Gainesville Drug Related DUI Lawyer

While everyone is familiar with alcohol-related DUI charges, drug-related DUIs are less well-known and understood. Yet these charges can lead to similar harsh consequences upon a conviction.

Do I Need a Florida Attorney For Drug-Related DUI Charges?

If you’ve been charged with a drug-related DUI in Gainesville or the surrounding area, you can depend on the professionalism and commitment of the attorney team at Katz & Phillips, P.A. Our team of seasoned defense lawyers is led by two former DUI prosecutors, one of whom is a former DUI / Intoxilyzer Specialist and Board Certified in DUI Defense, an accomplishment shared by only two other attorneys in the state.

Our lead attorneys are highly experienced trial lawyers who have gained national recognition for their outstanding achievements in criminal and DUI defense and client satisfaction. As a result, our firm is well-known and well-respected for its legal work in this field.

Drug-Related DUI Charges in Florida

According to Florida Statute 316.193, you can be punished for DUI if you are found to be driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any chemical substance. The lists of chemical substances which apply to this are set forth under other sections of Florida law. In general, however, you are in violation of the law if your normal faculties are impaired by any drug or chemical, which can potentially include:

• Street drugs like marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, “club drugs,” and more
• Prescription drugs, even when under the authority of a doctor
• Over-the-counter drugs like those which can cause drowsiness, as in the case of painkillers, sleep aids, cough medicines, and allergy medicines
• A combination of any of the above

Because drug-related DUI can apply in any of these situations, many Gainesville drivers are unaware that they may be in violation of the law when driving after taking a valid prescription drug or over-the-counter medicines for a temporary adverse health problem.

Blood Tests for Drug-Related DUI

While alcohol impairment can be evidenced through a breathalyzer test, drug impairment depends on blood or urine tests. Urine tests are often unreliable, which is why blood tests are generally used for drug-related DUI or impairment caused by a combination of alcohol and drugs. These tests can often be challenged where done incorrectly.

Drug-related DUI can also be challenged where arresting officers are not trained in drug recognition techniques. Because drugs affect everyone differently, it is often difficult to prove how much of any substance could impair one’s driving ability. These charges can also be challenged in other ways, such as whether the initial stop made by law enforcement was valid.

Prosecutors must prove drug impairment to convict; they can face complications in doing so, which gives you a potentially better chance at a positive outcome. That is why you need an experienced DUI defense lawyer who knows what to look for and how to thoroughly strategize on your behalf.

Contact Katz & Phillips, P.A., Your Gainesville Drug Related DUI Law Firm

Because you have only 10 days to challenge a license suspension after being charged with a DUI in or near Gainesville, you need to act swiftly. Contact our firm to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys in a free consultation immediately following your arrest. We’re available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.