Alcohol Drug Limits

Legal BAC limit for adult drivers in

A BAC of 0.08% or higher is considered legally impaired for drivers age 21+, leading to DWI charges.

Legal BAC limit for drivers under 21 in

Under Zero Tolerance Law, drivers under 21 must not exceed 0.02% BAC .Often reached with just one drink.

BAC level for DWI charge in

Louisiana issues a DWI for drivers with BAC ≥ 0.08%, aligning with national standards.

Refusal to take a chemical test leads to

Refusing a BAC test under Implied Consent Law results in automatic license suspension—even without a DWI conviction.

Penalty for first-time DWI

A first DWI offense may result in jail time, fines, and mandatory enrollment in alcohol education or treatment programs.

Ignition interlock devices may be required after

Even first-time DWI offenders may be required to install ignition interlock devices as part of sentencing.

Second DWI within 10 years results in

Penalties include higher fines, longer jail time, and 2-year license suspension for second offenses within 10 years.

Field sobriety tests are used to

Police use field sobriety tests like walk-and-turn or eye tests to observe signs of impairment before arrest.

Penalty for refusing a second BAC test within

A second refusal within 5 years results in a longer suspension, often up to 2 years under Louisiana’s Implied Consent Law.

Louisiana’s Zero Tolerance Law applies to

Any driver under age 21 with a BAC of 0.02% or more can be charged under Louisiana’s Zero Tolerance rules.

License reinstatement after DWI requires

To reinstate your license after DWI, you must pay fines, complete alcohol programs, and meet OMV requirements.

BAC level for commercial drivers to be

Commercial vehicle operators are held to a stricter limit: 0.04% BAC results in disqualification or DWI.

Drug recognition experts are trained to

Special officers known as Drug Recognition Experts DREs are trained to identify signs of non-alcohol drug impairment.

DWI checkpoints in Louisiana are

Police may set up DWI checkpoints to randomly stop drivers and check for impairment .These are legal and announced in advance.

Penalty for underage DWI to

An under-21 DWI may include license suspension, fines, community service, and alcohol education programs.