A charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (“DUI”) can carry far-reaching consequences, some of which that can impact your life and your family even before your first court date.

Unless you or your attorney requests an administrative hearing with the Kansas Department of Revenue within fourteen (14) days of receiving your DUI citation (or, more specifically, receiving a pink Form DC-27), your driving privileges will be suspended up to one year.  In Missouri, an administrative hearing usually must be requested within fifteen (15) days of your Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) citation, chemical test refusal or chemical test failure.  An alcohol-related suspension can occur even if you don’t have a license or cannot get one.  

In Kansas, following that suspension, you will not be allowed to lawfully drive for up to two years unless you’ve installed an “ignition interlock device” in your car, a device that measures your blood-alcohol content through your breath before allowing you to start the car. You will have to pay for the installation and maintenance of this device.

Then comes the criminal case, which can have a wide range of outcomes. DUI cases are highly technical and often come down to how well the officer followed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s standardized protocol for conducting a DUI investigation. Your case’s outcome will also depend on whether you have prior convictions for DUI, whether there was an accident, the severity of said accident, and whether any of the breath testing machines used by officers were functioning properly at their time of use.

If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI, our office urges you to first request your administrative hearing with the Kansas or Missouri Department of Revenue to protect your driving privileges or seek help to do so. Next, please contact us to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have resolved hundreds of DUI cases and look forward to resolving yours as well.