What You Need to Know About Your Prescription Drug DWI
Hackensack, NJ- In New Jersey, the majority of DWI arrests will involve motorists who are drunk or on illicit drugs, such as marijuana. But there is a growing trend throughout the state and the entire U.S.: More and more drivers are getting charged with driving under the influence of prescriptions drugs.
In a past study, researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) found that between 1993 and 2010, the number of drivers using more than one drug increased from 11.5 percent to 21.5 percent.
In most cases, those multiple drugs New Jersey drivers are on are prescription drugs and what many of them fail to realize is the effect those drugs have on their ability to drive despite the warnings. Because motorists are warned about the intoxicating effects of their prescription drugs, law enforcement agencies aggressively prosecute people who drive while impaired by their prescription drugs. That means anyone facing a DWI-prescription drugs needs an aggressive and knowledgeable DWI defense lawyer in New Jersey on their side.
If you are taking a prescription drug or drugs and get pulled over for the driving while intoxicated, you need to know a few things about your arrest and your case.
Firstly, you will be put through a battery of field sobriety tests to determine if you are impaired. If alcohol is not a factor, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) to determine if you are impaired. DREs rely on their observations and the results of a chemical or urine test to charge you with DWI. You can chose to give a sample of your blood or urine or refuse, just be aware that if you refuse chemical test you can still be charged with DWI and possibly face additional charges and penalties. Sometime its better off to submit to chemical tests and use your defense to challenge the results.
When it comes to DWI cases, involving prescription drugs, the prosecution must be able to prove you were impaired at the time of the crash. Having a drug in your system and being affected by it are not the same thing. This is an important point and one that can be used in your defense. The simple presence of drug in your bloodstream is not proof enough of intoxication. That is why DWI cases involving prescription drugs differ from drunken driving cases and you must take a completely different approach to your defense. You need an attorney who understands who to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and build a strong defense.
If you live in Hackensack and need a DWI lawyer, USAttorneys can help you get in touch with one today. There are too many consequences for a DWI, including incarceration, suspension of your driver’s license and hefty fines, to deny yourself legal counsel. A conviction will remain on your record indefinitely which will impact you in many ways. Contact one of our DWI attorneys today and allow them to get started on your defense.
