New Orleans is a fantastic place that is known for its culture, food and parties. It's no wonder that so many people come to visit our city every year. However, what these visitors don't know could extend their trip in some very unpleasant ways. To help keep you from finding trouble while on your New Orleans getaway, our defense attorneys have some ideas that can help you steer clear of trouble.

What Can Get You Arrested on Your New Orleans Getaway?

One of the city's claims to fame is how friendly our streets are to partygoers. That includes the fact it's legal in our city to possess an open container of alcohol in public. There are no open container ordinances in the Big Easy, except for one. It's illegal to carry your alcohol in a glass container, such as a bottle or a whiskey glass. Doing so may result in a fine, and if the officer writing you a ticket thinks you look a little too loopy, then you could also find yourself in jail.

Even though New Orleans allows drinking in public, it does not welcome public drunkenness. Getting too rowdy and disturbing the peace can get you arrested in New Orleans, especially if your blood alcohol level is too high. Here in NOLA, police officers can ask you to take a blood alcohol test, even if you are not operating a motor vehicle. This means it's always important to be kind, polite and respectful when dealing with law enforcement in New Orleans.

You should also remember that New Orleans is one of the most heavily surveilled cities in the country. Just because you are not within view of a cop on the street doesn't mean a camera isn't focusing on what you're doing. These cameras are live-monitored sometimes, and the footage they collect is admissible in court.

What Do I Do If I Am Arrested in New Orleans?

Though many of the tips here are sound suggestions for visitors to New Orleans, they do not constitute legal advice. For problems with the NOPD, you are going to need an experienced defense attorney that can keep you informed of your rights. At Martzell, Bickford & Centola, we fight to ensure an arrest doesn't define the rest of your life. Contact us at (504) 581-9065 if your fun-filled getaway turns into a legal calamity.