Miami Drug DUI Attorney

When hearing the term “driving under the influence” (DUI), most people assume that the alleged crime is related to alcohol. While this is true in many cases, a DUI can apply to any controlled substance that impairs someone’s ability to safely drive their vehicle – including “street” drugs and prescription drugs. These are commonly called drug DUIs, and they are just as serious as cases alleging drunk driving.

If you’ve been charged with DUI related to any substance, you need the help of an experienced defense attorney. In Miami and surrounding areas, the firm to call is Jonathan B. Blecher, P.A. I’ve been successfully fighting for the rights of my clients for more than 30 years and have handled all manner of DUI cases.

How Do Prosecutors Prove Drug Impairment?

There is a convenient and reliable roadside test that can determine someone’s blood alcohol content simply by having them breathe into a machine. Those results can later be confirmed by additional chemical testing.

Drug impairment, on the other hand, is not nearly as straightforward. For a long time, chemical testing simply wasn’t available. It can be done now, but because evidence of drugs can remain in a person’s system long after the high wears off, chemical tests cannot always prove that a person was impaired when they were pulled over.

Since the late 1970s, police departments around the country have been training certain officers to become “drug recognition experts” (DREs). When properly trained, DREs are supposed to be able to determine whether a suspect is under the influence of a drug, determine the type of drug causing impairment and rule out any unrelated conditions that could be causing or appearing to cause impairment.

DRE programs and techniques carry considerable credibility in the courtroom, as do certain kinds of chemical tests. Both can be effectively challenged, but you’ll need the help of a highly skilled and Miami DUI attorney like me.

Facing DUI Charges For Prescription Drug Impairment

There are many powerful prescription drugs that can impair your ability to drive safely. These include painkillers (opioids), anti-anxiety meds, prescription sleep aids and anything else that makes you drowsy or slows reaction time. Even if you were prescribed these drugs, you can still be charged with DUI for driving while on them. In fact, many contain warnings that explicitly advise against operating a motor vehicle or other heavy machinery.

If you were charged with DUI after using a legally prescribed drug, don’t assume that you must plead guilty. Instead, contact my firm to determine which defense options are available to you.

Take Advantage Of A Free Case Review

Located in Miami, Jonathan B. Blecher, P.A., serves clients throughout the surrounding areas of Florida. To schedule a free case evaluation and initial consultation, call me at 305-321-3237 or send me an email.