First Time DUI in Kansas City

Penalties and Defenses for a First Conviction

If you have been arrested for DUI and have no prior record, you face serious penalties which can cause major disruptions in your life. Law enforcement has no tolerance for drunk drivers and is cracking down to make sure that anyone caught a first time receives sufficient punishment to prevent subsequent DUIs. A first conviction for DUI will add a Class B misdemeanor to your criminal record, cost you between $500 and $1,000 in fines and send you to jail for a period of 48 hours to 6 months. In addition, you will lose your driver's license for a period of at least 30 days and up to 1 year. When you do have your license reinstated, you may may be required to install an ignition interlock system in your car to prevent you from driving drunk again. Finally, you will be subject to a mandatory alcohol evaluation and counseling or treatment.

Whether you receive the heaviest penalties or are able to have the charges reduced or dropped altogether depends in large measure on hiring an aggressive Kansas City DUI attorney to represent you in court. Your DUI sentencing can be influenced by many factors, such as the ability of your attorney to persuade the judge that you would respond well to a diversion. Attorney Steve Schanker is very familiar with how to successfully challenge the evidence, including taking action for you in unlawful police stops and field sobriety test errors .

Kansas City DUI Lawyer

Attorney Steve Schanker has defended numerous clients on DUI or DWI charges in the Kansas City area and he is ready to meet with you one-on-one to determine the best strategy for your case. He is licensed in Kansas and Missouri and is very familiar with the DWI/DUI laws of both. Whether you want to fight the charges in court or if you want to reduce the damage by seeking a plea bargain, he will advise you about every course of action available that could help you avoid the consequences of a guilty verdict. Contact a Kansas City DUI attorney with a winning record to help you fight a first time DUI charge.