Anne Arundel County DUI Drug Lawyer
In Anne Arundel County, you can be charged with a DUI for being under the influence of drugs even if no alcohol was involved. These cases can be complicated, and often involve technical procedures specific to drug tests and DUIs. Contact an experienced Anne Arundel drug DUI lawyer to learn more about the charges you face and how to begin building your defense. A DUI lawyer in Anne Arundel will be able to take a look at your case and work to develop the strongest defense possible based on your circumstances.
Drug DUI Charges and Penalties
There are two separate drug-related impairment charges in Maryland. They are under Transportation Article 21-902, the same article that has the DUI statutes. There is a 21-902 (c) offense which is usually charged for impairment by prescription drugs and then there is a 21-902 (d) offense which is when an individual is impaired by a controlled dangerous substance, usually some kind of illegal narcotic.
The penalties for the 21-902 (c) offense, the prescription drug, mirror the penalties for impaired driving. First offense maximum penalty is 60 days and a $500 fine.
The penalties for the 21-902 (d) offense, the controlled dangerous substance offense, mirror the penalties for DUI, the more serious drunk driving charge, first offense maximum penalty is one year of incarceration and a $1,000 fine.
Involuntary Intoxication as a Defense
Involuntary intoxication is one potential defense for a drug DUI. If somebody slips a narcotic into someone else’s drink that would be a defense for a DUI drug.
Voluntary intoxication is not a defense, meaning if they take a drug and did not realize that it was going to affect them that would not be a defense.
If someone believes their impairment was the result of involuntary intoxication, they should speak to an Anne Arundel drug DUI lawyer to learn about the options available.
Legal or Prescribed Drugs
Someone can be charged with drug-related impairment even when the substance involved is a legal or prescribed drug. That would be a 21-902 (c) offense. The penalties for that are lower than for a controlled dangerous substance, such as illegal drugs, but there is still a potential penalty for driving while impaired by prescription medication.
Over The Counter Medication
Impairment due to over the counter medication is also considered a drug DWI. As long as it causes impairment, it would be charged as a 21-902 (c) offense. Whether it is a prescribed medication or whether an over-the-counter medication is irrelevant. The issue is really what type of impairment it caused.
Drug Interactions With Alcohol
Regarding intoxication due to an interaction between drugs and alcohol, 21-902 (c) specifically includes driving while impaired by a combination of drugs and alcohol. This type of impairment fits squarely within 21-902 (c).
Contacting a Drug DUI Lawyer
There lots of things that are involved in a DUI drug case. There is scientific evidence as well as legal challenges to admissibility of certain types of evidence that competent Anne Arundel DUI drug lawyers see a lot. The defense for one of these kinds of cases can be extremely complicated and extremely time-consuming. The officers will be collecting evidence far before the arrest.
Giving your drug DUI lawyer more time to analyze the evidence prior to your court date is always a good idea. Additionally, there may be penalties involved with the individual’s driver’s license based on a refusal to do a chemical test of blood and the same type of time windows run for those penalties as due for a DUI case for license suspension. It is extremely important to talk to an Anne Arundel Drug DUI attorney quickly when you’re charged with DUI drug.