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St. Charles Multiple DUI Attorney
Calmly and Confidently Guiding You Through the Legal System in St. Charles and Lincoln Counties
A single DUI charge may be difficult enough to manage, let alone a history of DUI charges. However, an experienced and results-oriented lawyer can help you navigate the legal system of multiple DUIs. Wayne T. Schoeneberg has over 40 years of experience navigating the Missouri legal system, and he can calmly and comfortably guide you through your DUI charge, even if you have a past history of DUI convictions.
Missouri’s BAC Threshold
Recall that in Missouri, motorists are prohibited from operating or being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle while they have an excessive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more or while they are in an intoxicated condition due to alcohol or drugs. The BAC threshold is reduced to .04% for motorists operating a commercial vehicle and .02% for underage drivers (under 21 years old).
Note that a Missouri motorist can get a DUI (or DWI) without actually driving. According to the Missouri courts, a person could be charged with DWI merely for being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle, which does not require that the car actually be in motion.
Implied Consent Laws
Be aware that, like most states, Missouri implements implied consent laws that require all drivers lawfully arrested for a DWI to submit to a blood, breath test, urine, or saliva test. Drivers who refuse could face a 1-year revocation followed by a 6-month IID requirement. Note that this suspension is separate from a DWI conviction suspension and may be ordered in addition to the penalties for that offense.
Sentencing Guidelines for Multiple Offenses
The severity of penalties for DUI depends significantly on how many prior convictions the defendant has. A first offense may carry a maximum of 6 months in jail, up to $1,000 in fines, and a 30-day license suspension. Second and subsequent offenses, however, carry lengthier and severer penalties:
- 2nd offense – up to 1 year in jail; up to $2,000 in fines; 5-year license revocation; at least 6 months of ignition interlock device (IID) use
- 3rd offense – up to 4 years in jail; up to $10,000 in fines; 10-year license revocation; at least 6 months of IID use
Individuals convicted of a second intoxication-related traffic offense, regardless of the length of time between convictions, will normally receive a 1-year revocation for accumulation of points on their driving record. However, if they are convicted a second time for an alcohol- or drug-related offense within 5 years, the court may order a 5-year license denial. If they are convicted 3 or more times, the court may issue a 10-year license denial.
Convicted individuals may petition for a hardship or restricted license to reinstate limited driving privileges, but the likelihood of obtaining this depends on their criminal history and circumstances of their DWI.
Note that if convicted in criminal court of a third DWI, the defendant will not be eligible for license reinstatement for at least 10 years. Prior to reinstatement, though, they will have to complete a state-approved substance abuse traffic offender program.
The court may choose to suspend an imposed jail sentence if they meet certain probationary conditions, including:
- a few mandatory days in jail;
- substance abuse treatment;
- continuous alcohol monitoring; and
- random testing.
Failure to comply with the above probation requirements will result in the imposition of the previously suspended sentence.
