Anyone can be arrested for driving while intoxicated. One night’s mistake, a problem with drugs or alcohol or simply having a single more drink that makes your blood alcohol concentration over 0.08 percent can lead to an arrest for drunk driving. That was demonstrated recently when a St. Louis police lieutenant was arrested on suspicion of DWI. The officer was off duty and in his own vehicle when pulled over by the Missouri Highway Patrol. The officer was pulled over for a traffic violation and subsequently arrested and taken to the Maryland Heights police department. He was later released from prison and put on administrative duty until an internal investigation by the police is completed. Having a DWI on your record can provide a number of difficulties and can cause embarassment, especially for people who are prominent in the community. When a public figure or person in a position of respect gets a DWI, be it a politician, police officer, teacher or other occupation, it can be difficult to mitigate the damage in the court of public opinion. However, there are ways to fight DWI penalties and avoid conviction, such as if an officer did not have probable cause to pull the driver over. In addition, it can be possible to avoid jail time and a complete driver’s license suspension in some cases, allowing the person convicted of a DWI to continue to work. People who have been charged with a DWI should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows the ins and outs of DWI cases in St. Louis to discuss potential legal options. Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “St. Louis police lieutenant arrested on suspicion of DWI,” Christine Byers, June 26, 2013