Driver Accused of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs in Dunwoody

DeKalb County Courthouse

Dunwoody, Ga. - A fiery crash on Interstate 285 led to the arrest of a truck driver who has been accused of causing the crash.

Officers reported that the driver allegedly failed to maintain his lane and it resulted in the collision with another truck. Both trucks ended up colliding with the median wall.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will focus on one of the most serious offenses faced by the alleged at-fault driver - DUI Drugs.

DUI Drugs in Georgia

DUI Drugs in Georgia is defined in the same statute as a DUI for alcohol influence. The law states that:

“A person shall not drive while under the influence of any drug to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive; a person shall not drive under the influence of a combination of substances (i.e. drugs and alcohol) to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive; a person cannot be under the influence of prescription drugs, even if a drug or drugs are prescribed legally.” O.C.G.A. §40-6-391.

The investigating officer will be looking for anything that might be a clue to driving under the influence. There is no quantitative legal limit for being under the influence of drugs or impaired by drugs. Instead, officers will consider all of the factors surrounding both the investigation and the arrest including but not limited to: manner of driving, sobriety test results, behaviors, conversational skills, etc.

In order to be convicted of DUI Drugs, the state of Georgia must prove whether or not someone is driving under the influence of a drug or drugs to the extent that he or she is a less safe driver. Since there is no quantitative legal limit for drug consumption, the arresting officers' observations are the determining factors.

The penalties for a first-time conviction for DUI-Drugs in Georgia can include a minimum of 24 hours in jail, a fine of at least $300, 12 months on probation, 40 hours of community experience, DUI School completion, and clinical drug and alcohol evaluation.  

Practice Note

Call our offices now. We can help you with your DUI case today.