DWI Arrest in Slidell: Guide on the Next Steps

Slidell DWI and DUI Lawyer

The Barkemeyer Law Firm is composed of multiple attorneys that primarily defend clients for DWI and DUI. We have a combined over 100 years of experience defending clients charged with drunk driving in all areas of Louisiana. Our DWI lawyers frequently represent clients at City Court of East St. Tammany, aka Slidell City Court.

We help with all aspects of the DWI case including: temporary license, DMV Administrative Hearing, hardship license, arraignment, criminal court hearings, additional DWI-related charges, negotiations with the prosecutor, decisions regarding the interplay between criminal case and license case, professional license issues, employment issues, CDL drivers, car insurance, college enrollment issues, and DWI expungements.

Carl Barkemeyer wrote the published book on DWI: Practical Information for the Accused and Attorneys in Louisiana. He regularly gives lectures and advice to other attorneys regarding how to successfully defend clients for DWI.

Driver’s License Hearing

We help protect your driver’s license after a DWI arrest in Slidell, LA. If you refused the breathalyzer, urine, or blood test, the DMV will propose a suspension of your driver’s license for one year if this is your first refusal.

If you submitted to the chemical test but blew .08 or above, the DMV will propose a suspension of your license for 6 months. If you BAC was .15 or above, you will be facing a 2-year suspension of your driving privileges.

How to Keep Driving

After your DWI arrest, you can drive for 30 days on a temporary license. However, it will expire then unless request an Administrative Hearing to fight the proposed suspension. We will get your temporary license extended pending the hearing. This hearing is very difficult to win and should be left to only experienced DWI lawyers like the ones at our firm. We do these every day.

30 Day Time-Limit

You only have 30 days to get the request for the Administrative Hearing in. We do this for our clients. The worst advice you can get after a DWI arrest is to “wait until your court date” to hire a lawyer.

Court in Slidell

If you’ve been arrested in the city limits of Slidell, then you will have court at the City Court of East St. Tammany, aka Slidell City Court located at 501 Bouscaren St, Slidell, LA 70458. If the arrest was for a felony charge or if your misdemeanor summons or arrest was outside the city limits of Slidell, you’ll have court at the 22nd Judicial District Court (St. Tammany Parish Court) in Covington, LA. Either way, the process for attending court is similar in many ways. Make sure you wear the proper attire for court which means no shorts, no hats, no cell phones, and no sleeveless tops. Be on time for court, which usually begins at 8:30 am.

DWI-Related Charges

Many times, during a DWI arrest, the police officer may include additional criminal charges. In addition to providing representation for DWI and DUI, our Slidell DWI lawyers defend clients with other criminal charges such as reckless driving, 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. Our lawyers can help with all types of criminal cases in Slidell, LA.