In Louisiana,the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration while operating a vehicle is .-08. This applies not only to motor vehicles but watercraft and aircraft as well. Additionally, the law accounts for any “other means of conveyance,” which means you may be charged for operating a bike, scooter, moped, or other transportation device if you are doing so under the influence of alcohol.

A driver’s license is a privilege, not a right, and different states can require certain criteria and rules for carrying one. Any individual operating a vehicle on a public highway in Louisiana is deemed, by law, to consent to a chemical test to detect alcohol or drugs. This means, if you are pulled over, and refuse to submit to a chemical test, you will likely be arrested and charged with a DWI, and your license will be suspended for one year.

Penalties for DWIs in Louisiana include prison time, fines, and license suspension or revocation. The specifics of the penalties depend upon the offender’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of arrest, and are compounded with second, third, and fourth offenses. Refusing to submit to an alcohol test will carry its own penalties, including a one year or longer driver’s license suspension.