Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is driving while impaired by marijuana, cocaine or even a prescription drug. The idea of the DUID is similar to a DUI situation in that the reason for a citation is because the driver appears to have a suppressed ability to operate a vehicle and may endanger themselves and/or others. If you are pulled over with a suspected case of driving under the influence of drugs, you may be required to take a blood or saliva test to help determine if some form of drug is in your system.
Charges and Sentencing for DUID
Convicting someone of DUID is much harder to uphold than a DUI situation where alcohol was involved, because measuring the level of drugs in a person’s body is not easy to do while on the scene. The tests that have been developed for law enforcement officers to use in the case of suspected DUID are somewhat imperfect and cannot say for certain if someone is actually under the influence of drugs. Most DUID charges are actually based more on witnesses and the officer’s opinion on the person’s impairment, than the blood or saliva tests taken. It can be challenging to be sure that someone was driving under the influence of drugs, but if you are sentenced for DUID you can be required to pay hefty fines, have your license suspended or revoked or even end up with a prison sentence.
Help from a Lawyer for DUID Charges
Charges for DUID and the possession of a narcotic drug such as a cocaine DUI are severe and so it is vital that an experienced lawyer is contacted to assist in the litigation process. A lawyer can help ensure that you are taken care of and that the case is based on fact rather than an officer’s opinion.
