DUI of Drugs in Orange County

Orange County DUI & Drug Crime Attorney

Though DUI (driving under the influence) is most commonly associated with alcohol, a driver may face criminal charges for driving under the influence of drugs as well. Often referred to as DUI of drugs, DUI drugs or DUID, this offense is charged and penalized in much the same way as typical drunk driving charges, however involving the use of special field sobriety tests and a blood or urine test in lieu of a breath test.

When facing DUI of drugs charges, it is important that you work with a lawyer experienced in handling these particular types of cases. The specific investigatory procedure involved in drug cases of this kind varies from standard DUI charges involving alcohol. It is crucial that your attorney is familiar with how field sobriety tests are approached in these cases, as well as what faults may lie with conducting a breath test or urine test (for example, when a drug may still be present in a driver's system and yet had no impact on his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.)

Illegal and Prescription Drugs and DUI

A driver may face DUI of drugs charges for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of any controlled substance, even if this was a legal prescription drug or an over-the-counter medicine. Law enforcement will conduct their investigation and the prosecution will attempt to secure a conviction on the grounds that the driver's normal physical and/or mental abilities were impaired due to drugs, alcohol or a combination of the two. A skilled Orange County DUI of drugs lawyer can work to challenge the result of your field sobriety test as well as the outcome of a urine or blood test that you may have taken.

To learn more about challenging DUI charges when they involve drugs, contact an Orange County drug crime attorney at the Law Offices of Fred Thiagarajah today.