Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is a misdemeanor act that can result in imprisonment, community service, or driver’s license removal. Law enforcement agencies do not distinguish between legal and illegal drugs or prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Nearly every state in the US mandates a “per se” statute, assuming a driver is driving under the influence of drugs if substances are found inside the vehicle. The weight of the fine can vary depending on how many times an offender is charged and whether their impaired driving had a fatal consequence. In 2009, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 6.3% of teens 16 and younger and 24.8% of adults aged 21 to 25 drove while on drugs.
Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is a misdemeanor act in which a person operates a motor vehicle while chemicals are affecting their system. Usually, DUID is classified as drink driving, as both alcohol and drugs can cause driving problems. Both types of drunk driving can also have similar penalties such as imprisonment, community service or driver’s license removal.
In many DUID cases, law enforcement agencies do not distinguish legal from illegal drugs or prescription drugs from over-the-counter drugs. As long as there is observable evidence of substance use, a person can commit driving under the influence of drugs. The state of California legally defines the drug as “affecting the nervous system, brain, or muscles of a person to impair, to any appreciable extent, his ability to operate a vehicle in the manner in which any normally prudent and prudent man, in full possession of his faculties, using reasonable care, would drive a similar vehicle under similar conditions”.
Currently, nearly every state in the United States mandates a “per se” statute, an assumption that a driver is driving under the influence of drugs if substances are found inside the vehicle. If the drug discovery is confirmed with an examination, the person can most likely be sentenced. Such tests include blood and saliva tests, coordination and reaction tests, and witness testimony. The weight of the fine can vary depending on how many times an offender is charged and whether their impaired driving had a fatal consequence.
If the person is a first-time offender, they are required to pay a hefty fine. A repeat offender may be given at least six months of prison and social services, as well as a period of probation. Driving bans and driving license suspensions can also be imposed, sometimes up to a year. If the offender caused an accident or death, he can be jailed for more than ten years and must pass a comprehensive driving test in order to drive again.
In 2009, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that among Americans, 6.3 percent of teens 16 and younger were caught driving under the influence. For adults, 24.8% of those aged 21 to 25 drove while on drugs. Driving under the influence of drugs does not only apply to cars, but also other vehicles such as boats, planes or even a horse.
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