The new push by the federal government is to go after DUI prescription drug cases. The problem is well over half of Americans are on prescription drugs. Basically the new push is targeting everyday citizens like you and me. The whole program is a mess and it will put a lot of innocent citizens through false charges, jail and license suspension. Here is what you need to know about the new push to enforce DUI prescription drug penalties.
1. They are Targeting Innocent People
The list of prescription medications which one can be arrested for is a very long one. It includes many common cough syrups, pain killers, allergy tablets and antidepressants. The problem is that a lot of these drugs that the police may arrest you for are not impairing or impairing in your circumstances. It requires a lot of information to understand to determine when someone is impaired. This information the police and the DA do not typically have. There have been many cases where a driver is taking medication according to a doctor’s orders and is not impaired but still gets arrested. Police are targeting innocent, non-impaired drivers. They will ask you a simple question like “do you take any medication?” and many drivers will innocently answer, not knowing that this will throw up red flags and have you end up in a courtroom. Prescription drug charges are a great way for police officers to get a high number of arrests which means awards and promotions.
2. Bad Technology
Until recently there was no road side test for drug use. They simply relied upon guessing or using glorified guesswork known as the Drug Recognition Expert protocol. The lack of roadside testing changed with the introduction of roadside testing devices like the Dräger DrugTest ® 5000. It test oral fluid (mixed saliva) testing device from a driver and tests it for a drug category- not for a specific drug! It does not quantify (give a number), just says that it is above some cutoff level. There are many false positives for this and other like devices. This is important because many legal, non impairing substances are related to banned substances.
The Dräger DrugTest ® 5000 is the only portable drug testing machine that has been approved by the federal government. Attorney Josh Lee and I are the only defense attorneys in the country to own a Dräger DrugTest ® 5000. We have studied it and run numerous tests on it and are ready to challenge it in court.
3. Penalties for a DUI Prescription Drug Charge
The penalties for DUI drug charge for an illicit drug or for prescription medication are very harsh. It is equivalent to the highest rate of blood alcohol for DUI. For a first offense conviction, the penalties include:
- Prison Sentence from 3 days up to 6 months
- 12 month license suspension
- $1,000-$5,000 fine
- a conviction that is non-expungable and lasts forever
These penalties can be crippling especially when you think about the host of other consequences like increased car insurance rates and having a DUI on your record showing up on background checks for the rest of your life. Second or subsequent offenses get even worse.
4. Not Every Lawyer Can Handle these DUI Prescription Drug Cases
Cases like these involve a lot of science and not every DUI attorney has the scientific knowledge to be able to effectively handle these cases. In fact, very few do. These cases involve forensic science, analytical chemistry, biology, pharmacology and much more. Science is the key here.
So here is the recipe for disaster: You have an innocent person who was targeted by the police, tested on bad equipment, facing the harshest level of penalties that could ruin their future, and you chose the wrong lawyer. But there is hope. It is never too late to call us to help you.
At The McShane Firm we pride ourselves on being The Science Attorneys. We have the scientific knowledge needed to challenge these cases. In fact, Attorney Justin McShane has taught classes about driving under the influence of drug cases to other defense lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and scientists.
Defending DUI Drug Cases: Part 1 from PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane from The McShane Firm
Call today to speak to the experts when it comes to law and science. Call today for a free consultation with The McShane Firm: The Science Attorneys. 1-866-McShane
Justin McShane
PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.