DWI in Louisiana: two cases start the night of the arrest
Louisiana law calls the offense "operating a vehicle while impaired"; most people say DWI or DUI. It covers driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, or with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more, in a car or a boat. One arrest usually opens two tracks: a criminal case and a separate driver's license case. A DWI defense lawyer can work both before the early deadlines pass. This page lists 24 attorneys and law firms in Louisiana who handle DWI and DUI defense matters.
The license case: 30 days to act
- Implied consent. Drivers arrested for impaired driving on public highways are deemed to have consented to a breath, blood or urine test.
- Hearing request. You have 30 days from the arrest to send a written request for an administrative hearing to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
- If no request is made. The suspension begins automatically: 180 days for a first test of 0.08 to under 0.15, two years for a first test of 0.15 or more, and one year for a first refusal. With an ignition interlock, most drivers can get a restricted license; after a test of 0.15 or more, a hardship license with an interlock is available.
The criminal case
- Where it is tried. Cases are generally tried in the parish where the offense happened, whether the stop was in Benton, Harahan, Franklinton or Tangipahoa Parish.
- First offense. A fine of $300 to $1,000 and 10 days to six months in jail. A suspended sentence comes with probation: 48 hours in jail or 32 hours of community service, a substance abuse program, a driver improvement course and no driving for at least six months without an ignition interlock. A test of 0.15 or more generally means a two-year license suspension.
- Judge, not jury. With a maximum of six months and $1,000, a first offense is tried without a jury.
- Article 894. A court may suspend the sentence and, after probation is completed, set aside the conviction and dismiss the case. This is generally allowed only once in ten years, and the conviction can still count as a prior offense.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
How to Choose a DUI & DWI Lawyer in Louisiana
- Check the license. Every attorney admitted in Louisiana can be looked up through the Louisiana State Bar Association, together with any public discipline. Do it before the first meeting.
- Ask about dui & dwi cases specifically. General practice is not the same as a track record in your type of matter: ask how many similar cases the lawyer handled recently and how they ended.
- Local courts matter. Procedures, filing practice and judges differ from county to county even within Louisiana. Ask whether the lawyer regularly appears in the courts that will hear your case.
- Get the fee agreement in writing. Hourly rate, flat fee or contingency, what counts as costs, and what happens if the case ends early — all of it should be on paper before work starts.
- Compare several profiles. 24 dui & dwi attorneys in Louisiana are listed here, with the largest groups in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Covington. Profiles carry direct contacts, so you can reach two or three of them without an intermediary.