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.

Frequently, clients who have never had a valid driver’s license will get tickets for Driving While Suspended (DWS). Clients often come to our office confused about how somebody can get this type of ticket without a license to be suspended in the first place. This type of ticket is particularly puzzling for clients who have only recently begun living in the United States.

Most states, including Kansas and Missouri, regulate the driving privileges of its residents through a government agency called the Department of Revenue. This agency keeps records of court convictions of moving violations, which can include tickets for which a person just paid the fine without appearing before a judge. When somebody doesn’t have a driver license number to pair with their name, the Department of Revenue will assign that person a number to keep records of his or her traffic convictions. This is called a “system-generated” number.

If an individual without an actual driver’s license fails to appear in court or is convicted of one or more violations that would usually suspend a normal license, the Department of Revenue will suspend the individual’s system-generated number, just as if it were a real license.  Whether the individual with a system-generated number realizes it or not, the next time the individual is stopped, he or she could be arrested for Driving While Suspended (DWS), which can result in further suspension and/or jail time.  

Because of system-generated numbers, it is important for individuals with or without licenses to avoid unexpected suspensions by always consulting an attorney experienced with traffic law.  If you have been ticketed for “Driving while suspended” in Kansas or Missouri or discover you have a suspension on your driving privileges, our office is an excellent choice for assistance in getting your driver’s license or system-generated number unsuspended. We have years of experience in solving complex driver’s license issues and look forward to helping you with your problem.

In 2010, the United States Supreme Court ruled that criminal defense attorneys must advise clients whether a plea carries a clear risk of deportation.

Unfortunately, United States immigration law is often unclear. In most cases, a criminal defense attorney need only advise that a plea may carry adverse immigration consequences.

Our office represents many individuals who are involved in various stages of proceedings with US immigration authorities. Over the past decade plus, we have built and maintained a solid network of trust with several prominent immigration firms in the Kansas City metro area. Through these relationships we have been able to work closely with immigration attorneys to craft unique legal solutions that will protect our clients’ interests within both criminal and immigration spheres.

We often get calls from immigration attorneys asking us to help a client withdraw a guilty plea that is now hurting a client’s chances at staying in the United States, regardless of how long they have been contributing to US society or the disastrous effect their removal from the country could have on their family here. This process is often difficult because prosecutors do not like to lose convictions, and judges do not like to revisit old cases without a compelling reason.

However, it is not impossible to set aside an old conviction and renegotiate an outcome that will help with a client’s immigration proceedings. We know because we have done it for clients in the past.

If you have been charged with a crime and have concerns about how it could affect your immigration case, please call today to schedule a free consultation.

Most crimes and infractions charged in the Kansas City metro area end up in a municipal court. Municipal cases are unique in that so much of the outcome depends on the individual city’s policies and the personalities of the prosecutors who work there.

Our office has a unique advantage in representing clients in municipal courts. Not only do we regularly practice in each of the cities listed below, but we receive appointed cases in the cities in bold.*

[*KCK, Olathe, Spring Hill, Overland Park, Mission, Merriam, Lenexa, Shawnee, Roeland Park, Leawood, Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Westwood, KCMO, Grandview, Riverside, North Kansas City]