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The Law Offices of Charles R. Green The Law Offices of Charles R. Green
913-383-3311 | 816-361-0964
913-383-3311 | 816-361-0964
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DUI Lawyer in Lawrence Protect Your Rights, Your Freedom & Your Future

 

Lawrence Municipal Court DUI Lawyer | Attorney Charles R. Green

An arrest for a driving under the influence (DUI) offense in Lawrence, Kansas can  threaten your freedom, your livelihood, and your driver's license in Kansas. The Law Offices of Charles R. Green provides aggressive, strategic DUI defense tailored specifically for the charges against you in Lawrence Municipal Court.
With over 30 years of dedicated DUI and criminal defense experience, attorney Charles R. Green systematically breaks down the City's evidence to protect your future, your driving privileges,  your  record, and mitigate heavy penalties.
 

 Understanding the Lawrence Municipal Court System

The Lawrence Municipal Court handles traffic violations, local ordinance infractions, and misdemeanor offenses within city limits. If you were pulled over by the Lawrence Police Department or University of Kansas (KU) Public Safety officers within city limits, your case will most likely be processed here. If you were arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff or Kansas Highway Patrol your case will be adjudicated down the street at the nearby Douglas County District Courthouse.
  • Court Address: City Hall, 6 E. 6th St.,  Lawrence, KS 66044
  • Jurisdiction: City of Lawrence and University of Kansas local ordinances and misdemeanor traffic offenses.
  • Prosecution: Lawrence employs one full-time Judge and one full-time Prosecutor. No Jury Trials are held in Municipal Court,
  • Penalties: A Guilty plea or Conviction for DUI can result in a permanent criminal history and mandatory driver's license suspensiom.
 

Aggressive DUI Defense in Lawrence Municipal Court

Municipal court cases can move quickly. Immediate action by your attorney including preserving video of the arrest and booking area and Intoxilyzer video  can affect the trajectory of your case. Attorney Charles R. Green prioritizes five critical target areas when building your defense:
 

Challenging the Initial Traffic Stop

We analyze dashcam and body camera footage to examine  whether the officer had probable cause to make a stop for a traffic violation or to initiate contact with you if your vehicle was not moving.
 

Field Sobriety Testing

Field Sobriety Testing in Lawrence can include reciting the alphabet , counting backwards, walking a straight line and standing on one leg while counting out loud. Some of these tests are non-standardized meaning they don't have strict guidelines. Some, such as the Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) tests have limited value and may in fact be inadmissible in Court. Some Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) such as the Walk and Turn test (WAT) and One Leg Stand Test (OLS) have strict guidelines set by NHTSA  as to how they are to be instructed, administered and scored.  We examine what the Officer says in the police report versus your actual performance on the  body camera and dashcam videos. Field Sobriety Tests can be challenged as the  results can be impacted by improper instructions, uneven testing surfaces, weather, passing traffic, or medical conditions.
 

Reviewing the Intoxilyzer 9000

We request and examine  the machine's maintenance logs, calibration records, and operational histories to discover protocol inaccuracies, history of  maintenance,  or deviations from KDHE state standards.
 

Protecting Your Driving Privileges

We immediately request your Kansas Driver License Hearing with the Kansas Department of Revenue  (KDOR) in Topeka. This allows you to continue driving while the administrative process is pending. We subpoena the Officer to appear at the Hearing and represent you throughout this process. We advise you of the potential implications a breath test failure or refusal may have  including   license suspension and ignition interlock requirements. Kansas is now one of several states that have mandatory suspension and ignition interlock requiirements for DUI, even on a first DUI offense.
 
 
 

Critical Deadlines: The 14-Day Kansas Deadline . Do not wait for your first court appearance to take action.

Following a DUI arrest in Lawrence you have exactly 14 calendar days to submit a formal request to KDOR for a Kansas administrative driver's license hearing. If a Hearing is not requested  within this window, the Kansas Department of Revenue will automatically suspend your driver's license without a Hearing, regardless of what happens in Court. The administrative process moves independently of your municipal court DUI case.
 

What are the Penalties for a  DUI Conviction in Lawrence?

 
Range of PenaltiesFirst DUI OffenseSecond DUI OffenseThird DUI Offense (Felony/Misdemeanor)
Potential Jail Time 6  months maximum5 days to 1 year90 days to 1 year
Fine Limits $750 to $1,250$1,250 to $1,750$1,750 to $2,500
License Suspension30 days to 1 year1 year minimum2 years minimum
Ignition Interlock  (IID)6 months to 1 year1 to 2 years2 to 10 years
Criminal Record StatusClass B MisdemeanorClass A MisdemeanorNonperson Felony or Misdemeanor
 

What is the Diversion Program in Lawrence?

The Lawrence City Prosecutor's Office provides a diversion program under Kansas Staute that lets eligible individuals avoid a permanent criminal conviction and jail time. However, acceptance is at the discretion of the Prosecutor and not guaranteed. Diversion is a privilege and not a right. Diversions in Lawence are granted only to first-time offenders with DUi cases that have no extenuating or extreme circumstances. When advisable, we handle the strict, multi-step diversion application process and evaluation protocols required by the city prosecutor to keep your criminal record clean.Applying for Diversion  requires navigating precise municipal guidelines:
 

Eligibility Restrictions

You may be denied Diversion  if you have a prior DUI arrest or conviction,  a prior DUI  diversion, were involved in an accident causing injury, or hold a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
 

Mandatory ADSAP Evaluation Requirement

A diversion application must be accompanied by an substance abuse evaluation conducted by a Kansas-certified provider or it will not be accepted by the court clerk.  
 

Application Submission

A Diversion application must be submitted with a  non-refundable filing fee while your case is actively open and before the case is set for trial. Diversion appications will not be considered after a trial. The Law Offices of Charles R. Green guides you through the application process, coordinates with certified local evaluators, and helps you navigate the Diversion process.
 
 
 
 
 
 

What is the Difference between OUI (Operating Under the Influence) and DUI (Driving Under the Influence)?

I have been representing KU students, Lawrence residents, and visitors to Lawrence for more than twenty years in Lawrence Municipal Court and a question I often get is 'I received an OUI charge in Lawrence, is that different from or less serious than a DUI Charge?' The short answer is that the two are identical and treated the same under Kansas law and that the Administrative Procedure regarding a potential Drivers License suspension is the same. Lawrence Municipal Court also processes a large amount of Minor in Possession / Consumption (MIP) cases when KU is in session. Traffic enforcement also nabs a fair amount of out-of-town guests in town for a KU Basketball or Football game.

Can I Still Drive after a DUI Arrest in Lawrence?

When you have been charged with Operating Under the Influence or OUI , you want to be aware of your state and federal constitutional rights, which include the right to have a defense attorney represent you at all stages of the process, including both the criminal case in Lawrence Municipal Court, and the Administrative Drivers License Hearing with the Kansas Department of Revenue, which is civil in nature. When you have been charged with OUI in Lawrence you have ten days or fourteen calendar days to request the Drivers License Hearing regarding the possible suspension or revocation of your Kansas Driver License. You want to read the small print on the DC-27 form (Pink Form) the Lawrence Police Officer gave you: a request for a Drivers License Hearing must be in writing and made within fourteen days maximum. When you hire the Law Offices of Charles R. Green one of the first steps we take is to request the Administrative Hearing on your behalf. This not only protects your right to review but also importantly allows you to continue to have valid driving privileges during the process.

Will I Serve Jail Time for a DUI in Lawrence?

Kansas statute no longer mandates jail time for a first-time DUI offense. A second DUI carries a minimum jail sentence of five days and a maximum penalty of one year in the Douglas County Jail. A third DUI offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor if both priors are at least ten years old.

Put the experience and defensive skills of a Lawrence OUI lawyer from The Law Offices of Charles R. Green on your side to help you navigate the potential minefield of an OUI charge in Lawrence. Many DUI Lawyers in Lawrence, including my office charge nothing for the initial consultation regarding your case; contact us today at 913.383.3311 or submit a Fast and Confidential Case Evaluation form on our website 

Lawrence Municipal Court Information

The Municipal Court of Lawrence is the judicial branch of the City, handling all misdemeanor, traffic and city code violations. There is no right to a Jury Trial in Lawrence Municipal Court, and all appeals from Municipal Court are made to Douglas County District Court. The Court employs a full-time staff of Prosecutors and one full-time Judge. You may petition for expungement of an offense from Lawrence Municipal Court after three years have passed since the sentence was satisfied or probation was completed. However some cases including Operating Under the Influence (OUI), or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) , Driving While Suspended, or Leaving the Scene of an Accident require a five year waiting period.

The Lawrence Municipal Court hears cases involving OUI, DUI, Boating While Intoxicated (BWI), Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Probation Violations, Misdemeanor Possession of Drugs (Marijuana or other controlled substance), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Stealing or Shoplifting (Misdemeanor Theft) cases, Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP), Transporting Open Container of Alcohol (TOC), Speeding Tickets, Careless Driving, and other traffic tickets and City Ordinance violations.

Put Our Experience to Work for You: Representing Clients in Lawrence Since 1993

Regardless of whether you are facing a criminal charge for a first time DUI or if you have been charged with multiple DUI, the fact remains the same: the very best thing that you can do to help protect your rights is to speak with an aggressive DUI lawyer. The evidence that can be held against you, especially pertaining to BAC from a breath and blood test or the results of a field sobriety test, can be difficult to work with and without the right amount of experience in the legal arena can appear impossible to overcome.   

You have the right to an aggressive legal defense. Even if you have been charged with implied consent refusal, you do not need to feel hopeless. At the Law Offices of Charles R. Green, their legal team has extensive experience in handling cases involving DUI, both in Kansas and Missouri, and know the work and attention to detail it takes to defend them - from an underage DUI to a felony to a BWI. For this reason, if you contact them to help navigate you through the complex process, you can breathe easier knowing that they will do everything possible to assist you. Contact us today at 913.383.3311 or submit a Fast and Confidential Case Evaluation form on our website . 

Lawrence DUI Resources

DUI Information Center   
About Lawrence   
Lawrence, KS Site   
City of Lawrence Official Twitter Page

Lawrence Municipal Court Information

Website   
6 E. 6th Street   
Lawrence, KS 66044   
Phone: (785) 832-6190  

Hours   
Monday – Friday   
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kansas City DUI Information

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