Once you are arrested for DUI, the process has only just begun. First of all, you have just 14 calendar days to schedule your DMV hearing. This hearing is critical to the future of your license because this is the very hearing where your driver's license suspension will be addressed. If you are ultimately convicted of DUI, you face the following: up to $1250 in fines, 100 hours of community service, a minimum of 48 hours in jail, and a 30 days driver's license suspension.
This is assuming your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .08% and less than 0.15%, if your BAC was higher, then you face enhanced penalties. Perhaps one of the worst parts of a DUI is the criminal conviction, a criminal conviction will have a lasting impact on your ability to gain employment, housing, educational loans and more.
My name is Steve Neighbors and I have been practicing DUI defense in Kansas for over 30 years. I am not only licensed to practice here in Kansas, but I am also licensed in Missouri and Arkansas. I have dedicated to my legal career to the field of DUI defense and finding new and improved ways to challenge the reliability of breath tests and blood tests. The field of DUI defense is a highly specialized field and when you are facing DUI charges, you are going to want someone who dedicates their career to this field of law.
The DUI penalties vary depending upon the facts of the case; for example, the more DUIs you have and the higher your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the greater the penalties. If you caused property damage or bodily injury (DUI with injury) or death (vehicular manslaughter) as a result of drunk driving, then you face enhanced administrative and criminal penalties. Administrative penalties refer to your driver's license suspension, whereas criminal penalties include jail time, fines etc.
It's important to understand that all evidence collected at the scene can be called into question. There aren't any tests or people that perform them that are foolproof, and this fact can be used to your advantage in court. It's my job as your attorney to challenge any field sobriety tests, as well as any blood tests or breath alcohol tests. Errors in breath testing devices, or errors in collecting a blood sample can and do happen and when this occurs, the evidence can be inadmissible in court.
DUIs can be prosecuted as both misdemeanors and felonies. If you were simply pulled over on suspicion for DUI and you weren't involved in an accident and didn't have a high BAC, then you can expect to be charged with a misdemeanor DUI. On the other hand, multiple DUIs and DUIs involving bodily injury or death are taken far more seriously, so you can expect more jail time, higher fines and a lengthier driver's license suspension.
In addition to simple first time DUIs and multiple DUIs, I also handle DUIs involving leaving the scene, underage DUI, DUI & drugs, vehicular manslaughter and all other felony DUI cases. With drug-related DUIs, a person can be convicted of DUI even when driving on an over-the-counter cold or allergy medicine, or a lawfully prescribed medication. In recent years, our nation has seen a surge in medicated drivers and because of this law enforcement has expanded their assessment of drunk drivers to include those under the influence of legal and illegal drugs.
Traffic tickets are given out for both moving and non-moving violations.
Traffic tickets for both moving and nonmoving violations can cost hundreds of dollars if not more. Tickets add points to your driving record, thus drastically increasing your auto insurance premiums for several years.
I can challenge traffic tickets for violations such as speeding, reckless driving, running a red light, passing a stopped school bus, driving without insurance and many more. Keep in mind that the moment you pay your traffic ticket, you are automatically admitting guilt. At times I can successfully challenge a traffic ticket and either get the charges and penalties reduced or dropped entirely. If your driver's license was suspended due to too many traffic tickets, I can help you pursue a driver's license restoration.
If you are facing other criminal charges, my firm also handles various criminal defense matters including: assault, battery, domestic violence, domestic battery and harassment. I can defend you against charges for theft crimes and violations of protection orders and violations of stalking orders.
For over 30 years I have defended clients in the Kansas courts and I have come to know local prosecutors and judges throughout the area. These relationships are critical when negotiating lighter sentences and penalties on behalf of my client. No matter what charges you are presently facing, I will put forward the maximum effort in order to pursue a favorable case outcome on your behalf. When your future and your freedom are at stake, you owe it to yourself to hire a knowledgeable, aggressive and seasoned defense attorney.
Please contact me at my firm, Neighbors Law Office for the superior legal representation your situation demands.