Florida Man Stopped For Reckless Driving Is “High And Happy”
While it’s good to be happy while you’re driving, being “high and happy” is a whole different story. That’s what a Florida man told police he was feeling while driving recklessly through Tampa.
The 51-year-old man from Jupiter was stopped by police on the morning of February 16 after police received multiple calls about a Toyota RAV4 driving recklessly. The driver allegedly ran stop lights, passed in no passing zones, and had trouble staying in the lanes.
When the driver was pulled over, he told police about how high and happy he was after using a vape pen. He was speaking fast and behaving erratically, according to police. Police found evidence of drug use in the Toyota, including marijuana candies, a vape pen, and glass pipe. The man failed sobriety tests. He was arrested and taken to jail, with bond set at $2,500. The man faces one count of DUI influence of alcohol or drugs.
DUI for Marijuana Use
When a person is pulled over for driving under the influence of alcohol, there are tests that can prove it. For example, blood, breath, and urine tests are all fairly reliable. Breathalyzer tests, when used properly, can be quite accurate. Plus, field sobriety tests can often show whether or not a person is intoxicated.
However, when it comes to determining whether or not a driver is under the influence of drugs, there is no accurate test to determine marijuana levels in a person’s body. Plus, depending on how often a person uses marijuana, it could stay in their body for three weeks or longer. Therefore, even if a police officer were to perform a drug test on the person, there’s no clear way to detect when that person last used drugs. This is different from alcohol tests, which can measure alcohol in the breath for up to 24 hours after consumption.
Therefore, to show that a driver was under the influence of marijuana or other drugs while driving, a police officer has to look for evidence. This evidence may include erratic behavior, such as talking quickly and not making any sense. Some drivers may even admit to marijuana use. Bloodshot eyes and smell of marijuana in the vehicle are also common forms of evidence. A police officer may also look for evidence of drug use, such as pipes, vape pens, baggies, and other paraphernalia.
Contact Us Today
Driving while under the influence of drugs is not legal in Florida. If you have been arrested for doing so, make sure you have a strong defense.
The Florida DUI drug attorneys at Meldon Law can defend you against DUI drug charges. Since there is no Breathalyzer equivalent for drug use, proving you were under the influence of drugs while driving can be a challenging task for the prosecution. We’ll provide you with a strong defense. Schedule a consultation by calling (800) 373-8000 or filling out the online form. We have 4 offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, and Fort Lauderdale.
Source:
wfla.com/news/florida/florida-man-says-hes-high-and-happy-during-dui-traffic-stop-deputies-say/
