St. Louis County DWI Attorney
For over 18 years Anthony Bretz has been serving clients as a St. Louis County DWI Attorney. As a result, he knows what it takes to win and has the confidence to get his clients the best results.
St. Louis County Circuit Court is the 21st Judicial Circuit in Missouri and home to the largest dockets in the state. It is located in Clayton, Missouri just off of I-170 and Forest Park Avenue at 105 South Central, Clayton, MO 63105.
With a population of nearly 1 Million people in St. Louis County, the Circuit Court handles around 120,000 plus cases each year. For DWI charges, all felony DWIs are filed by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, as well as many first and second DWIs based on arrests made by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
St. Louis County has an extensive system of municipalities, around 90 different municipal governments. There are around 80 municipal courts spread across the area as well. These courts handle class B and A misdemeanors cases based on arrests by their officers.
There are also three St. Louis County Muncipal Court divisions which handle DWIs filed by the St. Louis County Counselor's Office.
Anthony Bretz practices out of Clayton and is familiar with the prosecutors, judges, and police officers. He's learned what works and what doesn't through 18 years of experience protecting his clients' futures against DWI charges.
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In addition to the Circuit Court, Anthony also defends DWI clients in the following municipalities of St. Louis County:
St. Louis DWI Lawyer
With 18 years' experience representing DWI clients in St. Louis County Anthony Bretz can help you avoid serious first time DWI penalties including fines, license suspension, increased insurance rates, and even jail time. You don't have to plead guilty.
Short deadlines for your license and seroius consequences make it important that you call an experienced St. Louis DWI lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact a St. Louis DWI Lawyer Now
Anthony Bretz represents individuals charged with DWI and other traffic-related offenses throughout St. Louis and St. Charles County.
Limited Time to Act to Save your Driver's License
If you provided a breath or blood sample with a BAC, then you only have 15 days request an Administrative Hearing before your license is suspended.
If you refused to submit to a breathalyzer, then you have 30 days to file a Petition for Review of the Breathalyzer Refusal Revocation, but your temporary driving permit is good for only 15 days.
Consequences of a Missouri DWI
The possible consequences you can suffer for a DWI conviction depends on whether it is felony, first, or second DWI. If there is an accident involving an injury this can increase the potential punishment as well.
In the municipal courts of St. Louis County the judge can sentence you to pay a fine of $1000 and/or a jail sentence of 6 months for your First DWI; or $2000 and/or a jail term of 1 year for a Second DWI within 5 years.
You also face a 90-Day to 1-Year license suspension or revocation. The length of time depends on whether there is a BAC result above the legal limit of 0.08% or it is a conviction for a first or second DWI.
The DOR may also require you to install an ignition interlock device.
Possible DWI Defenses
Each DWI arrest presents multiple potential defenses that can result in a dismissal or reduction in charges.
Improper Traffic Stop
There must be reasonable suspicion to justify the underlying traffic stop. That means the officer must have specific, observable facts such as excessive speed, weaving within or between lanes, or a Sobriety Check Point. Violations of your Constitutional rights can result in suppression of evidence and even dismissal of charges.
Unreliable Testing and Procedures
Whether you submitted a breath sample or after a refusal blood was drawn pursuant to a warrant, the prosecutor and the DOR may only rely on the results if the testing procedures are reliable. For example, breath results can be excluded for improper maintenance of the breathalyzer machine, or failure of the testing officer to observe you for 15 minutes prior to the sample being collected. Blood can likewise be excluded if the person drawing the sample didn't use the proper vial, the sample wasn't stored properly, or the chain-of-custody was broken.
Unreliable Standardized Field Sobriety Test Results
If the field sobriety tests were not conducted pursuant to guidelines issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, then those results can be suppressed as unreliable. This in turn can undermine the arresting officer's reasonable suspicion or probable cause for the DWI arrest.
Why Hire a DWI Lawyer in St. Louis County, Missouri?
You need to hire a DWI lawyer in St. Louis County, Missouri to protect your license, your freedom, and your future.
A trained and experienced DWI attorney can prevent you from losing your driver's license by challening the evidence and cross-examining the officer at the DOR Administrative Hearing or Breathalyzer Refusal Trial.
Your attorney gives you the best shot at winning your DWI case, making the best case for a reduction in charges, or getting the best plea deal offered. In the end, your attorney can limit your criminal and license punishments.
Why Choose Bretz Legal, LLC?
Attorney Anthony Bretz provides dedicated representation for individuals facing DWI and traffic-related charges in St. Louis County.
Every case is different, and a thorough review of the facts, police reports, and evidence may identify defenses that could help reduce or resolve the charges against you.
As a DWI lawyer, Anthony Bretz attacks each case because he believes that you are innocent until proven guilty. The police make mistakes and laboratories fail to follow testing procedures.
Clients who choose Bretz Legal do so because they know Anthony is going to be the attorney handling their case. His clients appreciate the ease with which they can get ahold of him and the clarity of his explanations.
Serving Clients Throughout St. Louis County
Bretz Legal, LLC proudly represents individuals charged with DWI throughout St. Louis County, Chesterfield, Florissant, Frontenac, Hazelwood, Ladue, Manchester, Ballwin, Elllisville, Sunset Hills, Wildwood, and surrounding communities.
Contact a St. Louis DWI Attorney
If you have been arrested for DWI in St. Louis, Missouri, contact Bretz Legal, LLC to discuss your case and your legal options.
Real DWI Defense Case Results
Class E Felony DWI-Persistent Offender with Blood Results in St. Louis County
Client hired me to represent him for a 3rd DWI in St. Louis County, Missouri: a Class E Felony DWI Persistent Offender case, as well as for the Administrative Hearing for Blood Results. Client faced up to 4 years in prison, and revocation of his driver's license if he were convicted.
Outcome: Criminal case the Felony charge was amended to a Misdemeanor and won the Civil license case. Client was extremely happy.
Class C Felony DWI Client in St. Louis County
Client was arrested and charged with a Fifth DWI in St. Louis County, classified as a Chronic DWI Offender: a class C Felony, facing 3-10 years in prison.
Outcome: Anthony Bretz got the Felony DWI dismissed and won the Breathalyzer Refusal civil trial.
Class E Felony DWI Client in St. Louis County
Client hired me to represent her third DWI, a Class E Felony DWI case in St. Louis County, Missouri. She’d previously served her administrative suspension for her driving privileges before hiring me, so there was no companion civil case.
Client was arrested and charged as a Persistent DWI Offender, a class E Felony and faced up to 4 years in prison, and revocation of her driver's license if she were convicted.
Outcome: Anthony Bretz got the Felony DWI dismissed.
Class D Felony DWI Client in St. Louis County
Client was arrested and charged as a Persistent DWI Offender, a class D Felony and faced up to 4 years in prison, and revocation of his driver's license. Anthony Bretz set the Criminal case for a Preliminary Hearing and the License case for a trial.
Outcome: Anthony Bretz got the Felony DWI dismissed and won the Refusal Revocation civil trial.
St. Louis DWI Lawyer
Anthony Bretz has been helping clients with their DWI cases in St. Louis County for over 18 years. He knows what it takes to get the best results for his clients.