Impaired driving charges are among the most common criminal cases pursued in Louisiana. Police officers arrest people after targeted traffic stops or their involvement in collisions. Both drivers who display impaired ability and those who are clearly over the legal limit for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can face arrest and prosecution.
Police officers in Louisiana are often on high alert for any potential indicators of impaired driving. Sometimes, their attempts to rigorously enforce the law might result in innocent people getting arrested and facing criminal charges. Yet, heated attempts at drunk driving enforcement might cool down slightly now that traffic statistics show that the number of drunk driving crashes has decreased noticeably in Louisiana.
Enforcement priorities reflect current safety concerns
Law enforcement professionals make drunk driving enforcement a priority because impaired driving has a strong association with tragic collision outcomes. Drunk drivers often have outsized representation in the pool of those involved in fatal collisions.
Traffic data gathered in recent years shows that the number of deadly crashes involving drunk drivers has decreased significantly. 2023 saw a drop in fatal crashes when compared with 2022, and projections of likely crash statistics for 2024 show that the state may continue this positive trend. 2023 saw an 11.9% decrease in the overall number of fatal crashes. There was an impressive 27.9% drop in the number of reported traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver.
Louisiana police departments may begin refocusing their enforcement efforts on other traffic safety issues that are on the increase, including distracted driving. However, many officers may continue to carefully watch for any signs of impairment. Police departments may have many officers on patrol on days when impaired driving risk is higher, including holidays and after major events.
Sometimes, people who are not actually under the influence get swept up in enforcement efforts. Issues with testing units or medical explanations for test results can help explain why sober people sometimes get arrested for drunk driving infractions.
Anyone facing an impaired driving charge in Louisiana may hope to defend against that charge to avoid penalties. Reviewing the state’s evidence and discussing the situation that led to an arrest with an attorney can help people plan a strong defense strategy when facing drunk driving allegations.