First DWI in Louisiana? The Law Says 10 Days to 6 Months in Jail
September 13, 2026
First DWI in Louisiana? The Law Says 10 Days to 6 Months in Jail A lot of people think you can’t go to jail for
Our DWI lawyers in Shreveport can handle your DWI and DUI charges in addition to driver’s license issues, professional license issues, and any other criminal charges. Barkemeyer Law Firm focuses on DWI and DUI cases. We know how to protect our client’s criminal record and driver’s license. We are accustomed to representing clients with much to lose. Our clients have been physicians, nurses, lawyers, accountants, engineers, professors, teachers, plant operators, contractors, offshore operators, businessmen, salespeople, active and retired military and more.
DWI & DUI Lawyers in Shreveport
Our local Shreveport DWI Law Firm focuses on DWI and DUI charges. We can assist in many areas including DUI, DWI, license suspensions, driving while intoxicated accidents, CDL, hit and run and much more. Contact the Barkemeyer Law Firm for skillful representation if you have a DWI arrest in the parishes of Caddo, Bossier, Red River, Rapides, DeSoto, Bienville, Claiborne, Webster, Sabine, or Natchitoches.
Our office is a staffed location where clients can schedule in-person consultations and case planning meetings. Kammi Whatley and Carl Barkemeyer handle all matters in Northwest Louisiana. Our law office is located at:
Barkemeyer Law Firm – DWI Lawyers
668 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA 71101
Call to schedule a consultation or click here.
Shreveport Office Location & Directions
Our Shreveport office is available for scheduled consultations and case planning meetings. If you were arrested for DWI in
Shreveport, Bossier City, or the surrounding area, this office provides a convenient local meeting location while we work on your defense. However, usually all matters pertaining to a case can be handled through email and over the phone, including the representation agreement and case planning and updates.
Driving Directions to Our Shreveport Office
Our Shreveport office is located at 668 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA. For the quickest route, we recommend entering the full address into GPS exactly as written.
From Downtown Shreveport:
Head south toward the Broadmoor area and follow directions to Jordan Street. Turn onto Jordan Street and continue to 668 Jordan Street. Parking is available nearby.
From I-49:
Take I-49 to the exit for Bert Kouns Industrial Loop (LA-526). Follow Bert Kouns Industrial Loop toward Youree Drive, then continue toward Jordan Street. Turn onto Jordan Street and proceed to 668 Jordan Street.
From I-20 (West or East):
Take I-20 and use an exit that connects to Youree Drive or Bert Kouns Industrial Loop (LA-526). Follow Youree Drive south toward the Broadmoor/Shreve City area, then turn toward Jordan Street and continue to 668 Jordan Street.
Parking & Arrival
Parking: We have a convenient parking lot behind the building. To access it, turn down Nutt Street which is just to the right of our building, the parking lot is on your left.
Building Entry: Enter through the front door into our beautiful lobby. We always have seasonal decorations.
What to Bring: Be sure to bring all of the paperwork that was given to you by the police officer or that was given to you when you left the jail, including citation, bond paperwork, breath/blood paperwork, OMV notice, any court date paperwork. We can make copies for you.
Map
Office Photos
30 Days to Request Hearing – Don’t Wait
If you were recently arrested, you have 30 days from the date of arrest to request an Administrative Hearing to fight the proposed suspension of your driver’s license. We will do that for you and help guide you throughout the entire process.
Courthouses in Shreveport – Where Shreveport & Caddo Parish DWI Cases Are Handled
We defend clients who have DUI cases in Caddo Parish District Court and Shreveport City Court. If you were arrested in Bossier Parish, click here. We represent clients in Bossier as well. DWI cases in the Shreveport area are often handled in Caddo Parish courts, with arrests commonly made by Shreveport Police Department or Louisiana State Police along I-20 and surrounding roadways.
Shreveport City Court is located at 1244 Texas Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101. If your case is in Shreveport City Court, that means you have a misdemeanor charge that you received from a Shreveport City Police officer. Examples of these charges are DWI, DUI, reckless driving, hit and run, theft, shoplifting, criminal damage to property, flight from an officer, disturbing the peace, assault, battery, and more. Our lawyers can help with all of these charges. If you are unsure if you have court in city court or district court, just look on your summons or arrest paperwork. You can also give us a call. We should be able to figure it out for you.
Caddo Parish District Court is located at 501 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. If your case is in Caddo Parish District Court, you’ll have either a misdemeanor that you received from either a Caddo Parish Sheriff or Louisiana State Police trooper. Felony charges are also prosecuted at the Caddo Parish courthouse. For example, felony drug possession, felony DUI, obscenity, theft, second degree battery, aggravated flight from an officer, and more. Our Shreveport attorneys can help with felony and misdemeanor cases because this is what we do every day.
Clients That Live in Texas, Arkansas, and Elsewhere
We are a DWI law firm that defends clients who are from Texas and Arkansas, but were arrested in Louisiana. Defending DWI clients from out-of-state requires much more knowledge and experience than representing a Louisiana client because the driver’s license issues are different and our client’s ability to attend court is strained.
We know how to protect our clients’ Texas and Arkansas driver’s licenses. Also, we know how to minimize their trips to Louisiana for court. We attend court for our out-of-state clients whenever possible, thereby saving them money and time.
Regardless what state you are from, we can help. Our firm has represented clients from all states in the U.S.
All Clients Are Different
DWI cases can get quite complex because of the interplay between the criminal case and the defendant’s driver’s license, professional license, employment, school, insurance, and more. Every DWI case is different because the facts of the stop and arrest vary as well as the defendant’s circumstances. We tailor our representation to the specific client because the goal is to protect their job and criminal record. Clients have different jobs, licenses, criminal records, and family needs. We understand this. Therefore, we offer the flexibility and empathy to be able to figure out how to serve the particular client in the best way.
Northwest Louisiana DWI Guide
I’ve put together a free guide based on more than twenty years of handling DWI cases in Northwest Louisiana.
It answers the same questions I hear from new clients every week.
→ Read the Northwest Louisiana DWI Guide
Related Louisiana DWI Resources
Given that every DWI case is different, it is not advisable to give a lot of weight to the information you read online about DWI. Most of what you read about DWI won’t even apply to your case. The information could be outdated, applicable to different state laws, written by bots, or written by an SEO content writer in India. We provide some information just to give you an idea of the issues in a DWI case. We advise you hire a DWI lawyer to give you any valuable advice. We offer paid consultations if you don’t or can’t hire a lawyer at this time but just need a little knowledge and advice for your specific case.
Steps After Arrest: Learn about the DWI process and the various steps that should be taken.
Before Court: Depending on your specific case, there may be things we can do now that will help the outcome in your case, such as evaluations and classes. Certainly, we must request the Administrative Hearing.
Hardship License: You may be eligible to obtain a hardship license to continue driving.
Long Term Consequences: DWI is not like a traffic ticket that you pay and be done with. It has lasting effects on your driving and criminal record that can affect your future.
Criminal Record: It is important to protect your criminal record the best way possible.
DWI Expungement: The expungement process is how we remove an arrest and/or conviction from your criminal record.
Employment Issues: Some employers will not hire people with DWIs on their record.
DWI v. DUI: They are essentially the same charge because they fall within the same statute.
Attorney Cost: Our costs very from case to case.
Felony DWI: DWI 3rd and 4th offense is a felony in Louisiana.
DWI Reductions/Dismissals: We try to get the DWI either dismissed or reduced if possible. If we can’t, we try to get it so that an expungement can be filed eventually.
Penalties for DWI: The penalties can include jail time, probation, community service, classes, treatment, license suspension, and more.
DWI Information
5 Videos
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This video describes everything you need to know if you’ve been arrested for a DUI in Louisiana. Whether you were arrested for DUI first offense, DWI second offense, or felony DWI, this video can help you understand the penalties and court system a little better.
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If you have been arrested for DWI first offense, you may be wondering what the penalties are. I am going to detail some of the required conditions that the judge must impose if you are convicted.
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Learn about the ACTUAL reasons you should hire a DWI lawyer instead of try to go at it alone.
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Learn how long your license will be suspended after a DWI in Louisiana.
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This video describes DWI second offense in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Shreveport DWI FAQs
Do I need to appear in court right away after a Shreveport DWI arrest?
If your DWI or DUI occurred in Caddo Parish, you will not be given a court date when you leave the jail. Once the Caddo DA’s Office gets the reports from the arresting officer, they will file a bill of information. Then a court date will be mailed or served on you at your address in you bond paperwork.
What if I was arrested near the Texas line or while passing through Shreveport?
This is common. Even if you live in Texas or another state, a Louisiana DWI arrest can still impact your driving privileges and insurance. We handle out-of-state DWI cases and can often minimize unnecessary travel.
If I refused the breath test in Shreveport, does that help my case?
A refusal can remove one type of evidence, but it also triggers separate license consequences. Refusal cases often depend on whether procedure was followed and what the video shows.
What if my DWI involved an accident?
Accident cases increase risk because prosecutors treat them more seriously and insurance consequences can be significant. These cases must be defended aggressively from the start.
Will I lose my license immediately?
License suspension is often handled through a separate administrative process. There are strict deadlines after arrest, and acting quickly can preserve options. If you have a Texas license or any other out-of-state license, there are specific issues we need to address here in Louisiana that can have impact on your license.
Can I keep driving for work?
If you hire our firm within 30 days from the arrest date, we can file for the Administrative Hearing to try to save your license. If your license gets suspended, we can advise you on how you can drive for work.
How long does a Shreveport DWI case take?
It depends on the court’s schedule and the type of evidence involved. Some cases resolve quickly; others require extended evidence review and litigation. Typically 6 months to a year.
Do you only handle DWI cases?
Yes—our firm focuses on DWI defense. That includes breath test cases, blood test cases, refusals, and felony-level DWIs.
DWI Defense Is What We Do
If you are facing DWI charges, the bottom line is that you need the best DWI attorney near you in your area. Without the help of a DWI attorney, you could be facing countless penalties for your DWI charges.
You need the help of a professional Shreveport DWI lawyer especially, to ensure that you avoid a jail sentence by all means. The repercussions that come with getting sentenced to jail in Shreveport, Louisiana will prove to be very bad for your reputation. The hurdle that you must cross with a jail sentence is a giant one. In fact, if you have a job already, there is a likelihood that you will lose it as employers are really conscious about the reputation of their staff. Barkemeyer Law Firm is the DWI law firm that you should contact if you ever get arrested for driving under the influence in Caddo Parish.
Your means of livelihood and your reputation are two important things that should never be taken for granted. Your family, not just yourself, deserve to be protected in Louisiana state and only a very highly rated defense attorney that has gained years of experience standing in for persons who have offended the law with respect to driving under the influence can get you out of the courtroom with a positive result.
DUI Second Offense
If you were arrested for DUI second offense in Caddo Parish or Bossier Parish, you will need serious help. DUI second offense carries mandatory jail time, UNLESS we can work it out with the prosecutor. Louisiana judges are very harsh on DUI second offense. But, we know how to protect our clients.
Hit and Run Defense
Our lawyers at the Barkemeyer Law Firm are highly-experienced at defending clients for hit and run charges in Caddo Parish and elsewhere in Louisiana. We regularly defend clients for misdemeanor and felony hit and run. These charges can have severe consequences if not properly handled. If you were charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, contact us immediately.
Other Criminal Charges
Our criminal defense attorneys help with all types of criminal cases in Caddo Parish. In addition to providing representation for DWI and DUI, our lawyers defend clients with other criminal charges such as reckless driving, possession of marijuana, careless operation of a vehicle, improper lane use, no license, hit and run, disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, possession of drugs, criminal damage to property, flight from an officer, theft, and more. Click here to see a list of the criminal charges we help with.
Parishes Served From Our Shreveport Office
The Barkemeyer Law Firm is very experienced and has the well-trained DWI attorneys with a proven record of assisting DWI clients to get back their licenses and protect their criminal record. Also, by applying our science-based knowledge to your case, we can be able to detect loopholes and faults in your tests which can help to free of any wrong charges. Contact us today at (318) 716-3441 to get a consultation and you have nothing to worry about with regards to our fees as they are highly affordable regardless of where you reside in Louisiana or outside of the state.
This office commonly assists clients with DWI charges arising in Northwest Louisiana, including:
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