The Bridgeport marijuana laws have changed drastically in the past few years. Just a few years ago, you could face serious jail time for possession, while possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana are now legal throughout the state. However, if you enjoy using marijuana, there are a few things that you need to know. Just because cannabis is legal does not mean that it is legal in every situation. For example, you can’t have or consume this substance on school property. There is also a limit to how much you can grow or possess. Finally, consider that it is still illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.
Marijuana use and detection when it comes to DUI is still in its infancy in Connecticut. You can learn more about the laws and how to fight a marijuana DUI charge here.
An interaction with Bridgeport law enforcement usually begins when a police officer sees you breaking a traffic law and pulls you over as a result. If the officer doesn’t suspect you to be driving under the influence, they will likely give you a citation for the motor vehicle violation and let you drive away. However, if they think that you are under the influence of a controlled substance, they will investigate the situation further.
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The police usually first suspect that you might be under the influence of alcohol. They might think so based on observing your appearance and behavior or incriminating statements that you make. For example, if you are slurring your speech, smell of alcohol, or admit to drinking, they may proceed as if you are intoxicated. In this case, they will likely ask you to perform standardized field sobriety tests and a BAC test such as a breathalyzer test.
On the other hand, if you pass these tests or if the officer suspects that you are under the influence of marijuana, they will proceed differently. For example, if the officer observes that you have red eyes or smell of marijuana, they may also want to test to see if you are under the influence of cannabis.
Marijuana DUI testing is still a fairly new concept. Instead of standardized field sobriety tests, you may be asked to take an evaluation administered by a drug recognition expert (DRE). Not every police officer is a DRE, so a new law enforcement agent may be called to the scene to perform this evaluation. The DRE test is a 12 step process that does things like test your attention, pulse, muscle tone, vision, and more. This evaluation usually culminates in the DRE ordering additional tests such as blood tests or urine tests to determine if you are indeed under the influence of marijuana or some other drug.
One of the most significant issues with marijuana DUI testing in Bridgeport and throughout Connecticut is that marijuana can stay in a person’s system for days, weeks, or even months. So you may fail a drug test, but that does not necessarily mean that you were under the influence of the substance at the time that you were driving. A good Bridgeport marijuana DUI defense lawyer can explore this defense option as well as others in your situation. There is no need to go through this experience alone – contact a local DUI lawyer such as Lady DUI who can protect your rights and your freedom.
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