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HOW LONG WILL YOU LOSE YOUR LICENSE FOR A LOUISIANA DWI? IT DEPENDS

Broocks Greer, Attorney at Law, LLC Dec. 9, 2020

If you get pulled over by police or cause a crash and then proceed to fail a chemical test, the state could very well charge you with driving while intoxicated (DWI). In Louisiana, those charges could mean fines and jail time.

Many people focus on avoiding those criminal penalties when facing a DWI charge in Louisiana. However, the civil consequences of a DWI can be stressful and have a negative effect on your life as well. One of those consequences is the mandatory suspension of your driver’s license. How long will you have to go without a license after a DWI charge?

Your Driving Record and Alcohol Level Determine the Length of Your Suspension

The criminal penalties that you face for a DWI increase with each subsequent offense, and the same is true for the suspension of your license. A first-time DWI conviction will likely mean losing your license for 30 days. If you have a previous DWI conviction on your record, you will probably lose your license for an entire year. A third DWI can mean three years with a suspended license.

It’s worth noting that a higher alcohol level in your bloodstream at the time of your arrest could also increase your suspension period. Those with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.20% or higher will face a suspension four times as high as someone with a lower BAC but the same driving history.

If you discuss your concerns about criminal consequences and the status of your driver’s license with an attorney, you can help mitigate the potential impacts of a DWI arrest.