Orlando DUID Attorneys

Defending Against Drug DUI Charges in Orlando, FL

When you are allegedly responsible for an accident due to driving while on drugs or intoxicated, you potentially face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Understanding the severity and the details of each charge is important for your defense strategy.

Often, police officers will search a vehicle and find drugs or drug-related paraphernalia. This can be very detrimental evidence in court. However, not all searches are conducted by officers in a legal way. If in their haste to make an arrest, they don't properly follow procedure, the evidence that they find in a search may end up being thrown out if it can be proven that it was an illegal search. Detailed scrutiny of the search circumstances can reveal key insights into the legality of the evidence gathered.

This is merely one defense strategy that we may employ in your DUI with drugs situation. While every situation is different and unique, an aggressive Orlando criminal defense lawyer from our firm can look for potential weaknesses in the prosecution's case against you and see if there is any way to have the charges reduced or dropped. Our approach involves thorough investigation and a comprehensive review of all available evidence.

Understanding How Police Detect Drug Impairment

In Florida, it is illegal for anyone 21 or older to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or above. This is known as the per se limit. But BAC only measures the amount of alcohol in one’s system, not drugs. Thus, understanding the limitations of BAC testing is critical for developing a defense strategy.

As such, there is no per se limit when it comes to drugged driving. Instead, arresting officers must rely on the results of a field sobriety test and/or urine or blood tests to detect impairment or the presence of drugs in an individual’s system. The accuracy and reliability of these tests can significantly impact the outcomes of proceedings.

In many cases, arresting officers fail to conduct proper field sobriety tests. Additionally, blood and urine tests may be improperly completed or analyzed. Sometimes, officers do not have probable cause and make unlawful stops or unlawfully detain people. Depending on the circumstances of your situation, it may be possible to challenge this evidence. Detailed examination of the arrest process can uncover vital details about procedure compliance.

To pull someone over, a police officer must have probable cause, meaning they must have some reason to stop you. Understanding your rights in such a situation can help you respond appropriately.

The police will often look for things such as: 

• Swerving
• Weaving in and out of lanes
• Drifting over lane lines
• Unnecessary or sudden stops
• Last-minute braking 
• Failure to stop 
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Erratic behavior

If an officer notices any of these or other unusual behaviors that might indicate that a driver is impaired, they have probable cause to pull them over. Once the officer has pulled the person over, they may look for signs of impairment, such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, dilated pupils, confusion, disorientation, fidgeting, extreme nervousness, and more. Familiarity with these signs can prepare you for what an officer might observe or document. 

Consequences of Drugged Driving in Florida

If you are arrested for a drug-related DUI, you could face serious criminal and administrative penalties. The exact penalties you face depend on various factors, such as whether you have any prior DUI convictions, whether there was an accident that resulted in injury or death, and whether there was a minor in the vehicle at the time. Taking into account all influencing factors is essential in assessing potential repercussions.

Some of the possible penalties for a drug-related DUI in Florida include: 

• First Offense: Up to 6 months in jail, fines ranging between $500 and $1,000, driver’s license revocation of 180 days to 1 year, 50 hours of community service, and a 10-day vehicle impoundment
• Second Offense: Up to 9 months in jail, fines between $1,000 and $2,000, driver’s license suspension of 180 days to 1 year, ignition interlock device installation, 1 year of probation, 50 hours of community service, 10-day vehicle impoundment, and psychosocial evaluation 
• Third Offense: Up to 12 months in jail or 30 days to 5 years if the third offense occurred within 10 years of a prior DUI conviction, fines ranging between $2,000 and $5,000, driver’s license suspension for 1 to 10 years, ignition interlock device, 1 year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and vehicle impoundment for 90 days

If a drugged driving arrest is a fourth or subsequent DUI offense, you face the same penalties for a third offense, along with $5,000 in fines and up to 5 years in prison. Understanding the escalation of penalties with repeated offenses is key to appreciating the importance of legal intervention. 

Call us at (407) 753-1312 or fill out a free online case evaluation form today. Hablamos español.