DUI Charges Can Have a Permanent Impact on Your Personal and Professional Life

Hire the Best Criminal Defense Attorney in Shreveport

Did you know that the very first DUI (Driving Under the Influence) you receive in Shreveport can go on your criminal record? Subsequent charges can result in a felony conviction which will permanently affect your personal, professional and social life. When arrested/charged, you must immediately contact a criminal defense attorney who will fight to keep your driving privileges and your record clean.

Also known as DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), penalties for this criminal offense range from a 6-month to 30-year jail term with fines and suspension of your driving license for specified periods.

Here’s how the State of Louisiana treats DWI/DUI offenses:

  • First DWI – Carries a fine of up to $1,000 plus you will pay for all of the legal proceedings. You could spend up to 6 months in jail and lose your driver’s license for 90 days (if you are over 21) to 6 months (if you are under 21).

  • Second DWI: You could spend 48 hours to 6 months in jail, lose your driver’s license for up to a year and be fined up to $1,000 in addition to paying for all of the legal proceedings.

  • Third DWI: You will now have a felony criminal record and can spend from 1 to 5 years in prison, 45 days of which is mandatory jail time. You will also be fined up to $2,000. Your driver’s license will be revoked for 2 years and your vehicle may be seized. Substance abuse treatment and home incarceration follows. You will also be required to do community service.

  • Fourth DWI: In addition to a felony criminal record, you could spend up to 30 years in prison, 75 days of which is mandatory jail time. You will also be fined up to $5,000. Your driver’s license will be revoked for 2 years and your vehicle may be seized. You will be required to undergo substance abuse treatment and be incarcerated at home as well as be required to do community service.

Getting Help from an Experienced Shreveport Criminal Defense Attorney

Just pleading guilty for DUI doesn’t necessarily work in your favor unless you make a proper case. Experienced representation can include dismissal of some or all charges, reduction of charges to a lesser offense and acquittal at trial depending on the circumstances and your past record.

It is important to contact a criminal defense attorney who specializes in drunk driving cases. It is also preferable to hire one who knows how the court system works in Shreveport. Your attorney will be able to analyze your situation and suggest the best possible strategy to avoid conviction. By mounting a viable defense, the lawyer can help persuade the prosecution and steer your case to a more favorable outcome.

Well-known Shreveport criminal defense attorney, David White, has years of experience defending DUI charges. His extensive dealings with local prosecutors can be helpful in obtaining a satisfactory plea agreement wherever possible. He also files expungements to have your criminal record cleared so that you can start afresh. Let him help turn your case around.

Phone 318-747-7023 to discuss your specific situation with our experienced criminal defense attorney in Shreveport, Louisiana.