Drug DUIs are often not thought of as frequently as alcohol-related DUI, but they do occur in Windsor and other Connecticut towns. It is important to note that it does not matter if the drug is legal or illegal; it is merely the intoxicating nature of a substance that determines if you cannot drive under its influence. Connecticut law makes no distinction between legal and illegal substances as it relates to DUI. Here, you can learn more about what will happen if the police suspect you of a drug DUI.
Drugged driving is harder to enforce than alcohol DUI because the blood alcohol content (BAC) test used in alcohol-related cases is not applicable to drug consumption. This is coupled with the fact that there are many types of drugs that react in a myriad of different ways in the human body. This causes great difficulty for police officers trying to discern if someone is indeed intoxicated. Further, urine and blood tests can be unreliable due to the fact that drugs stay in your system for longer periods of time compared to the time in which they make someone intoxicated, making it difficult to determine when the drug was taken and if it is active in a person’s system.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with my team. Hope will not fix your Connecticut DUI charge. Contacting us can!
If a police officer suspects that a person is driving under the influence of drugs, they can call in a drug recognition expert (DRE) to assess the situation. DREs are specifically trained in this matter. The training is called Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement training.
Once contacted by the police, the DRE will respond to the incident. They will interview the police officer and driver. They will also perform physical examinations and divided tests to the driver. A toxicological test may also be called in. After a 12 step detection process, the DRE will determine if the driver is intoxicated, and if so, by what substance. These evaluations are admissible as evidence in DMV and criminal court.
If a person is determined to be impaired and is arrested, the consequences are similar to that of an alcohol-related DUI. The consequences include jail time, fines, license suspension, use of an ignition interlock system, and community service, among other possibilities. Oftentimes, there are classes related to substance abuse that the court will order the defendant take and pass in order to resolve the issue.
As drug detection capabilities become more and more improved and efficient, it is becoming more and more common for people to be arrested for this type of DUI in Windsor and the surrounding towns. As such, it is important that one seek out assistance in such an important matter. For more information, reach out to our office. We are happy to answer your questions and make sure that your rights are protected in this matter.
Get your free copy of Teresa's eBook on surviving a Connecticut DUI. Delivered right to your inbox.