Abusing drugs and driving can and often is just as dangerous as drinking and driving. All states penalize you immediately for abusing any drug, prescribed or illegal, and driving. There are many reasons not to mix driving and drugs which will impair your ability. This blog guide gives you seven.

Dangerous for You
By abusing drugs, you are hurting your ability to see, feel, and make decisions. Just as alcohol can damage the nerves in your eyes and hurt your ability to see, the same is the case with many drugs. The problem is that many illegal drugs have chemicals in them you may not understand. You may be taking a drug which makes you tired, very dangerous. You may take a drug which makes you pass out. Or you may have some reaction to it. It’s very dangerous to mix even legal drugs with driving, especially if you also drink some. Be safe and avoid the dangers of drug abuse and driving.

Dangerous for Other Drivers
There are other drivers on the road too. Over 10,000 drivers die every year because of abusing drugs or alcohol and driving. Thousands of pedestrians die too. This means you are not only putting yourself at risk by driving; you are endangering the lives of others. And if you’re at fault, you can face criminal charges.

Lose Your License
If you are caught abusing drugs and driving, it’s treated just like a alcohol related offense in terms of your license. The first penalty is your license is suspended. For first time offenders, this can mean losing driving privileges for a year.

Face Fines
You will also face fines. Though minor in comparison to losing your license and going to jail, sometimes the fines can be quite high, especially if you’re not working.

Get a Drug Charge
If you are caught with illegal drugs, you face more than a DUI: you also can be charged as a drug offender. This can mean further penalties.

Go to Jail
Going to jail can occur even in a first time DUI offense. While sentences vary, you can spend days in jail to months in prison. If you have multiple DUI offenses, you can be forced to spend even more time in jail.

Other Penalties
A DUI offense can also mean being put on probation, forced to go to drug counseling, and then having to go through a lengthy process just to get your license back.

So what’s next? All DUI charges require the help of an experienced, local DUI lawyer. While you may think just because your caught means you always face charges, it does not work that way. You may in fact be able to successfully defend yourself. But you can’t without a DUI lawyer. A proper defense can have evidence thrown out, officer actions questioned, and either a lessening of charges or a not guilty decision.

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Driving under the influence of drugs, also called DUID, can lead to very tough penalties in California. What does this really mean? What drugs can you take and drive? What are the differences with a drinking and driving arrest? What California laws are you breaking? And how can you get help?

That’s a lot of important questions. First, let’s go over what “under the influence” is.

Under the Influence

Driving under the influence does not only mean alcohol, and in terms of drugs, not just the illegal ones. California law makes it clear that a DUI means you are incapable of driving a vehicle correctly, that your abilities to drive are less than that of a sober person, and that you are endangering others.

If you drink 10 shots of a strong drink, you are incapable of driving correctly. That’s easy to see, but if you get closer to the limit, if you drink less and still drive, you are quite often still endangering others by losing your ability to drive. Now think of that in terms of drug use, whether you’re abusing an illegal drug or taking the prescribed dose of a medicine. In these cases, it can also be hard to gauge your ability to drive. To be under the influence does not necessarily mean you abuse the drug; as long as it harms your ability to drive, you are breaking the law.

What drugs can you take?

You would rarely say, “Drink less and you’re fine to drive,” And it’s the same with drugs. You can never be sure. If you are prescribed a medicine, your doctor will often explain the effects. For example, a prescription for a mental illness may make you sleepy. You need to consult with your doctor if you can safely drive, while also reading the effects the drug will have on you. These are easy to find out.

In all cases, taking illegal drugs of any amount can lead to an accident. Just as simply drinking, even a little, greatly increases your chances of being in an accident, so too does using illegal drugs. You are far more likely to get in an accident, if not get pulled over. And if you’re pulled over after abusing illegal drugs, the California penalties are tough,

What are the differences?

All states make clear the “under the influence” laws, but it’s sometimes hard to see the difference between alcohol and drugs (legal or illegal). In California, there is no legal limit to drug use. If you abuse it or not, it does not matter. What matters is if it makes you under the influence. Just as being caught drinking and driving with open alcohol in the car can lead to charges, so too can driving under the influence of illegal drugs with them in your car can lead to severe penalties (the difference being that you can be charged with breaking drug laws). Also, some drugs stay in your system much longer. You could do an illegal drug – say cocaine – and it could lead to a California DUID charge days later. You’re usually much better after a day or two break of no drinking, but with drugs it can be very different. If you are tested positive for drugs, you can be charged with the DUID.

How can you get help?

A DUID is a very serious charge which requires professional California legal representation. That means hiring an experienced lawyer to handle your case. At the least, a lawyer can lessen charges. In some cases, he or she can help you beat the charges.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!