drug driving jail

Drug Driving – Can I go to jail for it?

Drug driving is a profoundly serious offence, and if found doing it you can face hefty fines and penalties. Driving under the influence is a serious offence, as it can seriously impair your driving abilities and increase the chances of you being involved in a road traffic accident. However, in some instances, individuals are found to drive with drugs in their system without the knowledge or may have taken prescription drugs that impair their driving. Here at Solicitors On Your Side, we believe that everyone deserves to be represented in court in the best possible way, to get a fair and successful outcome for their case, contact one of our solicitors for a free initial consultation now.

Prescription Drugs 

In some cases, it is illegal to drive after taking some prescription medicine; when prescribed medicine, the doctor or pharmacist should thoroughly inform you of the dosage and whether you can drive after taking them. If they do not do so and you are charged for driving under the influence; you may be able to use that as a defence for your case.

There is a range of legal drugs that you cannot drive after taking, these include:

  • Amphetamine
  • Clonazepam
  • Diazepam
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Lorazepam
  • Methadone
  • Morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs
  • Oxazepam
  • Temazepam

If you would like to find out more about the rules of taking prescription medicine, read here on the Government Website.

Driving under the influence of illegal drugs 

Getting caught driving under the influence is a very serious offence, the laws impose a zero-tolerance policy on drugs most associated with illegal use, with a limit set for accidental exposure. This means that if you have been found with illegal drugs in your system above the accidental exposure limit, you can be accused of drug driving, leading to an obligatory disqualification from driving, and up to 11 points on your licence.

Driving under the influence of drugs can slow your reaction times, meaning that you are less likely to stop when you see a hazard on the road causing an accident. Driving under the influence of drugs can cause increased lane weaving, poor reaction time, and less attention to the road.

The effects of driving after taking drugs can vary from person to person; for example, studies have proven that opioids can increase the chances of an accident occurring by twice. If you have been charged with driving under the influence, contact our solicitors now. To find out more on how we can help you, read here.

What are the charges – Can I go to jail?

If you are found guilty of drug driving you can expect some hefty charges, with a mandatory driving ban for at least 12 months, up to a £5,000 fine and 3-11 penalty points on your licence, depending on the severity of the drug driving case. For more serious offences, you can even face up to 6 months in prison. Here at Solicitors On Your Side, we understand that facing these kinds of charges can be incredibly stressful and can have a truly negative impact on your work and home life. Our experienced solicitors can use their knowledge and extensive experience to help you gain a better outcome for your offence.

Contact our Solicitors now!

Contact us now. Solicitors On Your Side can offer you free advice and consultations.

Contact us today by phoning 0330 912 2124, emailing [email protected], or by using our website by filling out an online form.

If you would like to find out more about recent law changes and news, make sure to visit our Latest Articles page. Our latest articles also cover a range of other topics, such as motoring offences, personal injury claims, medical negligence claims, occupier’s liability and more.

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