Criminal Defense » DWI and DUI in Louisiana New Orleans Tourism and DWI in Louisiana
The city of New Orleans thrives on tourist related festivals, parties, conventions, and events that occur almost on a daily basis throughout the city and its suburbs. Some of the more notable events held in the city of New Orleans include the Mardi Gras parades and celebrations, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Voodoo Music Experience, the New Orleans Halloween Celebration, the French Quarter Festival, Essence Festival, New Orleans Wine and Food Experience and Southern Decadence. Given the party and celebratory atmosphere, alcohol flows very liberally at many of these events, leading some individuals to run afoul with the law when caught driving while intoxicated. Whether a tourist or a local resident taking part in the fun, the Louisiana DWI and DUI laws remain the same regardless of the occasion or whether you are from out of town. These charges are also taken very seriously by municipal and parish law enforcement, as the number of individuals, pedestrians, and other drivers on the roads during these events makes the potential danger from a driver under the influence greater. If you are from out of town and have been arrested for DWI or DUI, it is important to have a knowledgeable local attorney who can help guide you through the intricacies of the legal system in Louisiana and help ensure the best result possible for your case.
The police don’t just catch drunk drivers in the French Quarter. The New Orleans Police Department and the police departments of surrounding parishes conduct sobriety checkpoints in order to make sure that those driving on Louisiana roads are not intoxicated. Furthermore, if a driver displays suspicious behavior, a police officer might have probable cause to pull them over on suspicion of driving under the influence. The areas of the East Bank, including Metairie, River Ridge, Elmwood, Jefferson, and Kenner, as well as the areas of the West Bank, including Avondale, Bridge City, Westwego, Marrero, Harvey, Gretna, Terrytown, Estelle, Timberlane, and Woodmere are heavily policed by law enforcement for drivers under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. An arrest for DWI in these locations, as well as in the Northshore and River Parish areas, carry the same penalties in the eyes of the law.
Fortunately, for drivers arrested in the greater New Orleans area for DWI, a process for expunging criminal convictions and arrests is provided by Louisiana state law. Bloom Legal regularly assists clients in the process of expunging their records of DWI arrests and other criminal charges under the provisions of Article 893 and Article 894. Specifically, almost all DWI guilty pleas can be expunged under the provisions of Article 894 for this misdemeanor charge. Please click here for more information on DWI and DUI expungements in Louisiana.
