DUI of Drugs (DUID)
It is illegal to operate a moving vehicle while under the influence of drugs (DUID). Drugs affect the body’s natural chemistry, which can jeopardize an individual’s physical and mental ability to drive. It does not matter whether the drugs were taken illegally, or if they were lawfully obtained by a doctor or pharmacist. If the drugs affect an individual’s body chemistry to the point where he/she is unable to drive properly, he or she will be charged with a DUID.
California law and Vehicle Code 23152(a) clearly states that it is unlawful to drive a vehicle while under the influence of drugs. The law states, “A person is ‘under the influence’ for DUI purposes if, as a result of drinking or consuming the alcohol or drug, his mental or physical abilities are impaired such that he is no longer able to drive a vehicle with the caution of a sober person, using ordinary care, under similar circumstances.”
Many people mistakenly believe that it’s permissible to drive if the drugs were prescribed by a doctor or purchased at a drug store or pharmacy. This is false. An individual will be charged with DUID for driving under the influence of any drug that impairs his/her mental or physical capabilities, even if that drug is cold or cough medicine.
Individuals charged with DUID are subject to the same laws and criminal prosecution as those charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Driver’s who are pulled over on suspicion of DUID are required to perform field sobriety tests and take either a blood or urine test. However, unlike alcohol-related DUIs, there is no BAC “legal limit” when it comes to driving under the influence of drugs. Law enforcement officials only need to prove that the driver is either physically or mentally impaired.
If you are convicted of driving under the influence of drugs, you will face harsh legal penalties. Some courts prosecute drugged drivers more severely than they do drunk drivers. Typical consequences for DUID include imprisonment, steep fines, driver’s license suspension, probation, community service, drug treatment programs, and registration as a drug offender.
Contact our Orange County Drug Crime Attorneys
If you have been charged with DUID, it is vital that you contact a skilled attorney. At Coffey & Coffey, our Orange County drug crime attorneys challenge tough evidence, re-question witnesses, examine testimony, and aggressively negotiate with prosecutors in order to get your charges reduced or dropped. Our attorneys are experts in this area of law, and have obtained successful results for hundreds of individuals in Orange County. Furthermore, our law firm is dedicated to providing each client with useful resources, viable options, and personalized attention.
Coffey & Coffey represents individuals in cities throughout Orange County, including Anaheim, Newport Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Orange, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Yorba Linda, Brea, San Clemente, Huntington Beach, Tustin, Buena Park, Placentia, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Westminster, Stanton, Fountain Valley, La Habra, Los Alamitos, and many more.
If you have been charged with
driving under the influence of drugs, contact our
Orange County drug crime attorneys at Coffey & Coffey today for your free case evaluation at
1-800-706-7888