Driving while under the influence of marijuana is prohibited by California law. If an officer suspects that you are impaired by marijuana or any other drug, you may be charged with DUI. In the event that you’re convicted of the crime, you may be sentenced to jail time, a fine or other penalties.
The dangers of marijuana use
Marijuana has the ability to slow your reaction time and make it difficult to process information. Therefore, you may be at a higher risk of causing an accident involving another vehicle, person or object. You may also be at a higher risk of forcing another vehicle off of the road or otherwise causing problems for other motorists. This may be because you can’t stay in your own lane or because you ran a stop sign or a red light.
Signs of impairment
There are several clues that an officer will look for when determining if you should be charged with a drug DUI. For instance, your eyes may turn red or puffy after smoking marijuana. You may also have trouble standing, talking or maintaining eye contact with others. If there is reason to believe that you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will likely be asked to consent to field sobriety tests. Failing to do so may trigger an automatic license suspension and a fine, and it’s possible that your car will be impounded as well.
There are many potential defenses to a DUI charge that may help you obtain a favorable plea deal or an acquittal. For instance, you may assert that there was no basis for the traffic stop that led to the charge. You might also assert that a medical condition led to puffy eyes or an inability to speak clearly.The post Marijuana use could result in a DUI first appeared on The Law Offices of Casey & Angelos.
