Once you step into a vehicle while even slightly intoxicated, you run the risk of hurting others. If you have a lapse in judgment, you will have to be held accountable for your crimes against society. Missouri won’t tolerate a DWI, and the penalties won’t be easy to stomach.
If your arrest was the first, you will be able to plead your case and hopefully avoid jail time. You will for sure lose your driving license for thirty days while you undergo a suspension process. You may only get reinstated after ninety days, but you will be eligible for a restricted driver’s permit after thirty days. The restricted license allows you to go to work and school as needed, but nowhere else.
If you make the poor choice to obtain another DUI, you will be known as a prior offender. You will find it much harder to plead ignorance, as the minimum sentence is a five day stay at the local jail. Thirty days of community service can sometimes substitute the jail sentence, although you will have to have a lawyer argue your case.
You are considered to be a an extreme danger to your community if you have picked up a third DWI. You will be known as a persistent offender, and you will lose your license for an extended period of time. In order to get it back, you must take the written test and driving test over again. Special classes and extra fees will be tacked onto the normal court fees.
Classes are required to be taken if you have been convicted of a DUI in Missouri. Classes go through the basics of why driving with even one drink in your system can be fatal. In-class workshops and learning material will be worked through by a teacher for a minimum of two consecutive days- often spanning an entire weekend. It’s not pleasant by any means, but is required if you hope to get your license back in Missouri.
You can easily lose your auto insurance if your company finds out about a DUI. You will also have to file for SR-22 insurance, given that they decide to keep you on the plan. SR-22 insurance basically states that you are a high-risk driver, and that you will pay more for two years as a result of poor choices. It’s not glorious by any means- you are essentially paying hundreds or thousands extra over the next two years.
Closing Comments
Getting a DWI is not the end of the world; try not to feel depressed about getting one. Instead, use the experience as a reason to better yourself and speak out against the vile act among friends. It’s a dangerous act that can hurt your loved ones.
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