Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances, Just as Bad as Alcohol
Although most people think if driving drunk when they think of DUI, driving under the influence of controlled substances like prescription drugs or marijuana and other illegal drugs can be even more difficult to over come if charged or arrested in Utah County. These offenses are called DUI metabolite crimes and are a result of driving with any amount of a controlled substance. Unfortunately, in Utah, this law is worse for the accused then a typical alcohol DUI charge because the prosecutor does not need to prove that your actual driving was impaired. To convict you the State only needs to prove that you ingested the controlled substance before you began to drive. Due to this low amount of proof a defense of this type of DUI is very difficult and should be left to qualified and experienced attorneys like those at Provo DUI Defense.
There is Hope in Overcoming a DUI Metabolite Charge
This law is tailored in such a way that the State does not need to prove a lot to convict you of the crime and often their proof is already in evidence because in the process of the citation a blood, urine or oral fluids test was taken showing some traces of the controlled substance in your body. However, there are two defenses that can be raised on your behalf to overcome even the existence of the substance.
1. If you ingested the substance without knowledge (like at a party or by someone you didn’t know).
2. If you have a prescription for the controlled substance
Without these defenses a DUI metabolite charge would be almost impossible to defeat, and even with them it takes an experienced attorney to effectively establish them and use them in court.
If you or someone you care for has been a victim of this type of charge do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Provo DUI Defense to get help. These charges are serious and can lead to life long consequences. Call us for a consultation to find out how we can help you protect your rights and overcome this type of charge.
