Driving is a safety-critical activity. A minor mistake or oversight can lead to a deadly wreck. As such, there are many laws that apply to motorists. Drivers who violate traffic statutes are at risk of receiving a citation in many cases. More significant violations might result in criminal charges.
Those who have had too much to drink might get arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. The state can also prosecute individuals who drive while under the influence of mind-altering drugs. Both prescribed medication and street drugs can lead to drug-related DUI charges.
What do Florida motorists typically need to know about drugged driving charges?
Drugged driving carries the same penalties
Quite a few people assume that drugged driving is a separate criminal offense from drunk driving. However, both charges relate to the same DUI statute.
Therefore, the potential penalties are effectively the same regardless of what type of substance impairs the driver’s ability. A first DUI can lead to fines that cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000. People may serve a year on probation or up to six months in state custody.
That being said, a drugged driving DUI can seem like a more serious concern to many people. Judges might be more harsh about sentencing in drugged driving cases.
There are no chemical limits
In a drunk-driving scenario, the state asserts that someone either demonstrated impaired driving ability or exceeded the legal limit for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). There is no legal limit in a drugged driving case. Any detectable amount of a prohibited drug or a prescription medication known to affect driving ability can be enough to justify prosecution.
Drivers usually cannot defend against their charges by simply proving that they have a valid prescription or have taken the medication for years. Those accused of driving while under the influence of a prescribed medication face the same penalties as those accused of driving after drinking or while under the influence of illegal drugs.
There are several reasonable defense strategies that could work for individuals accused of drug-related DUI offenses. Reviewing the situation that led to charges can help people choose the best response to a pending charge.