Police arrested state Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater and booked him into Parish Prison at 1 a.m. on one count each of first-offense DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle and failure to obey a stop sign or yield sign.
Rainwater was pulled over in the 2700 block of Kalurah Street near Christian Street around 11:15 p.m. Friday, according to an affidavit of probable cause. A Baton Rouge police officer saw Rainwater run a stop sign and drive on the wrong side of the road, the affidavit says.
Rainwater performed “very poor” on his field sobriety test and registered a .170 blood alcohol level, or more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent to operate a motor vehicle in Louisiana, the affidavit says.
Governor Jindal named Rainwater commissioner of administration in June 2010, making him his top financial adviser. As commissioner, Rainwater also oversees the daily operations of state government and the crafting of the state operating budget.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence), also known as DWI (Driving While Impaired), the first thing you should do is seek the guidance of a skilled DWI attorney as soon as possible. Your DUI defense lawyer will explain the consequences of your arrest and will take you through any pre-trial, trial and sentencing that may apply to your case. He will also request a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If this is not done in a timely manner, your driver’s license will be suspended. You have up to fifteen (15) days from the date of arrest to request an administrative hearing. A conviction of DUI/DWI will drastically affect the rest of your life. You must do everything possible to protect yourself, your family, and your property from the effects of a drunk driving conviction.
A common mistake that individuals who are new to the justice system make is in hiring a lawyer who does NOT specialize in DUI defense. Many people are under the mistaken idea that all defense attorneys are trained in DUI defense. This is not the case with the majority of criminal defense attorneys. If you have been arrested and charged with DWI in Louisiana, you need a criminal defense attorney. Contact Baton Rouge DWI Lawyer Carl Barkemeyer.
Penalties for DWI or DUI depend on many facts and circumstances of the offender. Generally, the penalties of a DWI of DUI conviction result in the following:
- Fines that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, increased insurance costs;
- Probation, community service, mandatory attendance at DWI or AA meetings;
- Suspension, revocation or restriction of driver’s license, in conjunction with the DMV;
- Installation of ignition interlock devices;
- Monetary restitution to the victim(s);
Incarceration in a parish or state prison for sentences ranging from one day to several months or even years for multiple offenses. For more information on Louisiana DWI laws see DWI FAQ and DWI Defenses.
Source: The Advocate, “Top Jindal official booked with DWI,” December 11, 2011
