A person under arrest for certain impaired-driving offenses may not refuse a chemical test after two prior separate refusals; violations can bring jail and fines.
§98.7. Unlawful refusal to submit to chemical tests; arrests for driving while impaired A. No person under arrest for a violation of R.S. 14:98, 98.6, or any other law or ordinance that prohibits operating a vehicle while impaired may refuse to submit to a chemical test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer if the person has refused to submit to such test on two previous and separate occasions of any such violation. B.(1) Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not less than three hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, and shall be imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than six months. (2) Imposition or execution of sentence shall not be suspended unless one of the following occurs: (a) The offender is placed on probation with the minimum conditions that he serve two days in jail and participate in a court-approved substance abuse program and participate in a court-approved driver improvement program. (b) The offender is placed on probation with the minimum conditions that he 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, participate in a court-approved substance abuse program, and participate in a court-approved driver improvement program. An offender who participates in a litter abatement or collection program pursuant to this Subparagraph shall have no cause of action for damages against the entity conducting the program or supervising his participation therein, as provided by R.S. 14:98.5(D). Acts 2014, No. 385, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2020, No. 40, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2024, No. 662, §1.