DUID (driving under the influence of drugs)

Driving under the influence of drugs carries the same penalties as driving under the influence of alcohol in most states.  However, each state has different methods of charging defendants with DUID offenses.  While some states actually take bodily fluid samples for marijuana DUI offenses, other states simply use officer discretion when making an arrest for marijuana DUI, cocaine DUI, or prescription DUI.  Though alcohol levels are easy for field officers to test on suspects, easy and reliable methods of drug testing on drivers do not currently exist.  Therefore, drivers facing charges of driving under the influence of marijuana, cocaine DUI, and prescription DUI can, with the appropriate legal counsel, obtain dismissal of these charges more easily than a traditional alcohol related drunk driving arrest.

Charges for DUID Offenses 

Not all DUID offenses can be easily prosecuted.  Use of an attorney can easily mitigate the evidence a prosecutor has against a suspect when being arrested for driving under the influence of drugs.  If no statement is made by a suspect regarding being under the influence of drugs, nor does the prosecutor have any chemical test results to prove being under the influence, most DUID charges will prove impossible to prosecute.  Even drug offenses stemming from a DUID arrest are not sufficient to prosecute a driver for DUID in most cases.  All narcotics, prescription medications, and even extreme fatigue can technically impair a driver, but proving the level of impairment is oftentimes difficult in court if alcohol was not involved. 

Getting Legal Help for DUID Arrests

Virtually across every state, a single DUID arrest is a misdemeanor offense.  However, some states have begun implementing measures for securing blood or urine samples from DUID suspects, which can test for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and other illegal narcotics.  These methods, however, are not necessarily foolproof, and the courts often recognize the level of error these methods may have.  In turn, using an attorney to handle your case can garner favorable outcomes, such as a much lesser plea agreement or even outright dismissal of the charges pending the specifics of your case.