If a Louisiana resident gets behind the wheel of a car to drive after consuming alcohol, repercussions of that choice may unfold far into the future. One woman has been arrested for drunk driving several times. A case stemming from the second of three arrests was scheduled for trial, but has been continued.
It is not the first time the woman’s trial has been delayed. Her attorney submitted the recent request to continue proceedings, and the court granted the request. There are many reasons a defense attorney would make such a request on behalf of a client.
The woman in this case also has charges pending in another very serious situation. Back in March, a 37-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle authorities say was driven at the time by a possible drunk driver. The woman whose trial was recently put on hold also happens to have been the vehicle operator in the March incident. That accident took place in another state.
Penalties for drunk driving in Louisiana can be quite severe, including costly fines and extended time in prison. There may also be consequences, such as driver’s license suspension or revocation for refusing to submit to chemical testing during a drunk driving investigation. Criminal history is significant as well, meaning that past DWI convictions can impact sentences handed down on future convictions. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help a defendant explore all options available and determine which strategies have the greatest chances of avoiding conviction, or at least lessening the negative aspects of a particular situation.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “Trial Postponed Again for Woman Accused in Fatal Crash“, Oct. 10, 2017
