Missouri's constitutional amendment legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21+ and ordered automatic expungement of many past marijuana offenses. But the sharp edges are real: possession over the legal limits, distribution outside the licensed system, and driving under the influence of marijuana all remain crimes — and DWI-drug cases are rising as police lean on blood tests and "drug recognition experts," both of which are very challengeable.
Missouri's Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law now prohibits holding or supporting a phone while driving, for all drivers. Beyond the ticket itself, hands-free violations have become a favorite new basis for traffic stops — which means they're now the first link in the chain of many DWI and drug cases. An unlawful stop poisons everything found after it.
Firing a gun into the air within city limits — the New Year's Eve special — is no longer a municipal slap on the wrist. Blair's Law makes discharging a firearm with criminal negligence within or into city limits a state offense, escalating to higher felonies for repeat conduct.
Missouri created a standalone felony for fleeing a law enforcement officer in a vehicle, with serious prison exposure that escalates when someone is hurt. What used to be charged as resisting by flight now carries dramatically more weight — and prosecutors are using it.
The legislature has repeatedly grown the list of offenses eligible for expungement under RSMo § 610.140 and shortened the waiting periods to three years for felonies and one for misdemeanors. If you were told years ago that your record couldn't be cleared, that answer may simply be outdated. Read more about expungement here.
The law that applies to your case is the law as it stands today — and sometimes the law as it stood on your offense date. Sorting that out is Mike's job. If you're charged or think charges are coming, get current answers, not internet folklore: 636.940.7771.
