Operating your vehicle under the influence of drugs that are capable of causing impairment is a serious traffic violation in Florida. When drivers are charged with drug-related driving under the influence (DUI), they may face serious penalties. One of the most effective approaches to disputing or fighting these accusations is through the assistance of an experienced Tavares drug DUI lawyer.
At Largey Law Firm, our seasoned DUI attorneys are committed to fighting for your rights, protecting your freedom, and minimizing damage to your reputation. We have helped many people facing drug-related DUI charges in Lake County beat these allegations through personalized defense strategies that work.
Understanding Drug-Related DUI
If a law enforcement officer conducts a traffic stop due to roadway violations, this may open the door to an investigation, particularly if you present the classic signs of impairment. Common grounds for pulling you over include erratic driving, failure to maintain lane, weaving between lanes, heavy window tint, broken or missing tail or headlamps, inconsistent driving speeds, or weird braking activity.
The state’s police officers will not automatically consider drug-related driving when they pull you over. However, if something about you — such as glassy eyes, slurred speech, smells, presence of drug paraphernalia, or inability to coherently answer questions — gives them probable cause that you may be under the influence or impaired, they may proceed to arrest you after conducting one or more approved tests.
Our Tavares legal team could explain how drug DUI testing differs from alcohol-related testing, in particular that there is an established limit. In the latter, you typically just blow into a breathalyzer to determine if your blood alcohol content exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
With drugs, they merely need reasonable suspicion to detain and charge you. To establish grounds for arrest, law enforcement agents may carry out field sobriety tests, request a drug recognition expert, or rely on your admission of using drugs.
Consequences of a Drug DUI Conviction
The state’s laws on impaired driving are very strict. Under Florida Statutes § 316.193, driving after taking illicit substances or even prescribed medications is illegal. Anyone found guilty of this may face one or more penalties, including:
- License suspension for up to a year
- Monetary fines of up to $10,000
- Vehicle immobilization for up to 90 days
- DUI school
- Mandatory attendance and participation in a substance abuse rehab program
- Up to 10 years’ license revocation
- Installation of an ignition interlock device
- Up to five years’ prison sentence
If there are aggravated circumstances, such as a victim suffering severe bodily harm or a fatality, the accused may face a manslaughter charge, which further attracts permanent driver’s license revocation and a mandatory minimum prison sentence of four years. Leaving the scene of a drug DUI-related accident where someone was killed is charged as a first-degree felony and attracts a 30-year prison sentence in a state prison.
Every case is unique, which is why you need an experienced drug DUI attorney from our Tavares team to review it, figure out your next steps, and help beat your charges.
Call a Tavares Attorney About Your Drug DUI Defense
The effects of a drug DUI can be lifelong, affecting everything that matters to you, including your right to vote, own a gun, run for public office, or obtain fair mortgage rates. Let a Tavares drug DUI lawyer at Largey Law Firm help you explore your legal options and fight to protect your rights. A thorough review of the circumstances surrounding your arrest and the evidence against you could help identify potential defenses and determine the best way to move forward with your case.
Call now to schedule a free case evaluation.
