New Orleans is known as one of the best places to celebrate Halloween. Voodoo Fest is happening October 25-27, along with Boo at the Zoo, Frenchmen Street will be filled with revelers in costume, and Krewe of Boo has rolled (after a brief threat of cancellation).
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- Drink ResponsiblyAny holiday weekend produces an uptick in DUI arrests. Uber and Lyft are readily available in the greater New Orleans area. Plan to use them. Drinking and driving can cause catastrophic injury and death. A DUI can cost you thousands of dollars. Additionally, an injured person can recover punitive damages under Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.4 by proving the following three elements:
-The at fault driver was intoxicated or impaired
-The intoxication was the cause in fact of your injuries
-The injuries were caused by the at fault driver’s wanton or reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others.
- Drink ResponsiblyAny holiday weekend produces an uptick in DUI arrests. Uber and Lyft are readily available in the greater New Orleans area. Plan to use them. Drinking and driving can cause catastrophic injury and death. A DUI can cost you thousands of dollars. Additionally, an injured person can recover punitive damages under Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.4 by proving the following three elements:
- Be Careful Before Using MarijuanaThe laws that apply to using marijuana are ever-changing. In 2016, the governor signed a bill legalizing medicinal marijuana and also signed a bill lowering the penalties for marijuana use. This doesn’t mean you should light up on the steps of City Hall. Even though marijuana has been “decriminalized” in some parishes (New Orleans is one of them), you can still fined even if it is decriminalized. In other parishes, like Jefferson Parish, you can still get arrested.
- . Be Aware of Curfew Hours if You are UnderageIf you’re underage, know that Halloween 2019 is on a Thursday. The City of New Orleans enacted a tougher curfew starting September 1, 2019. Anyone under the age of 17 will need to be off the streets by 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, the curfew starts at 11 p.m. However, the French Quarter’s year-round curfew still starts at 8 p.m. The City of New Orleans’ juvenile curfew hours are in effect through May 31, 2020. So, if you are younger than 17, please be in the company of an adult if trick-or-treating past 8:00 p.m.
- Know your Rights if Stopped by an OfficerJust because you are dressed like a cop doesn’t make you one. If you are misbehaving and are stopped by the police, know that their job is a hard one this weekend. Treat them with respect and never argue with them – let a lawyer do that later. But, you do not have to give them any more information other than to identify yourself if you get interrogated or placed under arrest.