The LA licensing action explained
After a DWI arrest in Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 15 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the LA agency runs the licence case
- OMV issues an administrative suspension or revocation for DWI under La. R.S. 32:414 and related statutes.
- A hearing may be requested before an administrative law judge with the Division of Administrative Law.
- Hardship licence and hearing eligibility depend on the statute and the class of licence held.
- Ignition interlock installation is a condition of reinstatement for alcohol-related offenses.
Louisiana licence facts
Louisiana DWI law at a glance
Sourced from the Louisiana code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DWI (Louisiana)
- Controlling statute
- La. R.S. 14:98
- Implied consent
- La. R.S. 32:666
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 15 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 10 years
- First-offense fine
- $300–$1,000
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 6 months
- Licence suspension
- 3 months
- Trial court
- the District Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense carries a fine, possible jail, and a licence suspension.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an ignition interlock device if the court or agency orders one.
- Louisiana requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DWI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov before you travel to an office.
Louisiana ZIP codes covered
These Louisiana ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Louisiana resources
Counties
- Allen Parish County DUI guide
- Avoyelles Parish County DUI guide
- East Baton Rouge Parish County DUI guide
- Franklin Parish County DUI guide
- Madison Parish County DUI guide
- Plaquemines Parish County DUI guide
- Richland Parish County DUI guide
- Tensas Parish County DUI guide
- Terrebonne Parish County DUI guide
- Vernon Parish County DUI guide
- Washington Parish County DUI guide
- Webster Parish County DUI guide
Other Louisiana official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to challenge a Louisiana licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 15 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the LA licensing agency at expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Louisiana?
- A first DWI offense generally carries a 3 months suspension in Louisiana. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.