On this page
Arrested for DWI in Kenner? We are minutes away
Our office sits at 4224 Florida Ave., Suite 6, about 5 minutes (roughly 2 miles) from most of Kenner. That means you can sit down with Barry in person, often the same day you call, instead of driving across the parish. We also offer remote consultations if that is easier.
Barry is a member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. He was also recognized in Expertise.com Best DUI Lawyers in Kenner 2022 and 2023. Call (504) 905-8399 any time. The first consultation is free and confidential.
Which court will hear your Kenner DWI?
Most Kenner DWIs are state misdemeanors heard in First Parish Court of Jefferson Parish at 924 David Drive in Metairie. A third or later offense is a felony and goes to the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna.
Kenner also has its own Kenner Mayor's Court at 415 Williams Blvd., which hears city ordinance and traffic matters prosecuted by the Kenner City Attorney. If Kenner Police wrote you separate city traffic citations during the same stop, those may be set there. That can mean two courts and two sets of dates for one night. We track both so nothing gets missed.
Did you refuse the breath test?
Refusing the test leads to a license suspension, but it is not a crime on its own unless you have two prior refusals. Louisiana's implied consent law means a first refusal brings a 1-year suspension, and a second refusal within 10 years brings 2 years.
A refusal can also leave the prosecutor without a BAC number, so the case rests on the officer's observations and field sobriety tests. Barry looks hard at those. You can usually get a restricted license right away once an ignition interlock is installed. Read more in refusing a breathalyzer in Louisiana.
What a Kenner DWI can cost you
- First offense: $300 to $1,000 fine and 10 days to 6 months in jail, often suspended with probation, community service, classes and an ignition interlock.
- First offense at 0.15% or more: at least 48 hours served and a 2-year license suspension.
- Second offense: $750 to $1,000 fine and 30 days to 6 months, with at least 48 hours served.
- Third offense: a felony with a $2,000 fine and 1 to 5 years.
Only priors within the 10-year lookback count. The full breakdown is on our DWI and DUI defense page.
How long will your license be suspended?
A first failed breath test from 0.08% to 0.149% brings a 180-day suspension. A result of 0.15% or higher brings 2 years, and a first refusal brings 1 year. These suspensions come from the Office of Motor Vehicles, separate from the criminal case in court.
You only have 30 days from the arrest to ask for an administrative hearing. If nobody asks, the suspension starts automatically when your temporary license runs out. In many cases you can drive on a restricted license right away once an ignition interlock is installed, so you can keep getting to work. Call (504) 905-8399 and we will file the request and walk you through the restricted license. Our guide to the OMV hearing has more detail.
How Barry challenges a Kenner DWI arrest
Barry starts with the stop itself and works forward. He asks for the police report, any video and the breath test records, then compares them line by line.
- Was there a legal reason to pull you over?
- Were field sobriety tests explained and scored correctly?
- Was the breath machine maintained and inspected on schedule?
- Were you watched for the required period before the breath test?
- Do the officer's notes match what the video shows?
As a former prosecutor, Barry knows which problems make a prosecutor rethink a case. That knowledge drives his negotiations and his trial preparation. When a case should be tried, he prepares it for trial, and when a negotiated result serves you better, he tells you so plainly.
Your first 24 to 72 hours
- Find your citation and the license receipt. That receipt is your temporary license for up to 30 days.
- Write down the timeline of your night while it is fresh.
- Do not talk about the case on social media or with anyone but your lawyer.
- Call us to request the OMV hearing and start your defense.
Charged with something else in town? See our Kenner criminal defense office page or our Jefferson Parish page.