Serving clients throughout Louisiana.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious crime that can lead to lasting consequences. A Baton Rouge DWI administrative license suspension (ALS) hearing lawyer can help you review your options for a resolution.
In Louisiana, the charge is officially known as operating a vehicle while impaired (OWI). There’s a criminal side and administrative side to every OWI case. It’s imperative that you understand how to navigate both.
The Baton Rouge City Court and 19th Judicial District Court typically handle the criminal side of DWI cases. However, the Louisiana OMV and the Division of Administrative Law handle the administrative side of an OWI case.
It’s wise to hire a DWI ALS hearing lawyer to avoid penalties that can impact other areas of your life. An attorney from Longman Jakuback can also represent you in and out of the courtroom.
There are around 2.8 million driver’s licenses in Louisiana. In 2024, around 255,000 of these licenses were suspended or revoked with half of the year to go.
We fight aggressively to protect your rights and future.
OWIs were one of the leading causes behind suspensions across the state. You can expect your arresting officers to confiscate your driver’s license right away and issue a temporary license, which is valid for 30 days.
It’s up to you to make arrangements with your local OMV within this time period to schedule an administrative license suspension hearing. Otherwise, you lose your right to contest the license suspension. An administrative license suspension is completely separate from a license suspension as a result of a criminal conviction.
Having an extremely high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can affect the suspension period for your license. Your criminal record can also play a part in the terms of your punishment.
It’s important to remember that an administrative reinstatement does not automatically clear a criminal suspension. In the event you’re caught driving with an invalid license, you can face an additional one-year suspension period.
Our Baton Rouge DWI attorneys at Longman Jakuback help Louisianans navigate ALS hearing cases and understand their legal rights and options under state DWI ALS laws. We can also help with reinstating your driving privileges and moving on from this incident.
Navigating OWI cases is difficult from both angles. The criminal process is daunting and complicated. Meanwhile, the administrative process moves quickly and can result in lasting consequences. With the right legal representation on your side, you can make it through each phase of an OWI case.
When you choose Longman Jakuback to represent you, you’re selecting a local firm with five Louisiana Super Lawyers under its roof. This distinction is awarded to very few attorneys across the state each year.* We’re also a part of the American Association for Justice and Louisiana Association for Justice, as well as the Fair Fight Initiative.
You can count on us to advocate for you throughout a DWI ALS case to help you secure a fair outcome whenever possible. From administrative hearings to pre-trial negotiations to litigation, our criminal defense lawyers in Baton Rouge have got your back.
How long administrative license suspensions in Baton Rouge are depends on the details of the arrest and whether or not this was your first offense. Administrative suspensions typically can last anywhere from 180 days to two years if you fail a chemical test the first time.
If you refuse to take a chemical test altogether, the minimum suspension period is one year. Subsequent offenses typically carry harsher penalties and longer suspensions.
How long an administrative license suspension hearing takes in Baton Rouge depends on the facts of the case. After an OWI arrest, you have 30 days to request an ALS hearing. Once you initiate the process, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections must respond within 60 days.
The hearing itself is typically fairly straightforward based on the details. That said, the decision process may take longer.
To reinstate your license in Baton Rouge after an administrative license suspension, you must wait for the suspension period to pass. In the meantime, complete any outstanding requirements and pay associated fees through the OMV.
Underlying requirements for reinstatement may include things like:
It’s recommended that you hire a DWI ALS hearing lawyer to help you complete all the necessary steps for administrative license reinstatement.
A hardship license in Baton Rouge allows drivers with suspended or revoked licenses to drive to and from essential locations for the duration of the suspension. This typically includes places like school, work, or medical care.
It’s important to note that commercial driver’s license holders are not eligible for hardship licenses, though they can petition to downgrade to a Class D or Class E license. There’s a limited time to set up a hearing for a hardship license, so act quickly.
When your freedom or your family is on the line, you deserve a team that is as invested in the outcome as you are.
It’s difficult enough to think about defending yourself in an OWI case. In addition to the criminal aspects of the case, you also have to navigate the administrative side. You can count on a Baton Rouge DWI administrative license suspension hearing attorney from Longman Jakuback to be there for you.
If you want to discuss a DWI ALS case in more detail, our team is here to listen. Contact us to set up an initial meeting with a member of the team to get started on your legal strategy.
You can find us right here in Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River. We’re conveniently located near I-10 and I-110 in the historic Saltz Building to serve our clients throughout the Capital Region and beyond.
*Awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization.
If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Louisiana, the team at Longman Jakuback is ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
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830 Main Street, Floor 2
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
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