If you’re driving around one night and happen to get pulled over by a police officer on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), you may not be sure how to act. This is especially true if you’ve never been stopped before on any charge, let alone a DWI.

Even if you’re completely innocent (i.e. haven’t been drinking at all), the way you act may incriminate you. Many individuals get nervous around police officers, especially when they are suspected of illegal activity. This can falsely lead a police officer to suspect that they are guilty of something.

From our team of Harmon, Smith & Vourvoulias criminal defense attorneys serving Metairie and the surrounding areas in Louisiana, here are some things to keep in mind when you are pulled over on suspicion of a DWI. [Read more…]

We all know that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can impair judgment and put everyone’s lives at risk. But we do not often think of the intoxicating effect of that all-nighter or the common case of “burning the candle at both ends.” If you are running on empty (sleep, that is – not fuel), you are putting yourself and others at risk.

From our team of car and truck accident attorneys at Harmon, Smith & Vourvoulias, LLC, here’s what you need to know about fatigued or tired driving here in New Orleans and across the country.

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As experienced DWI attorneys in New Orleans, Louisiana, our team at Harmon, Smith & Vourvoulias often sees confusion within the state about drunken driving terminology. This is to be expected, as different states in the U.S. use different acronyms for the charge, even ones that border Louisiana.

In Louisiana, driving while intoxicated, or DWI, is the term used to describe impaired or drunken driving. Texas also uses the term DWI.

DUI is another acronym for impaired or drunken driving, standing for “driving under the influence.” Mississippi, for example, uses the term DUI.

Read on to learn from our team about both terms and what to do if you’re facing a DWI charge in Louisiana.

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