Marijuana Testing Misleading After DWI Stops
The charge of driving while intoxicated in Texas includes drivers who are impaired by the use of marijuana. A person convicted of driving while high will face:
- Three to 180 days in prison and a fine of as much as $2,000 for the first offense;
- 30 days to one year in prison and a fine of as much as $4,000 for the second offense; and
- Two to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000 for the third offense.
Texas law enforcement is identifying an increasing number of drivers who test positive for marijuana. However, the protocols for determining a DWI on marijuana are less refined than for a DWI on alcohol. This can lead to erroneous charges, which a skilled lawyer can contest.
Unreliable Testing
Officers have several forms of testing they can administer to determine a driver's blood alcohol concentration, including a breath test. If the suspect’s BAC is 0.08 or higher, he or she is considered legally intoxicated and in violation of the law. The judicial system widely accepts the accuracy of such tests. For marijuana use, THC levels in a person’s system is considered the equivalent to the BAC. However, there are several problems with marijuana testing:
- There is not yet an established breath test to determine THC levels, meaning tests must be administered to blood or urine samples;
- A positive test does not mean the driver had used marijuana recently because THC can remain in a person’s blood for weeks; and
- There is no legal or medical consensus on what level of THC indicates that the driver was impaired.
Spotting Signifiers
Because marijuana tests can be misleading and unreliable, prosecutors rely more upon the officer’s testimony of the suspect’s condition leading up to the DWI arrest. However, officers often do not have as much training on identifying marijuana impairment in drivers as they do with alcohol. Symptoms that officers are told to look out for include:
- Red eyes;
- Dilated pupils;
- Increased heart rate; and
- Delayed reactions.
There can be explanations for these symptoms that do not involve being high on marijuana. Unfortunately, some officers are not experienced enough in identifying marijuana users to distinguish between natural maladies and being high.
Room for Doubt
Prosecutors may believe that the presence of THC in your blood or marijuana in your vehicle is enough evidence to charge you with DWI on marijuana. However, neither of those factors prove that you were impaired at the time of the incident. A San Antonio DWI defense attorney at the Law Offices of Sam H. Lock can contest an unfounded DWI charge against you. Call 210-226-0965.
Source:
http://keranews.org/post/driving-while-high-texas-police-say-marijuana-breathalyzer-could-help-tell
