There are no circumstances that warrant drunk driving. Statistics state that the act of drinking and driving kills 28 people a day in the U.S. At one time, Missouri had the 9th highest number of drunk-driving fatalities in the country with 432 in the year 2000. In 2018, the number of fatalities had fallen to 240. Even though numbers are dropping, one death from drinking and driving is one too many.
In Missouri, there is no legal difference between driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI). A DWI in Missouri is given to those drivers who are found to be operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Even if you choose to pull over to the side to “sleep it off,” if you don’t turn off the ignition, you are still considered to be operating a motor vehicle and can be charged.
DWIs are also given to those drivers under the age of 21 who are found driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.02 or higher. Missouri also uses the legal term of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID). If you are charged with a DUID, whether it’s cold medication or illegal drugs, you will still receive a hefty penalty.
If your driver’s license was revoked because of a DWI, there are three steps you need to take to get it reinstated.
Drivers in Missouri with serious traffic violations like driving while under the influence (DWI), need an SR-22. This form is filed by their insurance provider and confirms their insurance covers minimum car insurance requirements in Missouri. There is no difference between standard car insurance and SR-22 car insurance, except SR-22 is more expensive because of the severity of the traffic violation.
SATOP stands for Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program. SATOP consists of an assessment and completion of a program. Its purpose is to educate drivers about the hazards and consequences of impaired driving, promote safe and responsible decision-making when it comes to driving, and encourage personal change. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of repeat offenders.
In Missouri, the reinstatement fee is $45 paid to the Missouri Department of Revenue. Although that may initially seem small, there are multiple fees for multiple reasons. For instance, if you received a speeding ticket along with a DWI, you would pay two fees.
Driving privileges may be suspended or revoked for accumulation of points following a plea of guilty or conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Additionally, driving privileges may also be suspended or revoked by the Missouri Department of Revenue. It’s important to talk with an experienced attorney to apply for a “hardship driver’s license” so you are still able to drive to and from work while your license is revoked.
If someone is convicted of more than one DWI and has their license revoked for a one, five, or ten-year period, you need an attorney to file a petition in court to get limited driving privileges even if your license revocation isn’t fully served. Without limited driving privileges, you will need an attorney to help you avoid mandatory jail time for driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license.
Contact us today to set an appointment to speak with Scott about your case. Scott has experience in navigating these DWI cases in Missouri and is here to assist you.
A Jefferson City man faced DUI charges following a field sobriety test. Charges against the defendant were dropped after Scott successfully maintained the client’s claims that the test results were inaccurate. While the client initially appeared to be in a difficult situation, Scott was able to push investigators to determine the sobriety test results as invalid, so the charges were dismissed.
A mother was seeking sole custody of her children following a divorce. The father refused to cooperate, leaving the client in a difficult situation as she felt as though her children didn’t have a voice. Scott recognized her need for an advocate and carefully listened to the children’s wishes, which conclusively helped the client achieve sole custody of her children and protected their best interests.
A client from Fulton was accused of drug possession as a result of a home search. While drug charges may potentially be filed as a Class C felony involving severe consequences, Scott was able to help the client receive a reduced sentence. Ultimately, the client faced significantly smaller penalties compared to the initial charges.
Scott assisted a defendant in a particularly challenging divorce case in which the other spouse was not cooperating. Scott was able to help the client avoid court through an aggressive legal approach to resolve all outstanding disagreements while maintaining the client’s long-term needs.
One client sought legal assistance after an altercation with another individual in Jefferson City. The client was arrested on assault charges despite allegedly not starting the fight. Since an arrest can lead to life-altering penalties such as being terminated from employment and serving jail time, Scott was able to build a solid legal defense in the client’s favor and argued in favor of the client’s innocence.
A grandparent sought visitation rights to his grandchild after the parent tried to block him. Scott takes grandparents’ rights very seriously, and so he devised a strategy to help the grandparent set a visitation schedule. Scott developed a strategy to show that the child’s best interests were fulfilled through the grandparent’s ability to visit the child, helping push the case towards a resolution in the client’s favor.
Scott assisted a client who was injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence. The defendant claimed that the opposing party using their phone at the time of the crash, and Scott emphasized this claim to show that the other driver was at fault for the client’s injuries. The case concluded with the client receiving the necessary compensation for medical bills following a long hospital stay due to injuries.
I cannot say enough good things about Scott Hamblin and his team. From the beginning, Scott was extremely organized, thorough, and realistic. He was always honest with me about my options and what to expect, and he never made promises he couldn't guarantee. At the same time, he was confident, strategic, and fully prepared. Going into trial, I knew we had challenges. It was clear the guardian ad litem's position was biased and not favorable to me, and at times, it felt like the odds were stacked against me. However, Scott's preparation, command of the facts, and ability to clearly…
If you are looking for an attorney who always strives to win, Scott is your number one choice. He is here for you and is there to win the case. I believe he has the best of intentions to do the job he is hired for every time. Best of all, he takes pride in his work!! If you are reading this, there is no need to look any further.
Going to court is, without a doubt, the scariest and my stressful thing that I have ever done. All the legalities and unknowns are all you can think about, and having a good attorney to ease some of those worries is essential. From the first day we met Mr. Hamblin, he has been kind, understanding, and patient with us. He was great at listening and giving us options. Also, when needed, he communicated when we were being unreasonable. Honestly, we have all been a little unreasonable when frustrated, but I was glad he communicated that before we went to court.…
This is where I found myself about a year ago – reading Scott Hamblin’s Google reviews and wondering who I should turn to for help. My ex-wife (a former family law attorney) was trying to relocate our two children out of state. I’m not an attorney. I didn’t yet live in Cole County. I read Scott’s bio and his reviews and decided to take a chance. It was one of the best decisions I made during the most difficult year of my life. Scott is a trial attorney, and he is a pro. He set clear expectations about the case,…
When first starting out I wasn't sure who could handle my situation I was in I did some research on Google and found Scott Hamblin and read the reviews I ended up hiring Scott Hamblin and I was in a situation where the Mom was making really bad allegations and alienating me from my Child but in the end Scott Hamblin was a great lawyer he did his job extremely well and was able to get my son back to me I definitely would recommend him to anyone that is in need with any kind of legal or family case.
Attorney Hamblin is extremely professional, kind, and caring. We hired him for a family law case. We won!! He was prepared for the case and did an excellent job. I would highly recommend him. I trust him so much that I’m planning to have him help us with our will next. I deeply appreciate how hard he worked for us.
I was going through a contested divorce case and custody battle. When I hired Scott I felt my world was crashing around me. Scott jumped in and handled the case very professionally and to the point. He argued the facts and made sure that my rights was not violated. I am happy to report that I have my children with me now and could not be happier. Thank you Scott for fighting for me. If I ever need an attorney again, Scott Hamblin will be the one that I am going to call.
I hired Scott in the middle of my 2 yearlong custody modification case. After discussing with Scott about how I felt I did not have an aggressive enough lawyer with my first lawyer for the case, I was fighting against ex-husband, Scott gladly took the case. Scott and Madysn were extremely responsive with questions that I had and, helped me along the way to make the best decisions for my case with my financial situation in mind. Scott left no rock unturned in the trial and was extremely prepared for the case. After a long 2 days' worth of trial,…
Scott was knowledgeable and efficient, expertly guiding us through the process. He took the time to explain every step clearly and made sure we felt informed and confident in our decisions. Beyond his professionalism and attention to detail, Scott was also incredibly kind and personable, which made working with him a genuinely positive experience. His responsiveness and approachable demeanor helped put us at ease throughout. I would highly recommend Scott to anyone in need of legal services.
Scott and his office were so helpful, thorough and professional during a very adversarial divorce. He offers good solid advice. He does not pursue options which will more than likely not yield a good result ( unless the client insists). He strives to give his clients the best results for their money. He's personable but professional. He answers inquiries quickly and clearly. Highly recommend!
For accessible and experienced representation, contact attorney Scott Hamblin today.
NUVEW | Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | Privacy Policy
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing contact information, users acknowledge and give explicit consent to be contacted via the methods of communication provided, including SMS. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Reply STOP to opt out.
