial meeting to discuss your criminal defense and to find out more about what our legal team can do for you.
If you have been charged with a crime, time is not on your side. Do not delay hiring a competent and professional criminal defense lawyer St Charles, MO clients call to represent you and guide you through a very difficult time. Call today.