In Mount Pleasant, whenever law enforcement suspects someone is driving under the influence, they often assume alcohol impairment. However, if an officer pulls over someone who blows a zero or a very low number on the breathalyzer test, they have the right to demand a blood or urine test to determine if someone was impaired by drugs while driving.
While drug DUI charges are relatively rare and certainly less common than alcohol-related DUI cases in Mount Pleasant, they can still lead to serious consequences if they result in a conviction. Talking to an attorney under these circumstances may be important, since a qualified Mount Pleasant drug DUI lawyer could enforce your legal rights and stand up for your best interests throughout every stage of your prosecution.
What Substances Could Lead to a Drug DUI?
Nearly any drug can lead to a DUI charge. Narcotic or non-narcotic controlled substances, prescribed medications, or even over-the-counter medicines could potentially cause someone to act oddly enough that an officer may suspect they are under the influence.
However, suspecting a person is under the influence and proving it beyond a reasonable doubt are two different things, as any experienced Mount Pleasant drug DUI attorney could affirm. DUI drug arrests are as much of a priority for law enforcement as alcohol-related DUI cases, and there is not much difference between the two under the law.
The real difference comes from what is used to prove that someone is under the influence. Law enforcement officers who are concerned that someone may be under the influence of drugs will likely take their investigation one-step further than a breathalyzer test.
Procedures During a Drug DUI Arrest
If someone suspected of DUI blows a very low number on a breathalyzer test or admits to using drugs, the officer typically has them go through a urinalysis or blood test. One or both of these tests could reveal that the person in question has substances in their system that could possibly cause them to be under the influence.
The same three standard field sobriety tests that are offered in alcohol-related DUIs are going to be offered initially. After that, though, a drug recognition expert (DRE) could be brought in by law enforcement to perform additional tests. These can include measuring the individual’s pulse, Romberg testing, balance testing, and a number of other, non-scientific and unreliable tests the government believes can show whether someone was under the influence. However, the reality is that these tests and the results should not be admissible in a court of law. An experienced drug DUI attorney can help you keep this “evidence” from being used against you to prove impairment.
Talk to a Mount Pleasant Drug DUI Attorney about Legal Options
If you are accused of driving under the influence of an illegal drug, it is important to act quickly in protecting your rights. Just because these cases are less common does not mean that the consequences are less severe, or that you can safely go without professional legal representation. Call a Mount Pleasant drug DUI lawyer today to discuss your case. A skilled defense attorney could help protect your rights and raise a strong defense on your behalf.
