Carnival season in St. Charles Parish will come with a heavier dose of flashing blue lights this year, as the Sheriff’s Office joins an intensified “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement wave aimed squarely at impaired drivers.
Starting tomorrow, deputies will increase patrols and put extra focus on spotting impaired drivers while parades and parties ramp up across the parish. The agency is reminding residents that impaired does not just mean drunk: alcohol, illegal drugs and some prescription or over-the-counter medications can all land a driver on the wrong side of a DWI stop. The message from the sheriff’s office is simple: if you plan to drink, line up a safe ride home first.
The department announced the enforcement push on its official Facebook page in a news release credited to Sgt. Jenni Barrette. The statement says more deputies will be on the road looking for impaired drivers and notes that the campaign’s goal is to prevent alcohol-related crashes during Carnival, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission lists the Mardi Gras enforcement wave as running Feb. 6 to 17 as part of the statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission
Why Patrols Are Intensifying
State safety officials say Carnival remains one of the most dangerous stretches of the year for Louisiana drivers. Since 2020, more alcohol-related fatalities and injuries have occurred during Carnival than during any other holiday, a state spokesperson told Louisiana Radio Network.
Federal partners are backing the local push. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration runs national Drive Sober mobilizations and provides both messaging and funding to help boost overtime patrols and other impaired-driving enforcement. NHTSA
What Enforcement Will Look Like
Drivers in St. Charles Parish can expect saturation patrols, targeted DWI shifts near parade routes and, where authorized, sobriety checkpoints and no-refusal operations during the enforcement window. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission provides planning resources and guidance for “No Refusal” weekends and offers grant support to agencies that carry out overtime DWI enforcement. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission
Penalties Under State Law
Driving while impaired is a criminal offense under Louisiana law. Penalties can include fines, jail time, driver’s license suspension and ignition-interlock requirements after conviction. State statute R.S. 14:98 details enhanced penalties for repeat offenders and for cases where children are inside the vehicle, and courts may also order vehicle seizure or other sanctions in repeat cases. Justia
How Locals Can Stay Safe
Officials are urging partygoers to plan a sober ride home, whether that means rideshare, public transit or a designated driver set up before the first drink. The federal campaign’s message boils it down to two key points: plan a safe, sober ride home and call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers. They also advise checking medication labels and talking with a clinician or pharmacist, since some prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can impair driving even without alcohol. NHTSA
The sheriff’s office says the stepped-up enforcement starts Friday and will run through Feb. 17. Residents can follow the department’s posts for real-time updates and official advisories on its Facebook page. St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office
