Louisiana § RS 14:98.6 - Underage operating while impaired

§ RS 14:98.6. Underage operating while impaired

            A. The crime of underage operating a vehicle while impaired is the operating of any motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, vessel, or other means of conveyance when the operator's blood alcohol concentration is 0.02 percent or more by weight based on grams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood, if the operator is under the age of twenty-one.

            B. Any underage person whose blood alcohol concentration is found to be in violation of R.S. 14:98(A)(1)(b) shall be charged under the provisions of that Subparagraph rather than under this Section.

            C.(1) On a first conviction, the offender shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars, and imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than three months. Imposition or execution of sentence shall not be suspended unless the offender is placed on probation with the minimum conditions that he:

            (a) Perform thirty-two hours of court-approved community service activities, at least half of which shall consist of participation in a litter abatement or collection program.

            (b) Participate in a court-approved substance abuse and driver improvement program.

            (2) On a second or subsequent conviction, regardless of whether the second offense occurred before or after the first conviction, the offender shall be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, and imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than six months. Imposition or execution of sentence under this Paragraph shall not be suspended unless the offender is placed on probation with the minimum conditions that he:

            (a) Serve forty-eight hours in jail without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, or in lieu thereof, perform no less than eighty hours of court-approved community service activities, at least half of which shall consist of participation in a litter abatement or collection program.

            (b) Participate in a court-approved substance abuse program.

            (c) Participate in a court-approved driver improvement program.

            (3) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a court from sentencing an offender to serve any portion of the sentence under home incarceration either in lieu of, or in addition to, a term of imprisonment if otherwise allowed under the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894.2 and R.S. 14:98.5(B).

            (4) The court may require that the offender not operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation unless any vehicle, while being operated by the offender, is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device in accordance with R.S. 14:98.5(C).

            D. Court programs regarding substance abuse as provided for by Subsection C of this Section shall include a screening procedure to determine the portions of the program that may be applicable and appropriate for individual offenders.

            Acts 2014, No. 385, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2024, No. 662, §1.