Charged with DUI Controlled Substance in Pennsylvania? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Controlled Substances

If you or a loved one were charged for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, sometimes known as “Drugged Driving,” you are facing serious penalties, including jail time, fines and license suspension. You need to contact skilled Pittsburgh drug crime attorneys from SMT Legal as soon as possible. Let our attorneys get to work investigating the charges against you today.

Laws for DUI Controlled Substances

A DUI Controlled Substance is treated very similarly to a DUI for alcohol. But unlike alcohol, there is not a specific measure of a drug, like Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), that identifies specific levels of impairment.

Any amount of a drug or controlled substance can be enough to get you arrested and charged with DUI. This includes prescription drugs that were legally prescribed. Often, this means that people are arrested, charged, and convicted for a drug they were not even under the influence of at the time of the arrest.

There are three classifications of drugs in Pennsylvania. The type of drug, and whether or not you have a prescription, will be important to your case. The three classes of controlled substances for purposes of DUI are:

  • Schedule I: This includes drugs with a “high potential for abuse” and have no medically necessary purpose. Drugs such as heroin, marijuana, and hallucinogens, such as LSD, are examples of this class of drugs. No amount is acceptable while driving a vehicle.
  • Schedule II: This includes drugs with a “high potential for abuse” but have some accepted medical uses. Drugs such as cocaine, PCP and methamphetamine are included in this class. No amount is acceptable while driving a vehicle unless the drug is prescribed by a doctor. However, the individual being charged must have no metabolites in their system within two hours of operating a vehicle.
  • Schedule III: This includes drugs that are not “high potential for abuse” and are recognized as having some medical benefit. This class of drugs includes anabolic steroids. No amount is acceptable unless the drug was prescribed by a doctor, and again, the individual being charged must have no metabolites in their system within two hours of operating a vehicle.

Penalties for DUI of a Controlled Substance

In Pennsylvania getting behind the wheel of a car gives implied consent to be tested for alcohol and controlled substances via breath, blood, or urine sample. When PennDOT issues your driver’s license, this is what is agreed upon. Should you refuse a test after being stopped with probable cause, you will be automatically punished to the highest degree of the law and will lose your license.

If you are found to have a controlled substance in your system while operating a vehicle, you can be charged with a misdemeanor DUI under the highest level of a three-tier system – the harshest penalties under the law.

In addition, penalties increase within each tier for repeat offenders.

First Offense – DUI Controlled Substance

  • 72 hours to six months in prison
  • A fine of $1,000 to $5,000
  • Up to one-year license suspension
  • Alcohol Highway Safety School
  • Completion of a drug treatment program

Second Offense – DUI Controlled Substance

  • 90 days to five years in prison
  • Fines ranging from $1,500 to $10,000
  • Up to 18 months license suspension
  • Alcohol Highway Safety School
  • Completion of a drug treatment program
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device on your car for one year

Third Offense – DUI Controlled Substance

  • One to five years in prison
  • Fines ranging from $2,500 to $10,000
  • Up to 18 months license suspension
  • Completion of a drug treatment program
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device on your care for one year

Defense for Beating a DUI Controlled Substance Charge

If you were charged with DUI, you most likely have a lot of questions and are feeling worried about the future. The SMT Drug crime lawyers in Pittsburgh are experienced criminal lawyers and can help determine your best options. Our criminal lawyers will investigate if the police stop was illegal or the checkpoint was improper. Maybe the officer had no probable cause to pull you over or search your vehicle. The testing could have been done improperly and therefore be inadmissible in court.

It is important to remember that being arrested for a DUI does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. There are ways to fight back and to protect your rights and freedom.

If any of these scenarios can be proven, your case could be dismissed. A skilled drug crime lawyer has the knowledge and experience in the court system that is necessary to protect your rights. The Drug crime Attorney Christopher Thomas will listen to the facts of your specific case and carefully examine police reports and other records to determine the best defense and the possibility of getting your charges reduced – or dropped entirely.

An experienced Pittsburgh drug crime attorneys can help you determine your options and fight your charges so you can move forward with your life. Contact us today for a free legal evaluation of your case.

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