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Shreveport DWI Lawyer

DWI Defense Attorney in Shreveport, LA

There are few things more unsettling than noticing a cop car following you home late at night. When the flashing lights come on, things can quickly go downhill. Before you know it, you head toward a police station in the back of the patrol car. Unfortunately, receiving a DWI in Shreveport is not only a frustrating experience, it can also quickly become very costly down the road.

Louisiana has strict DWI laws that mandate jail time and other consequences for convicted offenders. Additionally, offenders have just 30 days after their arrest to request a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles to maintain their drivers’ licenses. If you face charges for DWI in Shreveport, contact an experienced attorney right away!

Representation for DWI in Shreveport

A first-time DWI is a misdemeanor offense, but don’t let that lead you to believe it is a slap on the wrist. A first-time DWI will open up a criminal history and remain valid for ten years, during which the DWI will be counted against you if you are convicted and sentenced for a second offense. Whether you have been arrested for your first or third DWI, you will face minimum jail time, fines, and other penalties.

First DWI (Misdemeanor): Up to six months imprisonment; fine up to $1,000
Second DWI (Misdemeanor): Up to six months imprisonment; fine up to $1,000
Third DWI (Felony): Up to five years imprisonment; fine up to $2,000
Fourth DWI (Felony): Up to thirty years imprisonment; fine up to $5,000

These penalties are just the tip of the iceberg. Depending on the nature of your offense, you could be ordered to conduct community service, spend a minimum period of time in jail, pay for and install an ignition interlock device, attend a driver’s education program, and more. A Shreveport DWI defense attorney can challenge your DWI to help you avoid the worst consequences.

Challenging the DWI Stop

Your DWI lawyer will investigate all aspects of the traffic stop that led to your arrest to ensure the officer conducted the stop properly. The officer must have had a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing to pull you over. This means that he or she must have had a legitimate reason to believe you were breaking the law, such as clocking you speeding or observing irregular driving patterns that signaled impaired driving. Without reasonable suspicion, the officer cannot pull a driver over and issue a citation. If the judge determines that the officer lacked reasonable suspicion, the prosecutor may drop the charges.

Challenging the Breath Test

The breath test you took at the time of your DWI arrest may also have been riddled with errors due to faulty machinery or incompetent test administration. Your DWI lawyer will investigate the test results and the breathalyzer itself to ensure accurate results.

Don’t hesitate to get a persistent attorney on your side. Attorney Eric Johnson of the John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm has successfully defended clients in DWI and related cases for over 24 years. He has excellent working relations with investigators and experts and puts their expertise to work to mitigate the penalties pertaining to DWI charges. He will also take care to appear for the driver’s license hearing on your behalf so you have the best chance of keeping your driver’s license.