Drugged Driving in North Carolina

The New York Times has an extensive front page article on the problem of drugged driving. While it's long been illegal to drive while impaired ' whether by alcohol or any other impairing substance ' in North Carolina, law enforcement has focused on catching and prosecuting people who are impaired by alcohol.

That's because it's much easier to detect alcohol consumption ' the smell, the fact that the person came from a bar, the fact that they refer to their drinking. In addition, where drivers aren't truthful, but police have probable cause to suspect drinking and driving, police have a fairly inexpensive instrument ' the Intox EC/IR ' to test the person.

But testing people for medicines or other impairing substances requires either urine or, more properly, blood tests, which cost hundreds of dollar per person. That makes those tests much more cumbersome and expensive for law enforcement agencies to perform, and makes prosecution of driving while impaired with drugs ore medicines much tougher to do.

In addition, many officers are not trained in the detection of impairment by drugs.  This certification as "drug recognition expert" would allow them to testify in court as to the various behaviors they witnessed.  But if the officer lacks such training, the officer may not be able to tell whether the impairment comes from a drug, or whether the person is simply mentally ill or suffering from a disease that causes momentary behavioral problems.

Wilmington criminal lawyer Damon Chetson helps people accused of serious felonies, misdemeanors, drug charges, DWI and traffic offenses in eastern parts of North Carolina, including Wilmington. Wilmington DWI lawyer Damon Chetson is available day or night, weekdays or weekends. He can be reached day or night at (910) 241-0003 for a free consultation.

About the Author:
Wilmington criminal lawyer Damon Chetson helps people accused of serious felonies, misdemeanors, drug charges, DWI and traffic offenses in eastern parts of North Carolina, including Wilmington. Wilmington DWI lawyer Damon Chetson is available day or night, weekdays or weekends. He can be reached day or night at (910) 241-0003 for a free consultation.