There is really no such thing as "getting a ticket" for DWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated). Tickets are only issued for traffic violations. DWI is not classified as a traffic violation under Louisiana law - IT'S A CRIMINAL OFFENSE!

In Lincoln Parish, here's what you might expect to get as a MINIMUM penalty for a first-offense DWI:

Embarrassed while you take a field sobriety test on the side of a public street

Take a breath test to determine your blood alcohol content

Arrested on a CRIMINAL charge of DWI (which is now on your record permanently)

Handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a police car

Fingerprinted

Photographed

Jailed - hopefully with a cell mate who isn't "too friendly"

Your name may appear in the newspapers and possibly on radio news broadcasts

Expect to pay a bondsman at least $220 fee to get you out of jail

Expect to pay a lawyer anywhere from $350 to $1,500 (and possibly more) for handling your case

Appear in court for an arraignment (miss work and/or school)

Spend more time in court if a trial is held (miss more work and/or school)

Attend a pre-sentence interview once you're convicted in court (miss still more work and/or school)

Another court appearance for sentencing (you guess it - miss work and/or school yet another time)

Upon a conviction, expect to pay at least $1,000.00 in fines, court costs, probation fees, etc. (that's on top of what was already paid for the bondsman and lawyer)

Work a minimum of ten (10) eight-hour days of community service (80 hours), with at least five of those days on litter patrol.

Embarrassment when your friends and family drive by and see you picking up litter along the side of the highway.

Attend a substance abuse program (another $50)

Attend a driver improvement class (that's right, another $50)

Attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting for a minimum of one (1) hour per week for twelve (12) weeks.

Have a DWI conviction on your driving record for a minimum of 10 years

Have your drivers license revoked for at least 90 days

Car insurance rates will likely double (if not more) over the next three years

Some job applications require applicants to list any DWI arrests

Some employers will not hire - or possibly fire - someone with a DWI conviction if the job requires driving a vehicle, because of the high insurance rates caused by the DWI conviction

If an accident was involved, additional court action and expense may be involved (if it was a serious accident, you may have only touched the "tip of the iceberg")

And if all of that isn't enough reason not to drink and drive,
then try one of these.....

Each one of these accidents happened right here in Ruston. In each accident, at least one person died. And in each accident, alcohol was the main cause!

What we have shown you so far are the MINIMUM penalties for a first-offense DWI. Second and subsequent convictions are more severe. CLICK HERE to see the MAXIMUM penalties under Louisiana law.

The Ruston Police Department Web Pages were created and maintained by Captain Jim Hilton.
No part of these pages may be copied or otherwise reproduced in any manner without permission.