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Which court handles a DWI in Slidell?
Most misdemeanor DWIs arising in Slidell are handled by the City Court of East St. Tammany, 501 Bouscaren Street. The court, formerly called Slidell City Court, serves Wards 8 and 9 and hears traffic cases, misdemeanors and some juvenile and civil matters.
A felony DWI, usually a third or later offense, is prosecuted by the 22nd Judicial District Attorney in the 22nd Judicial District Court at 701 N. Columbia Street in Covington. The parish jail is in Covington too, at 1200 Champagne Street. So an arrest in Slidell can mean a trip across the parish if you are held.
Your citation or bond papers will name your court. If they do not, call (504) 905-8399 and we will track it down.
Is this your second DWI? How the 10-year lookback works
A prior DWI counts against you only if it happened within 10 years of the new arrest. But the 10 years do not run while you were awaiting trial, on probation or parole, in jail, or wanted on a failure-to-appear attachment. So an old case may count even if it feels long past.
A second offense carries a $750 to $1,000 fine and 30 days to 6 months in jail, with at least 48 hours served without parole, probation or suspension. With a BAC of 0.15% or more, at least 96 hours must be served and the license is suspended for 4 years. Barry checks the dates and the records of any prior closely, because a prior that should not count changes everything.
First offense penalties, briefly
A first DWI is a misdemeanor with a $300 to $1,000 fine and 10 days to 6 months in jail. The judge can suspend most of that with probation, which typically means 48 hours in jail or at least 32 hours of community service, a substance abuse program, a driver improvement program and an ignition interlock for at least 6 months.
A third offense is a felony with 1 to 5 years. See the full ladder on our DWI defense page or in our article on Louisiana DWI penalties.
Do not let the 30-day license deadline pass
You must ask for an OMV administrative hearing within 30 days of the arrest. The receipt the officer gave you works as a temporary license until then. If no one requests the hearing, your suspension starts automatically.
A first failed test means 180 days, and a second failed test within 5 years means 365 days. A refusal means 1 year, or 2 years for a second refusal within 10 years. With an ignition interlock you can usually get a restricted license right away.
Can a Kenner law firm handle a Slidell DWI?
Yes. Barry handles cases throughout St. Tammany Parish, and our Kenner office is about 40 to 45 minutes (roughly 40 miles) from Slidell. You do not have to make that drive to get started. Barry offers remote consultations by phone or video, and he travels to court for you.
One client's friend put it simply in an Avvo review: "He kept My friend out of jail. This attorney goes above and beyond. He drove quite aways to attend court hearing."
What Barry looks for in a Slidell DWI arrest
Barry looks first at why you were stopped, because a stop without a lawful reason can undo much of the State's case. Then he works through the evidence piece by piece.
- The field sobriety tests: the instructions, the road surface, the lighting and any medical or physical issues.
- The breath test: the instrument's maintenance and inspection records and the operator's paperwork.
- Blood or urine tests: how and when the sample was taken, stored and analyzed.
- Video from the patrol car or body camera, compared with the written report.
Since 2024, Louisiana's law covers impairment by any drug that can affect safe driving, and the old prescription-label defense is gone. In a drug-impairment case, the officer's observations and the lab work carry the State's case, so Barry tests both.
What to do in the first 72 hours
- Read your paperwork and note your court date and court name.
- Write down where you were stopped, by whom, and what tests you took.
- Keep receipts or proof of where you were and what you drank.
- Stay off social media about the arrest.
- Call (504) 905-8399 for a free, confidential consultation, available 24/7.
We also defend other charges in the area. Visit our Slidell criminal defense and St. Tammany Parish pages.