New Orleans DWI Defense Attorney

Have you been arrested for a DWI in New Orleans

Being arrested for a DWI is a very stressful and embarrassing event. DWI is driving while intoxicated, also called DUI, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. DWI is a serious criminal offense in Louisiana. An individual convicted of DWI / DUI faces a term of imprisonment, fines, a driver’s license suspension, and higher insurance premiums.

Elizabeth B. Carpenter has an excellent reputation as a New Orleans DWI defense attorney. She has been a member National College for DUI Defense (NCDD). Additionally, she has completed courses on NHTSA DUI Detection and Field Sobriety Testing and the breath testing machine known as the Intoxilyzer 5000. These are the same courses law enforcement must take. This level of dedication to her practice helps her challenge the common errors that police officers make when arresting citizens for DWI in the New Orleans. Sometimes these errors create enough evidence for a dismissal of the entire case.

Louisiana DWI Laws

The crime for operating a vehicle while intoxicated or impaired can be found at Louisiana Revised Statute 14:98.

The crime of operating a vehicle while impaired is the operating of any motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, vessel, or other means of conveyance when any of the following conditions exist:

(a) The operator is impaired by alcoholic beverages.

(b) The operator’s blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or more.

(c) The operator is impaired by any other drug, combination of drugs, or combination of alcohol and drugs.

Noteworthy:

A valid driver’s license shall not be an element of the offense, and the lack thereof is not a defense to a prosecution for operating a vehicle while impaired.

Drug means any substance that can impair the ability of the person to operate a vehicle safely.

Louisiana DWI Penalties

Louisiana DWI laws are complicated and ever-changing. The potential penalties for driving while intoxicated conviction will depend on several factors. For example, a first DUI conviction in Louisiana may result in license suspension, probation, alcohol education, community service, fines and court fees of up to $1000, and even a parish jail sentence from 48 hours to 6 months. Additional convictions for driving while intoxicated, such as a second DWI, will result in enhanced penalties. A fourth conviction can be charged as a felony DWI / DUI – with a state prison sentence.

Louisiana penalties for DWI convictions can carry even more serious penalties when the crime is aggravated by the defendant’s age, the presence of a minor in the vehicle, or when the crime resulted in an accident.

New Orleans DWI Arrest

A law enforcement officer must have a legal reason to stop a vehicle. Common reasons an officer may stop a vehicle are reckless driving, improper equipment, traffic violation, accident, and many more. Experienced New Orleans criminal defense attorney, Elizabeth B. Carpenter, may be able to challenge the stop if it was illegal. This could have a significant effect on the outcome of a DWI case.

A DWI arrest is based solely on the officer’s subjective opinion, and machines used to measure blood alcohol content can be unreliable or provide misstated results when not administered properly. Therefore, DWI defense is complicated and involves understanding of the scientific and legal issues. Ms. Carpenter regularly educates herself about the latest laws and strategies for defending DWI cases..

Contact: New Orleans DWI Attorney

An arrest for DWI doesn’t have to ruin your future, but you must take immediate action to defend your reputation and license. Time is of the essence when it comes to DUI and DWI cases. Talking with an New Orleans DWI Attorney immediately after your arrest is the only way to ensure that your rights are protected. Given the severity of the possible penalties associated with a Louisiana a DWI conviction, you owe it to yourself and your future to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Contact 504-599-5955.