It is already that time of year again. Time for the purple, green and gold. Time for king cakes, krewes, beads and parades. Mardi Gras season brings great joy and revelry to the New Orleans area. However, your feelings of excitement and good cheer can turn sour if you find yourself facing a DWI charge. Should you find yourself in such a predicament, it is vitally important to know what to do in order to prevent a bad situation from becoming even worse, especially if you’re visiting from another state.
- Learn more about Louisiana’s DWI law.
During Mardi Gras, the population of New Orleans roughly doubles. Both locals and visitors alike who choose to consume alcohol or other controlled substances as part of their Mardi Gras experience should be keenly aware that area law enforcement agencies ramp up to enforce a “crackdown” on drunk drivers during this time of year. Law enforcement officers have powerful tools at their disposal, too, including a $350,000 mobile unit that can perform DWI breath analyses in the field, the Times-Picayune reported.
This emphasis exists because Mardi Gras typically is the most dangerous time of year on area roads. According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission statistics from 2010, the period from Friday evening through midnight on Fat Tuesday saw 509 crashes involving injuries or fatalities. That number was higher than any other holiday during the year. Six people died in drunk driving-related accidents, tying Mardi Gras with Christmas for the most DWI-related fatalities.
If you are a visitor to Louisiana and officers arrest you on a DWI charge, it is essential that you take the matter extremely seriously. Louisiana shares drunk driving arrest information with other states. This means that, if you are convicted of a drunk driving charge here, Louisiana will report it to your home state and that state will punish you as if you were caught there. This could trigger significant penalties, including a suspension of your driver’s license back home.
One important step you can take to help yourself is to contact a Louisiana attorney. Your Louisiana attorney can help navigate the legal system to help you minimize the penalties you may incur. Retaining a Louisiana attorney will also help you reduce the amount of time and money you have to spend returning to the state to defend your case. Also, depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for an expungement of your arrest. Your attorney can advise you about this option and help you pursue it if you are eligible.
The best way to enjoy Mardi Gras is do so responsibly and ensure that you do not mix drinking and driving as part of your festive experience. However, should you face a DWI/DUI charge, take prompt action to defend yourself. Reach out to the Louisiana DWI/DUI attorneys at the Cardone Law Firm. We have experience and knowledge with handling all types of DWI/DUI cases, including cases involving out-of-state drivers, and can help you make sure that your time at Mardi Gras does not dramatically impair the rest of your life.
For your confidential consultation contact us online or phone Cardone at 504-522-3333.
More Blog Posts:
Ignition Interlock Devices and Louisiana DWI/DUI Law, Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog, Jan. 21, 2014
What to Do If You’re Injured By a Drunk Driver, Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog, Dec. 20, 2013