To contact a Johnson County traffic attorney: call 913-764-5010 or email info@JoCoTraffic.com
The Law Offices of Jeremiah Johnson, LLC
104 E. Poplar
Suite 100
Olathe, KS 66061
ph: (913) 764-5010
fax: (913) 764-5012
alt: Cell# (913)406-0732 or (816) 258-2687
info
driving under the influence (DUI) attorneys/lawyers/law firm
Despite being a municipal court, Overland Park Municipal Court is one of the largest and best run courts in the State, with the District Courts in Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, and Shawnee Counties being the only courts handling more cases each year. Overland Park Municipal Court employs several experienced and knowledgeable judges.
Overland Park traffic and DUI laws are enforced by the Overland Park Police Department which is one of the largest city police departments in the state and boasts extremely well trained officers. Many of these officers have years of experience and training in the field of DUI detection and enforcement and nearly all of them make excellent and credible witnesses at trial.
In addition, the Overland Park Municipal Prosecutor's Office employs several knowledgeable and tough prosecutors and numerous support staff. They are not afraid to take cases to trial and they are formidable adversaries in the courtroom.
As a result, a driving under the influence charge in Overland Park is an extremely serious matter that should not be taken lightly. The laws pertaining to Overland Park DUIs call for a jail sentence and license suspension for every conviction - even those for first time offenders! First time offenders will be ordered to serve at least 48 hours in jail, although they may also be eligible for an Overland Park DUI diversion.
To minimize the potential damage that can result from an Overland Park DUI charge, you should consider retaining an experienced Overland Park DUI lawyer as soon as possible to protect your liberty, your property, and your family. Call us today at (913)764-5010 for more information and to set up a free initial consultation to evaluate your case.
Overland Park DUI cases usually involve two separate parts: the administrative hearing regarding your driver's license; and the criminal case in Overland Park Municipal Court.
Drivers must request an administrative hearing within 14 days of the date of their arrest or thier license will automatically be suspended for 30 days to a year for first time offenders, up to two years for second time offenders, up to three years for third time offenders, ten years for fourth time offenders and up to life for fifth time offenders.
Our attorneys can request an administrative hearing within that 14 days which will serve to preserve your driving privileges until there is a hearing. If we win the hearing, then your license will not be automatically suspended. If we lose the hearing, then you have 14 days to appeal that decision or your driver's license will be suspended (your license can still be suspended if you are convicted in court)
The criminal case will proceed either in Overland Park Municipal Court (if a misdemeanor) or in Johnson County District Court (if a felony).
The penalties for a first time DUI conviction in Overland Park include a $1000 maximum fine, a six month jail sentence, court ordered treatment and classes, a 12 month probation, and other requirements. If your charged with DUI#2, then the fine jumps to $1500, maximum.
Third and higher lifetime DUI charges will be filed as felonies in Johnson County District Court. Here the fine can be up to $2500, the jail time before probation is granted will be much longer, and the classes/treatment ordered will likely be much more intense.
Overland Park DUI charges consist of two components, both of which can have a tremendous effect on anyone arrested for DUI.
First, there is the proceeding in Overland Park Municipal Court, which concerns the criminal charge where a driver is facing a minimum of six months in jail and hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines.
Second, there will almost always be an administrative hearing resulting from your Overland Park DUI charge. This is where the Kansas Department of Revenue's Driver's License Bureau is trying to suspend your license for a period between 30 days and life.
The possible penalties in Kansas stemming from a DUI conviction are as follows (taken from KSA 8-1567):
"Upon a first conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be guilty of a class B, nonperson misdemeanor and sentenced to not less than 48 consecutive hours nor more than six months' imprisonment, or in the court's discretion 100 hours of public service, and fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000. The person convicted must serve at least 48 consecutive hours' imprisonment or 100 hours of public service either before or as a condition of any grant of probation or suspension, reduction of sentence or parole. In addition, the court shall enter an order which requires that the person enroll in and successfully complete an alcohol and drug safety action education program or treatment program as provided in K.S.A. 8-1008, and amendments thereto, or both the education and treatment programs.
(e) On a second conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be guilty of a class A, nonperson misdemeanor and sentenced to not less than 90 days nor more than one year's imprisonment and fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $1,500. The person convicted must serve at least five consecutive days' imprisonment before the person is granted probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole or is otherwise released. The five days' imprisonment mandated by this subsection may be served in a work release program only after such person has served 48 consecutive hours' imprisonment, provided such work release program requires such person to return to confinement at the end of each day in the work release program. The court may place the person convicted under a house arrest program pursuant to K.S.A. 21-4603b, and amendments thereto, to serve the remainder of the minimum sentence only after such person has served 48 consecutive hours' imprisonment. As a condition of any grant of probation, suspension of sentence or parole or of any other release, the person shall be required to enter into and complete a treatment program for alcohol and drug abuse as provided in K.S.A. 8-1008, and amendments thereto.
(f) On the third conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be guilty of a nonperson felony and sentenced to not less than 90 days nor more than one year's imprisonment and fined not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,500. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served at least 90 days' imprisonment. The court may also require as a condition of parole that such person enter into and complete a treatment program for alcohol and drug abuse as provided by K.S.A. 8-1008, and amendments thereto. The 90 days' imprisonment mandated by this subsection may be served in a work release program only after such person has served 48 consecutive hours' imprisonment, provided such work release program requires such person to return to confinement at the end of each day in the work release program. The court may place the person convicted under a house arrest program pursuant to K.S.A. 21-4603b, and amendments thereto, to serve the remainder of the minimum sentence only after such person has served 48 consecutive hours' imprisonment.
(g) On the fourth or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be guilty of a nonperson felony and sentenced to not less than 90 days nor more than one year's imprisonment and fined $2,500. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served at least 90 days' imprisonment. The 90 days' imprisonment mandated by this subsection may be served in a work release program only after such person has served 72 consecutive hours' imprisonment, provided such work release program requires such person to return to confinement at the end of each day in the work release program. At the time of the filing of the judgment form or journal entry as required by K.S.A. 21-4620 or 22-3426, and amendments thereto, the court shall cause a certified copy to be sent to the officer having the offender in charge. The law enforcement agency maintaining custody and control of a defendant for imprisonment shall cause a certified copy of the judgment form or journal entry to be sent to the secretary of corrections within three business days of receipt of the judgment form or journal entry from the court and notify the secretary of corrections when the term of imprisonment expires and upon expiration of the term of imprisonment shall deliver the defendant to a location designated by the secretary. After the term of imprisonment imposed by the court, the person shall be placed in the custody of the secretary of corrections for a mandatory one-year period of postrelease supervision, which such period of postrelease supervision shall not be reduced. During such postrelease supervision, the person shall be required to participate in an inpatient or outpatient program for alcohol and drug abuse, including, but not limited to, an approved aftercare plan or mental health counseling, as determined by the secretary and satisfy conditions imposed by the Kansas parole board as provided by K.S.A. 22-3717, and amendments thereto. Any violation of the conditions of such postrelease supervision may subject such person to revocation of postrelease supervision pursuant to K.S.A. 75-5217 et seq. , and amendments thereto and as otherwise provided by law."
The administrative penalties (i.e. the proposed length of a license suspension) for Overland Park DUI charges are as follows:
1st Offense:
If an Overland Park police officer is deemed to have valid "reasonable grounds" (a theory similar to "probable cause") to request that you submit to an Intoxilyzer or blood test and you fail the test by providing a breath sample in excess of .08% alcohol - but less than .15% - the Kansas Department of Revenue can suspend your license for a 30-day period, followed by 330 more days of restricted driving privileges.
If you test at or above .15% on a true first offense, or if you refuse the Intoxilyzer test, you face suspension of your driving privileges for a full year followed by an additional year of driving a vehicle only if it is equipped with an ignition interlock device - a machine that can cost almost $100/month to install and lease.
2nd Offense:
If you are arrested by an Overland Park Police officer and fail the Intoxilyzer or blood test by providing a sample in excess of .08% alcohol - but less than .15% - the Kansas Department of Revenue can suspend your license for one full year.
If you test at or above .15% on second offense, you face suspension of your driving privileges for a full year followed by an additional 2 years of driving a vehicle only if it is equipped with an ignition interlock device.
If you refuse the Intoxilyzer test on a second offense, you face suspension of your driver's license for 2 years.
3rd Offense:
If you are arrested by an Overland Park Police Officer and fail the blood or intoxilyzer test by providing a breath sample in excess of .08% alcohol - but less than .15% - the Kansas Department of Revenue can suspend your license for one full year.
If you test at or above .15% on third offense, you face suspension of your driving privileges for a full year followed by an additional 3 years of driving a vehicle only if it is equipped with an ignition interlock device.
If you refuse the Intoxilyzer test on a third offense, you face suspension of your driver's license for 3 years.
4th Offense:
If you are arrested by an Overland Park police officer and fail the test by providing a breath sample in excess of .08% alcohol - but less than .15% - the Kansas Department of Revenue can suspend your license for one full year.
If you test at or above .15% on fourth offense, you face suspension of your driving privileges for a full year followed by an additional 4 years of driving a vehicle only if it is equipped with an ignition interlock device.
If you refuse the Intoxilyzer test on a fourth offense, you face suspension of your driver's license for 10 years.
5th Offense:
If a law enforcement officer is deemed to have valid "reasonable basis" to request that you submit to an Intoxilyzer test and you fail or refuse the test, the penalty is a LIFETIME license suspension. There is currently no way to get your license reinstated.
The Law Offices of Jeremiah Johnson, LLC
104 E. Poplar
Suite 100
Olathe, KS 66061
ph: (913) 764-5010
fax: (913) 764-5012
alt: Cell# (913)406-0732 or (816) 258-2687
info