Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies will conduct a DWI checkpoint beginning Friday, September 16 which will continue into the early morning hours of the following day. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues. Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to designate a driver if you are going to drink. Motorists suspected of DWI who refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test will lose their driver’s license for one year (first offense). For a second offense, the penalty increases to two years. Anyone convicted of a DWI offense while their driver’s license is suspended because of another DWI offense will face automatic prison time. Lafourche Parish is also a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.

A total of 915 vehicles passed through the last DWI checkpoint which took place Friday, September 9 along LA Highway 1 in Thibodaux. During the checkpoint, deputies reported the following violations: 1 DWI, 3 open container violations, 9 seat belt violations, 5 expired motor vehicle inspection stickers, and several other various violations.