Driving While Impaired by Marijuana
4 years ago by Brian
Being found guilty or convicted of driving while impaired by marijuana can bring about serious consequences and penalties. If you have been charged with a criminal DWI offense, it is important to have experienced legal representation on your side as soon as possible.
When motor vehicle operators drive while they are impaired by marijuana or some other drug, they significantly increase their chances of causing an accident. Marijuana can slow down a driver’s reaction time and impair vision, causing the driver to collide with another motor vehicle, stationary object, or pedestrian. Pursuant to the Criminal Code for the State of Minnesota, it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle while a driver is under the influence of marijuana.
DWI convictions in the State of Minnesota often come with serious penalties. If you are currently facing a criminal DWI charge, the Woodbury DWI lawyer at JS Defense, PA., are here to assist you with defending against your charge. Please reach out to us today to learn more about how we could assist you with defending against your criminal charge.
Determining Whether a Driver is Intoxicated by Marijuana
When it comes to determining drug impairment, police officers routinely utilize a variety of methods. Although breathalyzer tests for marijuana intoxication are not yet available, many police officers will use field sobriety tests, such as the heel-to-toe walking test, to determine if a driver is impaired by drugs. At other times, police officers will measure the driver’s pulse, take the driver’s blood pressure, and rely upon a physical examination of the driver (such as the driver’s eyes). In some cases, the police officer may be able to obtain a warrant for a blood test.
Potential Penalties upon Conviction
If you have been found guilty or convicted of a DWI involving marijuana, you may be looking at serious penalties. First of all, a driver could be charged with and later convicted of DWI if he or she is found to be impaired by any amount of marijuana. Potential penalties upon conviction include a maximum monetary fine of $1,000, along with 90 days of incarceration and 180 days’ license suspension, for a first-time offense. A second offense can lead to a minimum of 30 days’ incarceration, a one-year driver’s license suspension, and mandatory community service. A third offense can result in 90 days of incarceration, along with a maximum driver’s license suspension of two years.
Contact a Woodbury DWI Lawyer about Your DWI
If you have been charged with a DWI offense that involved marijuana, it is important that you have knowledgeable legal counsel on your side representing you throughout your case. The experienced team of DWI Lawyers at JS Defense, PA., can help defend you against your criminal DWI charge and will work to minimize the consequences of any criminal conviction.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Woodbury DWI Lawyer, please call us today at (651) 968-9652 or contact us online for more information.
