DWI Lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Miller & Hilgendorf are DWI lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who work with individuals facing these types of charges. If you are facing DWI charges in Baton Rouge, speak to a qualified lawyer today. You are innocent until proven guilty and have the right to defend yourself if you are facing DWI charges. While police officers have great powers to collect evidence if they suspect that you are guilty of a DWI, they must still follow proper protocol.

Miller & Hilgendorf have an understanding of DWI law, have a knowledge of field sobriety tests and their limitations, have a knowledge about common issues with breathalyzers that can lead to failure, and have an understanding of proper arrest procedure in Louisiana. There are many reasons why people might be wrongfully charged with a DWI and many ways in which DWI charges can be dropped. For example, sometimes police fail to properly maintain breathalyzers in accordance with manufacturer’s requirements. If police officers subjected you to a field sobriety test, these tests are known to have limitations and to produce false positives. A DWI lawyer can review your officer’s training to determine whether field sobriety testing was carried out properly. Finally, officers must follow proper protocol when making an arrest. For example, they must read you your rights. In order to pull you over, an officer must have just cause to do so. If police failed to have just cause or racially profiled you, your DWI lawyer may be able to help you. Miller & Hilgendorf are DWI attorneys in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who work closely with individuals facing these charges. We may be able to help you.

Consequences of a DWI in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

There are two main ways that you can be charged with a DWI in Baton Rouge. One way is if you are tested and found to have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08%. The other way you can face charges is if officers make a determination based on either field sobriety tests or due to other factors that you have lost normal use of your physical and mental faculties due to alcohol or drug use and were operating a motor vehicle during this time. Louisiana is an implied consent state, meaning that if you drive a vehicle, you give officers consent to ask you to submit to a breath test. There can be consequences if you refuse to submit to these tests.

If this is your first DWI conviction, you could lose your license for up to one year, or be required to use an ignition interlock device. This device will require you to submit to a breath test each and every time you get behind the wheel. Individuals facing second or third convictions can face more serious penalties, like longer periods of time where their license may be suspended or where they may be required to use an ignition interlock device, or individuals might even face jail time. However, even first-time offenders can face jail time for a DWI.

Having a DWI conviction on your record can bring other serious collateral consequences. Individuals with DWI convictions may be required to have more expensive insurance policies or they may be viewed as a higher risk to insurers long after their conviction. Individuals with DWI convictions may face difficulty getting jobs in certain fields that involve driving, or they may also face difficulty traveling to other countries that consider DWI convictions criminal convictions and disqualifying. If you or a loved one is facing a DWI charge, losing your driver’s  license may just be the beginning. Miller & Hilgendorf are DWI lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who may be able to help you with your case.

Stopped for a DWI in Baton Rouge? Things to Consider

 While there is no replacement to seeking qualified legal counsel if you have been pulled over for a DWI, there are some things you can do to protect your rights. Always remember that you do have the right to remain silent. Here are some things to consider:

• Find a safe place to stop. Anything you do once the sirens go off can be used against you later. Take the time to find a safe place to pull over.
• Be polite, give the officer your driver’s license, registration, and insurance information, but remember that you have no other obligation to provide any other information. You have the right to remain silent. Because utter silence to the question “have you been drinking” can be seen as rude, you can simply say, “I’m sorry officer, but I’ll need to speak to my lawyer before I can answer any questions.” As long as you assert your right to remain silent and your right to speak to an attorney, an officer must honor your right to remain silent. Officers can sometimes use the confusion of an arrest or stop to get you to say things that you might not otherwise say with a lawyer present. Protect your rights. Whatever you do, don’t lie. This can be used against you and hurt your credibility should you need to take your case to court. When in doubt, silence is the best answer.
• Take notes about the circumstances of your arrest. Once the arrest has happened, the memory of what occurred can become hazy. Where were you driving when you were pulled over? How fast were you going? Were you drinking before you were stopped? If so, how much? If you said anything to officers, what did you say? Were you read your Miranda rights if you were arrested?
• Contact a DWI lawyer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Miller & Hilgendorf are DWI lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who can help you navigate any legal challenges regarding your DWI arrest. Our firm can review the details of your arrest and fight to either get your charges dropped or reduced.

Every case is unique. If you are facing DWI charges, you are innocent until proven guilty. Contact Miller & Hilgendorf, DWI lawyers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana today to learn more about how we may be able to help you.

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