Louisiana DWI DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Louisiana is 0.08% per se
(effective from Sep 30th 2003)

(If you’ve been charged with Louisiana DUI, the law allows only 15 days for your Louisiana DUI Lawyer to make a request with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety for a hearing to save your driving license)

Louisiana DUI DWI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Louisiana it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Louisiana and implied consent laws are enforced.

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI DWI - Drunk Driving in Louisiana

Louisiana is a state with a five-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after five years. If it is five years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within five years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

First DUI DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first DUI DWI - drunk driving conviction in Louisiana:

• up to $1,000 fine plus court costs
• up to 6 months in jail
• up to 90 days drivers license suspension (180 days if under the age of 21)
• possible ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement (if child under 12 was in vehicle or involved in an accident which resulted in serious bodily injuries)
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second DUI DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second DUI DWI - drunk driving conviction in Louisiana:

• up to $1,000 fine plus court costs
• up to 6 months in jail (mandatory 48 hours)
• up to 1 year drivers license suspension (180 days if under the age of 21)
• ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third DUI DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Felony

The penalty for a third DUI DWI - drunk driving conviction in Louisiana:

• up to $2,000 fine plus court costs
• 1 to 5 year in jail (mandatory 30 days)
• up to 2 year drivers license suspension
• mandatory substance abuse treatment program
• possible seizure and sale of motor vehicle
• ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth DUI DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - FELONY

The penalty for a fourth DUI DWI - drunk driving conviction in Louisiana:

• up to $5,000 fine plus court costs
• up to 30 years in jail (mandatory 30 days)
• up to 2 years drivers license suspension
• mandatory substance abuse treatment program
• 5 years home incarceration
• possible seizure and sale of motor vehicle
• ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• SR22 insurance requirement

Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Louisiana and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Louisiana

In Louisiana, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

First chemical test refusal

• 180 days drivers license suspension
• possible ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second (And subsequent) chemical test refusal

• 545 days drivers license suspension
• ignition interlock restriction upon drivers license re-instatement
• SR22 insurance requirement

If you submit to the test and you are 21 years of age or older, and the test results show a BAC level of 0.08% or more, your driving privileges will be suspended for 90 days. If you submit to the test and you are under 21 years of age, and the test results show a BAC level of 0.02% or more, your driving privileges will be suspended for 180 days. These are the specified penalties for first offense. If it is a second or subsequent offense, your driving privileges will be suspended for 365 days.

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IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE

A condition to be met in order to re-instate a drivers license in Louisiana after a suspension for chemical test refusal or DUI is that of installing an ignition interlock device. The time period for which the device must remain installed is the same length of time as the mandatory drivers license suspension period of the offense which was committed OR 180 days, whichever is greater.

Louisiana Auto insurance (High Risk DUI DWI SR22 Insurance)

Louisiana auto insurance quotes ENTER ZIP CODE:

Louisiana SR-22 auto insurance is usually required for a period of 3 years after a DUI - DWI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider. Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE DUI DWI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Louisiana auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Louisiana

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Louisiana for private passenger vehicles is (15/30/25). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $15,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $30,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $25,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local Louisiana Lawyer

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Louisiana DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Louisiana drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Louisiana Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Louisiana? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Louisiana? • Does Louisiana have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Louisiana laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Louisiana? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Louisiana criminal defense attorney specialising in Louisiana drunk driving laws today.

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Disclaimer: While every effort is made to keep all information up to date, the Louisiana drunk driving laws change frequently and the information provided should not be construed as legal advice. Drinkdriving.org shall not be held responsible for any actions a person may take as a result of information gathered from this web site. Consultation with a local Louisiana DUI lawyer is recommended in all cases.

Useful Louisiana DUI DWI Links:

DUI DWI - Drunk Driving Laws in Louisiana

Louisiana Drivers Manual

Louisiana SR22 Insurance Requirement

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles

Louisiana Department of Transportation

Louisiana State Courts (Judicial Branch)

Louisiana Department of Insurance

Louisiana DUI Lawyers

Louisiana DUI discussion forum

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