In Louisiana, a conviction for driving while intoxicated can lead to a number of unpleasant consequences. Even a first-time conviction could draw a six-month jail sentence and a fine of as much as $1,000. Moreover, you may also have your license suspended, and you could even have to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. What’s more, these possible penalties increase with every subsequent DWI conviction.
All of these punishments are imposed by the court system. Other entities may also apply their own set of penalties. For example, your auto insurance provider may increase your premiums. This is because you will likely be deemed a “high-risk driver” on the basis of the conviction. It is even possible that your carrier will cancel your policy, leaving you to search for a new policy.
If your license is suspended, you will have to prove to the Department of Motor Vehicles that you are carrying liability insurance before having your driving privileges reinstated. To do this, you will have to get your insurer to send you an SR-22 form, which acts as proof of having liability coverage.
It is also important to understand that an insurance company may raise your rates upon discovering a DWI on your record that actually occurred years earlier. This means that the conviction could hangover your head for a long time.
Wanting to prevent a price increase for your insurance coverage is just another reason that you may wish to contest a DWI charge. Your best chance to have the charge dismissed may be to let a Louisiana DWI attorney act as your legal representative. The attorney could go over the details of your arrest and may be able to find procedural errors on the part of the arresting officers that could result in the charges being dropped.