A DWI arrest in Louisiana is a serious criminal charge that can affect your freedom, your driver’s license, and your future. At Marino & Ehle, LLC, criminal defense is the foundation of our practice, and we have decades of trial experience defending individuals accused of driving while intoxicated.
We regularly represent clients in all courtrooms throughout Jefferson Parish, including First Parish Court, Second Parish Court, the 24th Judicial District Court, Gretna City Court, Westwego City Court and Kenner City Court. We understand how DWI cases are prosecuted and how they are decided in different courts.
We have successfully obtained Not Guilty verdicts in judge trials in Jefferson Parish. Through early involvement we have also met with prosecutors, presented mitigating evidence and prevented DWI charges from being filed.
DWI cases often depend on technical evidence such as traffic stops, field sobriety tests, and breath or blood testing. These cases are not automatic convictions. Our attorneys prepare every DWI case with a trial mindset—challenging the legality of the stop, the accuracy of testing, and whether law enforcement followed proper procedures. This trial-focused preparation strengthens our position both in negotiations and in court.
Under Louisiana law, a person may be charged with DWI if they operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher or if they are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Penalties may include jail time, fines, license suspension, mandatory programs, and ignition interlock requirements.
Be aware that a DWI arrest also triggers a separate administrative driver’s license suspension. In addition to defending the criminal charges, Marino & Ehle, LLC is experienced in handling administrative hearings involving driver’s licenses, which must be requested within strict deadlines.
If you have been arrested for DWI, early involvement by an experienced trial lawyer can make a meaningful difference. Marino & Ehle, LLC offers consultations and is ready to protect your rights.
In Louisiana, the charge is commonly called DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), but people also search DUI, OWI, drunk driving, and impaired driving. If you’re typing any of these into your phone—especially “DUI lawyer near me” or “Jefferson Parish DUI attorney”—you’re looking for the same thing: a defense team that can protect your license, your driving record, and your freedom.
No matter which term brought you here, the key is the same: A DWI case is built on evidence. Evidence can be challenged. And timing matters.
One reason local experience matters is that Jefferson Parish DWI cases can move through different courtrooms depending on the charge level and jurisdiction.
We regularly appear in:
Whether your arrest happened in Metairie, Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge, Elmwood, or the Jefferson area on the East Bank—or in Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego, Avondale, Bridge City, Waggaman, or Woodmere on the West Bank—you need counsel that knows how the local process works from day one.
And yes—DWI arrests also happen in the more rural and coastal parts of Jefferson Parish, including Lafitte, Barataria, and Grand Isle, where stops may involve different agencies and road conditions but the consequences are just as real.
If you were arrested for DWI in Jefferson Parish, call Marino & Ehle immediately. The sooner we’re involved, the more we can protect.
A Jefferson Parish DWI prosecution typically rests on four categories of evidence:
When any one of these pillars is weak, the case may be weaker than it looks on paper.
Police need a lawful reason to stop you—speed, lane violations, equipment issues, or other articulated reasons. A defense strategy often starts with a simple question: Was this stop lawful?
Field sobriety tests are subjective and affected by real-life factors:
A strong defense examines whether the tests were administered correctly and whether the conclusions are reliable.
Breath results can be challenged based on:
Blood testing can be challenged based on:
People often search:
Louisiana law allows administrative consequences for refusing chemical testing under implied consent rules.
Refusal can trigger:
This is where people get blindsided.
A DWI arrest often triggers an administrative driver’s license suspension separate from the criminal charge. You may receive paperwork and a temporary license/permit—and you typically have a short window to request an administrative hearing to challenge the suspension. Louisiana sources commonly describe a 30-day deadline, and temporary driving privileges may be issued during that period.
Missing that deadline can mean an automatic suspension regardless of the outcome of the criminal offense in court.
We don’t just defend the criminal case. We help clients navigate the license side too, because keeping your ability to drive to work, school, or medical care matters.
If you’ve been arrested for DWI in Jefferson Parish, call quickly—license deadlines can arrive fast.
Louisiana DWI penalties depend on facts and prior history, and consequences can include:
Even a first-time arrest can affect your career, especially if you hold a commercial license, drive for work, travel for work, or need a clean record for licensing.
The goal is not just “getting through court.” The goal is protecting your future.
DWI cases are technical. But the courtroom outcome is human.
You need lawyers who understand both:
At Marino & Ehle, our approach is trial-focused from the start:
That preparation strengthens negotiations—and strengthens results when the case must be fought.
This is what people mean when they search for:
They don’t want a lawyer who just processes paperwork. They want real criminal defense experience and real trial readiness.
If you’ve been arrested for DWI or DUI in Jefferson Parish, protect yourself:
Instead: Call Marino & Ehle. We’ll explain what’s happening, what the deadlines are, and what your options look like—clearly and honestly.
Davidson Ehle is a seasoned AV-rated trial attorney recognized for criminal defense victories, appellate advocacy, and respected leadership in the Jefferson Parish bar.
