Drugged Driving DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona
& Certified Criminal Law Specialists
Free Consultation 24/7 & Payment Plans
Drugged Driving DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona
& Certified Criminal Law Specialists
Free Consultation 24/7 & Payment Plans
Get Help from Former DUI Judge & Drugged Driving DUI Defense Lawyer Mark Weingart in Tempe & Phoenix, AZ
In Arizona, driving under the influence of drugs can result in a DUI conviction. You may be charged with a DUI if you operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of an illegal substance such as narcotics. In fact, even if you are taking a legal, prescribed drug, you can still be charged with a DUI if you are impaired at the time of your driving. Some of the penalties include:
Unlike a DUI for alcohol, a chemical test for drugs in a person’s system can’t tell if a driver was impaired by a drug. Instead, law enforcement officers are trained to become “Drug Recognition Experts” (DRE’s) who supposedly can tell, through observation and field sobriety tests, whether a person is impaired by drugs. Our DUI lawyers have in-depth training and the knowledge to challenge these so-called drug recognition experts.
Get Help from Former DUI Judge & Drugged Driving DUI Defense Lawyer Mark Weingart in Tempe & Phoenix, AZ
In Arizona, driving under the influence of drugs can result in a DUI conviction. You may be charged with a DUI if you operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of an illegal substance such as narcotics. In fact, even if you are taking a legal, prescribed drug, you can still be charged with a DUI if you are impaired at the time of your driving. Some of the penalties include:
Unlike a DUI for alcohol, a chemical test for drugs in a person’s system can’t tell if a driver was impaired by a drug. Instead, law enforcement officers are trained to become “Drug Recognition Experts” (DRE’s) who supposedly can tell, through observation and field sobriety tests, whether a person is impaired by drugs. Our DUI lawyers have in-depth training and the knowledge to challenge these so-called drug recognition experts.
Drug Recognition Experts in Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona
In Arizona, some police officers are attempting to offer their “expert” opinion as DRE’s regarding whether a driver is under the influence of narcotics. There are 12 steps to a DRE’s Drug Evaluation Process:
- Breath Alcohol Test – A sample of breath is taken from the driver to determine the concentration of alcohol.
- Interview of Arresting Officer – The DRE consults with the investigating officer to determine the circumstances surrounding the driver’s apprehension.
- Preliminary Examination – During an initial examination, the DRE asks the driver questions regarding the driver’s medical and physical limitations.
- Eye Examination – The DRE conducts tests for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) and Vertical Gaze Nystagmus (VGN).
- Divided Attention Tests – The DRE has the driver perform the One Leg Stand test with both legs, the Walk and Turn test, a Modified Romberg Balance test, and the Finger-to-Nose test.
- Examination of Vital Signs – The DRE records the driver’s blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature.
- Dark Room Examination – The DRE examines the driver’s pupils in near total darkness, under direct light, and in normal room light. The DRE also examines the driver’s oral and nasal cavities.
- Examination of Muscle Tone – The DRE examines the flexion and the extension of the driver’s muscles to see if there is any flaccidity or rigidity.
- Examination of Injection Sites – The DRE examines common injection sites to determine if the driver is using injected substances.
- Driver’s Statements / Other Observations – The DRE tries to solicit information from the driver which will corroborate any signs and symptoms that the DRE has observed.
- DRE’s Opinion – The DRE makes a determination of the class or classes of drugs that is influencing the driver based on a matrix of the symptomology associated with known classes of drugs.
- Toxicological Examination – Blood, saliva or urine is obtained from the driver and is analyzed to determine what class of substances are present that corroborates the DRE’s opinion.