Being arrested for a DUI with drugs is a serious matter that can result in significant legal and personal consequences. Whether you’re facing charges for driving under the influence of prescription drugs, marijuana, or illegal substances, it’s crucial to have an experienced DUI with drugs lawyer on your side. At My Rights Law - Criminal, DUI, and Injury Lawyers, we understand the complexities of drug-related DUI cases and are dedicated to helping our clients reduce or even dismiss their charges.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the top defenses that a skilled drug DUI lawyer can use to get your charges reduced or dismissed. With the right DUI drug defense attorney, you may be able to avoid harsh penalties, keep your driving privileges, and protect your future.

1. Lack of Probable Cause for the Traffic Stop

One of the most effective defenses a DUI lawyer for drug offenses can use is to challenge the legality of the traffic stop. For law enforcement to pull you over, they must have a valid reason, known as probable cause. If the officer didn’t observe any suspicious behavior or violations that would justify the stop, your lawyer may argue that the arrest was unlawful.

If the drug DUI defense lawyer can demonstrate that the officer had no reasonable cause to stop your vehicle, any evidence obtained after the stop, including drug tests, may be deemed inadmissible in court. This can result in the charges being reduced or dismissed entirely.

2. Faulty or Improper Testing Methods

Another common defense in drug DUI cases is challenging the accuracy and reliability of the drug test results. Unlike alcohol, which can be easily measured using a breathalyzer, testing for drugs is more complex and prone to errors. If you were tested using blood or urine samples, your DUI drug attorney may examine the following factors:

• Improper administration: If the test wasn’t administered correctly, the results may not be reliable.
• Contamination: Drug samples can be contaminated during collection or storage, leading to inaccurate results.
• Expired or faulty equipment: Testing machines, if not properly calibrated or maintained, can produce false positives or inaccurate readings.

A DUI with drugs charges lawyer will scrutinize every aspect of the testing process to ensure that the results are valid and reliable. If there’s any doubt about the accuracy of the test, it could provide the foundation for a strong defense.

3. Prescription Drug Defense

If you were driving under the influence of prescription medications, a drug-related DUI lawyer may argue that you weren’t aware that the medication impaired your ability to drive. Prescription drugs can have side effects that impact your coordination or reaction time, but if you took the medication as prescribed, your lawyer may argue that you were not negligent in your actions.

Additionally, your criminal defense lawyer for DUI with drugs can challenge whether the prescription drug was legally obtained. If the medication was prescribed to you and you followed the doctor’s instructions, your lawyer may argue that you should not face the same penalties as someone who was using illegal drugs or abusing prescription drugs.

4. Marijuana DUI Defense

Marijuana-related DUI charges are particularly complex because marijuana can remain in your system long after its effects have worn off. A marijuana DUI lawyer will focus on challenging the evidence that suggests you were impaired at the time of the traffic stop. Since marijuana can be detected in the body days after use, your attorney can argue that the substance in your system wasn’t affecting your ability to drive at the time of the arrest.

Furthermore, if you were pulled over for another reason or there was no evidence of impaired driving (e.g., erratic driving, swerving, or poor performance on field sobriety tests), your DUI lawyer for drugged driving may argue that the presence of marijuana in your system doesn’t necessarily indicate that you were impaired.

5. Field Sobriety Test Failures

Field sobriety tests (FSTs) are often used to determine whether a driver is impaired. However, these tests are not always accurate and can be influenced by many factors unrelated to impairment, such as fatigue, nervousness, or even medical conditions. Your DUI drug charges defense attorney may argue that your performance on these tests wasn’t a true reflection of your ability to drive.

Additionally, if you were subjected to drug-related sobriety tests that are not scientifically valid or reliable, your lawyer may challenge the results in court. A DUI lawyer for drugged driving will ensure that any evidence gathered during the traffic stop is scrutinized for accuracy and fairness.

6. Illegal Drug DUI Defense

For cases involving illegal drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, your DUI drug charges defense attorney may argue that you weren’t impaired at the time of the arrest. Depending on the substance and the amount detected, your lawyer may challenge whether the drug levels in your system were enough to impair your driving. Some illegal drugs, like marijuana, may not cause noticeable impairment in every individual.

Additionally, your lawyer may explore the possibility that the drug was legally prescribed to you or that you were unaware of its presence in your system due to contamination or accidental use. The drug DUI legal defense will be tailored to your specific circumstances and the nature of the drug involved.

7. Violation of Your Constitutional Rights

If your DUI lawyer for drug conviction believes that your constitutional rights were violated during the arrest or investigation, they can challenge the evidence obtained during these procedures. For example, if you weren’t read your rights or if the search and seizure were conducted illegally, your DUI drug attorney may file a motion to suppress the evidence. If successful, this could result in a reduction of charges or a complete dismissal of the case.

Conclusion

If you’ve been arrested for DUI with drugs, it’s important to work with a skilled DUI drug defense lawyer who understands the complexities of drugged driving laws and can help you fight for the best possible outcome. Whether you’re dealing with prescription drugs, marijuana, or illegal substances, a DUI with drugs lawyer at My Rights Law - Criminal, DUI, and Injury Lawyers can explore various defenses to reduce your charges or secure a dismissal.

By challenging issues like the legality of the traffic stop, faulty drug testing, or the accuracy of field sobriety tests, we can help you build a strong defense. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can assist with your drug DUI defense and help you navigate the legal process.