DUI & Drug Accusations in Colorado Springs
Charged with a DUI because of drugs?
Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) in the state of Colorado has
become a growing concern. DUID is a serious offense that a police officer
initially determines with a
field sobriety test. If the police officer suspects the individual of operating their vehicle
under the influence of a drug, they can arrest you without even searching
for evidence of drugs on the person or in the car. You will be requested
to do a blood or urine test to confirm the presence of narcotics in your
system. If the test proves positive, you will be charged with a DUID,
or a DWAI, which means driving with ability impaired. The slightest amount
of drugs detected can warrant a DUID.
If you are suspected and accused of driving under the influence of drugs,
we understand this can be a stressful ordeal. It can be that much more
traumatic if the drug is a prescription drug taken for medical reasons.
It is sometimes difficult to ascertain if some drugs really have an impact
on a person's driving ability. That is why it becomes crucial to contact
my firm if you were charged with a DUI with drugs. My extensive experience
as a Colorado Springs DUI attorney will provide you with a strong legal
defense. My staff and I are dedicated to serving our clients 24/7, giving
legal advice and counsel, while fighting for your rights and reputation.
Marijuana & Stoned Driving Charges in Colorado
With the passage of Colorado's new
marijuana laws, certain amounts of the drug are now legal under state law. These
new laws have left many law enforcement agencies wondering about how to
keep stoned drivers off of the road. Law enforcement officers throughout
Colorado are known for their rigorous prosecution of drivers who operate
motor vehicles while
under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to AIDF data, there were 127 total alcohol impaired driving
fatalities throughout the state in 2010, and 18 of these fatalities involved
underage drivers who were driving while impaired.
There were also 27,833 total DUI arrests throughout Colorado in 2010, and
383 of these arrests involved drivers under the age of 21. While Colorado's
new law does not make any changes to the state's driving-under-the-influence
laws, it has left many officers wondering about how to handle drivers
who smoke marijuana and then drive. Washington state, which also passed
a similar new measure regarding marijuana, changed its DUI provisions
by setting a new blood-test limit for marijuana. Washington police officers
and law enforcement agents are receiving additional training for this new
blood test, and lawyers in the state are also preparing for the new arrests and cases
that will follow.
Currently in Colorado, drugged driving is illegal. Now that the sale of
pot for recreational use by adults over 21 is legal in Colorado, it is
expected that there will be an increase of marijuana users on the roads as well.
Legalized marijuana is expected to become a big industry in Colorado, and retail stores selling
marijuana may soon open. A fiscal-impact study by the Colorado Center
on Law & Policy estimates that legal marijuana sales in the state
could be as much as $270 million initially. These factors will all contribute
to increased use of marijuana throughout Colorado.
Marijuana has been proven to slow reaction time and cause dizziness, and
drivers are much more likely to swerve and drift into other lanes when
they are high. As of now, many of the convictions for drugged driving
are based off of police observations which result in a following blood
test. There has not been a standardized method for determining marijuana
impairment, and those who are arrested for this type of DUI should strongly
consider fighting their charges.
The different tests that are used to determine marijuana use include a
test for an inactive THC metabolite that can be detected weeks after marijuana
use, and the test to determine current marijuana impairment looks for
active THC in the blood. It is estimated that the peak concentrations
of THC in the blood occur during the act of smoking marijuana, and then
they subside over the course of three hours.
DUI with Drugs and Colorado State Charges
In the case of prescription drugs or medical marijuana, charges against
you may be dismissed as these types of drugs were legally consumed. Prescription
drugs are particularly difficult to prove as being at fault for impaired
driving considering many fail to indicate a 'do not drive' warning
on the label. My firm will investigate every variable of your case in
detail in order to achieve the best possible outcome.
If convicted of a DUID, you can face large penalties and costly fines,
mandatory drug rehabilitation or counseling, probation, suspension or
revocation of your driver's license, and jail time. There are numerous
drugs that can warrant DUID charges:
- Marijuana
- Medical marijuana
- Prescription drugs
- Cocaine
- Crack cocaine
- Heroin
- Methamphetamines
- Ecstasy
- PCP
- LSD
- Sedatives or sleeping pills
- Glue-sniffing
- Aerosol inhalation
While marijuana has been legalized for recreational usage in the state,
it remains illegal to drive under the influence of the substance. This
law can be confusing for some people, and there are many additional kinks
that need to be worked out within the law. Until then, it is crucial that
anyone accused of a DUI with drugs retain the legal representation they need.
Contact a Colorado Springs DUI lawyer
right now if you were charged with a DUI involving drugs.