A Louisiana criminal lawyer will protect your rights and help you get back on your feet after an arrest. They can fight for your case against a misdemeanor or felony charge and can save you from having a permanent record of a convicted felon.
This text covers a wide range of crimes and defenses including criminal intent; justification and excuse such as insanity, self-defense, defense of property and defense of others; homicide; and other general principles contained in state criminal law.
Careless Operation of a Vehicle
When you get behind the wheel in Louisiana, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. The state’s laws are not always clear, but they do have some clarity when it comes to careless operation of a vehicle. Police officers issue this traffic citation for a wide variety of reasons and it’s one that often leaves drivers wondering why they got charged.
There are criminal and civil consequences to a conviction for careless driving, which is why it’s important to have your case evaluated by a criminal defense lawyer from the outset. Convictions of this type of offense can result in a criminal record and incarceration, but you may also face license implications in Louisiana.
The state’s law states that anyone who operates a motor vehicle must do so “in a careful and prudent manner so as not to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.” Public utility, military and emergency vehicles have a rebuttable presumption that they were operating their vehicles safely. However, many other types of vehicles can lead to a careless driving charge.
Carrying Weapons Illegally
When a person carries a weapon illegally they can be charged with a crime. This is particularly true when the carrying of the weapon is done in conjunction with another illegal act such as possession of drugs or theft. This is because the District Attorney may tack on a weapons charge to the other charges and this will usually mean an extra 5-10 years of jail time. Additionally, there are places where it is not legal to carry a weapon including schools, certain events, churches and private residences without the owner’s consent.
A weapons crimes lawyer that understands state and federal laws is essential to your case. A conviction on these types of cases can severely impact a person’s life. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will know how to approach the case and can make the difference between a felony conviction and a dismissal of all charges. This is why it is important to select a qualified Louisiana criminal defense lawyer as early in the process as possible.
Driving While Intoxicated
The law in Louisiana prohibits any person from driving, operating a boat, airplane, or vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is considered intoxication in the state.
A Louisiana DUI lawyer can help you navigate the criminal justice system if you have been charged with DUI. Your attorney can help you with every step of the process – including bail, attending your arraignment, preparing for trial and representing you in court, and, if eligible, sealing your record.
If you are hosting a party, it is important to cut off the flow of alcohol before the evening ends so that guests don’t feel compelled to get behind the wheel. Alternatively, you can arrange for safe rides for intoxicated friends or encourage them to use public transportation. If you are convicted of drunk driving, you may face jail time, fines, probation, treatment, community service and an ignition interlock device.
DUI
If you are arrested for DUI, it is important to have an experienced lawyer by your side. We are prepared to fight to determine if you actually violated city or state law, whether or not the police officers followed procedure and laws during the arrest, and to look at eyewitness testimony to find flaws and holes in the prosecution’s case against you.
We can also file suppression motions to challenge the admission of any field sobriety tests you were asked to take. This could result in the charges against you being dismissed.
Eric Johnson has defended individuals charged with a variety of criminal offenses in state court, including felony and misdemeanor crimes. He understands that federal cases are different from state matters and has extensive experience in defending clients involved at the federal level Nationwide. He has a clear understanding of federal law and procedures and is licensed to practice in all United States District Courts in the state of Louisiana.
