Baton Rouge Drunk In Public Attorney
Home / Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Attorney / Drunk in Public
Practice Areas
If you are facing public intoxication charges or drunk in public charges in Baton Rouge, it’s essential to seek help from an experienced attorney. At The Law Offices of Ossie Brown, a skilled Baton Rouge criminal defense lawyer can challenge field sobriety test results and other evidence to create reasonable doubt in your case. Public intoxication is a misdemeanor crime under Louisiana public intoxication laws, which can result in jail time, fines, or community service if convicted.
Whether you consumed enough alcoholic beverages to create issues on a public street or your behavior was temporarily affected by an illegal drug in another public place, a Baton drunk in a public lawyer can provide a strong defense to help protect your future. Call 225-343-1111 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our experienced public intoxication lawyers.

Facing Drunk in Public Charges in Baton Rouge?
Louisiana does not have a specific public intoxication law, so charges related to being drunk in public or public intoxication in Baton Rouge fall under disorderly conduct statutes.
Whether the drunk in public or public intoxication charge stemmed from consuming enough alcoholic beverages to observably affect your behavior, using a controlled substance in public, or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the consequences of a misdemeanor crime like this can impact your life in more ways than one.
Local law enforcement officers take this criminal offense very seriously, and a public intoxication conviction can lead to penalties like jail time, community service, or a permanent mark on your criminal record.
Being charged with being drunk in public in Baton Rouge often hinges on whether the arresting officer can prove public intoxication occurred and that it impaired your ability to exercise care for yourself or others. If you’ve been accused of being drunk in public or any related crime, our public intoxication lawyers can help defend your rights and work to minimize the charges.
Elements of Public Intoxication Charges
Louisiana liquor laws do not specifically outline a public intoxication offense. Instead, a drunk in public charge is considered a misdemeanor offense under LA Rev Stat § 14:103.
Louisiana state law addresses behaviors that disrupt public order, such as being visibly intoxicated and causing a scene in a public place like a public street or other public way.
Unlike some states, Louisiana does not categorize misdemeanors into specific classes, such as a Class B misdemeanor or Class C misdemeanor. So, a drunk in public or disorderly conduct charge is deemed just a misdemeanor crime. If you’re found guilty, you could face penalties, including fines, up to six months in jail, or a permanent criminal record that can impact your future.
The lack of direct public intoxication laws does not make this legal matter any less severe. If you’re accused of violating LA Rev Stat § 14:103, it’s essential to understand the seriousness of drunk in public allegations and the importance of building a strong defense.
What Happens When Someone is Placed in Civil Protective Custody for His or Her Own Safety?
When someone is placed in civil protective custody for his or her own safety, it typically means that a police officer determines that the person was too intoxicated to exercise care for themselves or others in a public place. Instead of immediate jail time, the individual may be detained temporarily in a safe location without facing a formal criminal conviction.
Baker Act Louisiana
Louisiana Revised Statute 28:53 provides a legal framework for the involuntary admission of individuals to mental health facilities, similar to Florida’s Baker Act. Louisiana state law allows for the temporary detention and evaluation of someone who poses a danger to themselves or others, whether due to mental health issues or substance abuse disorders.
Like the Baker Act, this statute emphasizes protecting an individual’s own safety and the safety of others by authorizing a peace officer to intervene when necessary.
Penalties for a Public Intoxication Conviction in Louisiana
If you’re facing a potential public intoxication conviction for being drunk in public in Baton Rouge, whether from alcohol or a controlled substance, it’s important to understand the potential penalties and how a criminal conviction may affect your life.
While Louisiana doesn’t have a specific public intoxication law, similar charges like disturbing the peace or an open container violation can still carry significant consequences. The following sections will explore charges related to being drunk in public in Baton Rouge.
Public Intoxication Misdemeanor Charge
You can face a misdemeanor charge for disturbing the peace if you’re visibly drunk in public in Baton Rouge and cause a disturbance in a public place.
Consuming enough alcoholic beverages to the point where your general appearance shows signs like slurred speech, unsteady muscular movement, or behaviors that observably affect your ability to function can lead to an arrest. If an incident occurred due to your public intoxication, law enforcement officers may charge you accordingly.
Related Criminal Charges
Louisiana doesn’t have a specific state law for public intoxication, but being drunk in public in Baton Rouge can still lead to various criminal charges. Depending on the situation, you might face allegations of disturbing the peace or other related offenses. Understanding these charges is crucial to defending your rights.
Disorderly Conduct
Being intoxicated in public may lead to a disorderly conduct charge if your actions disturb others or create a threat to public safety.
Local jurisdictions in Louisiana often consider behaviors such as using offensive language, causing a public disturbance, or getting involved in fights as disorderly. If you’re facing this charge, a Baton Rouge disorderly conduct lawyer can provide the guidance you need to defend your rights and navigate the legal process.
Disturbing the Peace
Disturbing the peace is a common charge related to public intoxication or being drunk in public in Baton Rouge. Actions like shouting loudly, causing a scene, or disrupting public gatherings while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or an illegal drug can lead to misdemeanor charges. A Baton Rouge disturbing the peace lawyer can assist you in understanding the charges and developing a strong defense.
Resisting Arrest
Sometimes, encounters with a police officer escalate when someone is intoxicated or drunk in public in Baton Rouge, leading to a resisting arrest charge. This can happen if you refuse to comply with a police officer’s instructions or physically resist the police officer taking you into custody.
Facing this serious allegation requires the support of a Baton Rouge resisting arrest lawyer to ensure your rights are defended.
Assault or Battery
If an intoxicated individual becomes involved in a physical altercation, they may be charged with assault or battery. These offenses are serious and can result from fights or aggressive behavior influenced by alcohol or drugs.
Experienced Baton Rouge violent crimes lawyers can provide the necessary legal assistance to address these charges and work toward a favorable outcome.
Minor in Possession of Alcohol
For those under the legal drinking age, being caught with alcohol can lead to a minor in possession charge. This is more concerning if the minor was found intoxicated in public rather than in a private place.
A Baton Rouge underage drinking lawyer can help minors and their families understand the legal consequences and seek the best possible resolution.
Open Container Violation
Carrying or consuming an open container of alcohol while driving or riding in a vehicle is prohibited in Louisiana. If you’re found with an open alcohol container, you could face an open container violation.
Understanding the specifics of these violations can be challenging, but a lawyer familiar with Baton Rouge open container charges can guide you through the process.
Drug Possession
If you’re found with controlled substances in public, you could face drug possession charges in addition to other related offenses. Any charges related to possessing a controlled substance can have serious consequences, including jail time and a lasting impact on your record.
If police found a controlled substance on your person, a Baton Rouge drug possession lawyer can provide the legal assistance you need to address the charges and work toward the best possible outcome.
How Our Public Intoxication Lawyers Can Help If You’re Charged With Being Drunk in Public in Baton Rouge, LA
Our public intoxication lawyers are here to help you with the legal challenges of your case. If you’ve been arrested for being drunk in public in Baton Rouge, we’ll examine the particular facts of your case, such as where the incident occurred, the behavior observed by the arresting officer, and whether the criminal offense charges align with Louisiana law. Some common defenses include challenging the evidence of intoxication or questioning the actions of the arresting officer.
The prosecution must prove public intoxication for the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: (a) an incident happened in a public place, and (b) your controlled substance- or alcohol-induced behavior was disruptive.
Our Baton Rouge drunk-in-public lawyers will represent you effectively in court, protect your rights, and work toward reducing or dismissing the charges whenever possible.
Louisiana Public Drunkenness FAQs
Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions to help you better understand your situation and how a Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney can assist you if you’ve been arrested for being drunk in public in Baton Rouge.
Is It Illegal To Be Drunk in Public in Louisiana?
There isn’t a specific law that makes consuming alcohol or being drunk in public a crime in Louisiana. However, actions associated with public drunkenness, such as causing a disturbance or being unable to exercise care for yourself, can lead to charges. A criminal conviction for charges often depends on proving that the incident took place in a public place and that your behavior was disruptive or unsafe.
How to Get a Drunk in Public Dismissed in Baton Rouge?
If you’ve been charged with being drunk in public in Baton Rouge, a criminal defense attorney can work to get the charges dismissed by challenging the prosecution’s evidence. To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt: that you were intoxicated in a public place and that your behavior disrupted public order or safety. Common defenses, such as your actions not meeting the legal standards for public intoxication or misinterpretation by the arresting officer, give attorneys room to negotiate a plea deal or complete dismissal.
Can You Get Arrested for Being Drunk in Public in Baton Rouge?
Yes, you can be arrested for public drunkenness in Baton Rouge if your behavior violates laws related to disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace. Police officers often focus on actions such as creating a scene, endangering others, or failing to maintain bodily control while intoxicated.
How Serious is a Public Intoxication Charge in Baton Rouge?
A public intoxication charge is a minor misdemeanor charge, but can lead to a mark on your criminal record, fines, community service, or even jail time.
Baton Rouge Drunk in Public Lawyer
If you’re facing ‘drunk in public charges’, a Baton Rouge drunk in public attorney from The Law Offices of Ossie Brown is here to help. Our team understands these legal challenges and will work tirelessly to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
If you’ve been arrested for being drunk in public in Baton Rouge, don’t let a misdemeanor offense impact your future. Call 225-343-1111 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and let us provide the legal defense you deserve.
Free Consultation
Let us review your case at no cost to you. We want to take the time to get to know you and understand your legal goals and objectives.
Why Our Clients Trust Us
Your Law Firm for a Lifetime.
The attorneys at The Law Offices of Ossie Brown are skilled in several practice areas and ready to discuss your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.