If you live in the State of Louisiana, or were vacationing or visiting there, or just passing through on your way to another destination and were stopped and arrested on a DUI charge, you need to find an experienced DUI lawyer in the State of Louisiana to represent you. DWI (driving while intoxicated) or DUI (driving under the influence) has a complicated and complex set of laws, rules, and regulations governing the crime. It will take an experienced lawyer to help you maneuver through this legal nightmare.

A DWI or DUI crime is a serious offense and can have quite harsh penalties if you are convicted. DUI laws are constantly changing and you will need to hire a Louisiana lawyer who has up-to-date knowledge of the varying laws.

In the State of Louisiana, driving or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated is called a DUI. The DUI is further established by having a measure of 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in your body. No evidence of impairment is necessary at this level of BAC, which is called the “per se” law. Just having a 0.08 BAC is enough evidence for a conviction.

You must file a challenge to your case within 15 days or you will lose your driver’s license without a hearing. You need to make your request to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections for your hearing. It is absolutely of the utmost importance to find and hire a Louisiana lawyer to represent you in your defense of this charge.

Even as a first time offender, you will face jail time, monetary fines, probation, and driver’s license suspension with your Louisiana DUI conviction. You can also plan on spending between 10 days and 6 months in jail. If your BAC level was 0.15 or higher, the first two days of your jail sentence will start immediately upon arrest, and you will not be allowed bail or parole. It is possible that your jail term can be exchanged for four days of community service work.

Sentence probation is only possible after completion of time, either in jail or in community service work, and you have attended a driver’s education program and a substance abuse program, as ordered by the Louisiana court.

In the State of Louisiana, you will be responsible for costs related to your crime, ranging from $300 to $1,000. The State of Louisiana also requires you pay $75 to a Victims Restitution Fund and $50 in expenses to the court. Your driver’s license will be revoked for 90 days. After 30 days, you may apply for a temporary “hardship” license to enable you to get back and forth between work or school. It will eventually cost you $50 more to get your license reinstated. A hardship license will state what specific roads you may drive on, generally the pathways to work or school. If you are caught on any other roads than the ones you are limited to, all your driving privileges will be remanded for six months. A DUI in Louisiana can be quite costly. You will need to find an experienced lawyer in Louisiana to help you try to minimize the damage from your DUI charge.

Penalties

First Offense punishment

• Jail time, 10 days to 6 months
• Monetary fines ranging between $300 and $1,000
• Driver’s license suspension for 90 days
• Must attend a driver improvement class

Second Offense consequences

• Jail time, 30 days to 6 months
• Fines up to $1,000
• Driver’s license suspension for one year
• Community service hours possible

Third Offense penalties

• Jail time, 6 months to 5 years
• Fines up to $2,000
• Driver’s license suspension for two years
• Community service hours possible