Prince George’s County Drug DUI Testing

As far as law enforcement officers are concerned, the difference between driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of drugs is very little. The only difference is the testing, as officers take drug DUI cases just as serious as alcohol-related DUI cases. For more information about Prince George’s County drug DUI testing, reach out to seasoned drug DUI attorney.

Evidence of Drug Use

An officer can look for evidence of drug use by a driver who has been pulled over in numerous different ways. The police will look at the driver’s speech pattern, eyes, and coordination. These are the same factors that an officer looks for in an alcohol test. An officer will also ask the driver where they are going, where they are coming from, and whether they know where they are. It is important for drivers to know that they do not have to answer any investigative questions.

Most drugs affect heart rate, so if it is cold outside and the driver is sweating profusely, then that could be seen as evidence for drug use. Pupil dilation, skin complexion, and sweat all go into play in an assessment of whether a person may be under the influence. The drugs most commonly implicated in DUI cases are opiates and marijuana.

Tests Administered by Officers to Detect Drug Impairment

Prince George’s County drug DUI testing used by officers could include standardized field sobriety tests and blood tests. For drugs, a drug recognition expert could administer these tests and provide an assessment as to what the test results mean.

The field sobriety tests that can be administered during a DUI drug arrest are the same ones that are administered for alcohol. The standardized three tests in a field sobriety test are the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk-and-run, and the one-legged stand. Instead of using a breath test, the testing for drug DUIs will include a blood test. The blood test can show if the individual has drugs in their system. Blood tests could even pick up substances like allergy medication that are not illegal.

Accuracy of Drug DUI Tests

Prince George’s County drug DUI testing is fairly accurate. However, they are not perfect science because the blood test does not dictate how recent the consumption was or whether the person was influenced by the narcotics at the time. Also, there are other explanations as to how someone’s body reacts to certain things, such as other medicines that may have the same physiological reactions and effects that some narcotics may have on a body.

Contacting a Drug DUI Attorney in Prince George’s County

If you have been charged with a drug DUI in Prince George’s County, seek the services of a well-established attorney. A lawyer could help you understand Prince George’s County drug DUI testing. An attorney could also investigate the test results to determine if there are any issues that can be raised and used as a defense. Call today to set up your consultation with a legal professional.