DWI and Child Endangerment Law

This week, a man in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana was arrested for DWI with the Child Endangerment provision, among other charges. He is accused of driving a school bus with, at one point, 49 children aboard. The Child Endangerment provision may apply when a minor twelve years of age or younger is a passenger in the vehicle during the commission of the crime.

The Child Endangerment provision under the Louisiana DWI statute (La. R.S. 14:98) increases the punishment if the defendant is convicted of the DWI. It provides that the minimum sentence may not be suspended, therefore, the defendant will be required to do jail time. For instance, upon a first conviction for DWI, the defendant would be required to serve 10 days in jail.

If you are faced with a DWI or DUI in Louisiana, contact Baton Rouge DWI Lawyer Carl Barkemeyer at (225) 964-6720 to discuss your case.