First Offense DWI in Missouri

First DUI in Missouri presents the complications of both criminal penalties, which include possibility of incarceration, fines, and other court orders, as well as administrative penalties, which influence an offender’s ability to maintain a valid license. The following outlines penalties applicable to a given first offense case, and in turn, juvenile offenders and those with commercial driver’s licenses will be subject to vastly different penalties in certain instances.

Administrative Penalties

• First offense DUI in Missouri results in administrative license suspension of thirty (30) days, as well as another sixty (60) days of restricted suspension, similar to conditional licensing allowed in other states

• Refusals to submit, under implied consent laws in Missouri, result in automatic license revocation for one (1) year for first offenders

• Reinstatement of license following first offense, during restricted suspension and after suspension, contingent upon having SR-22 coverage, payment of reinstatement fees, and if ordered, use of an ignition interlock device

Criminal Penalties

• First offense DUI in Missouri carries no mandatory period of incarceration, but charges possess the potential of incarceration up to six (6) months

• Fines associated with a first offense DUI in Missouri are not to exceed $500, but this amount does not account for costs incurred during license reinstatement, payment of other surcharges and court fees, or even, costs incurred during completion of terms of sentence

• First offense convictions influence charging and sentencing of future DUI arrests for a period of five (5) years, with second and subsequent offenses influencing future arrests indefinitely

Getting Legal Help

For more information and insight into first DUI defense methods in Missouri, including whether you are eligible to reduce your charges into a lesser criminal conviction in a favorable plea option, consult with a Missouri first offense DUI lawyer to learn more.