Most motorists in Texas understand the dangers of drinking and driving. But they may remain unaware of the problems drugged driving presents. Without knowing it, you may run the risk of receiving drug DWI charges, especially if you take prescription medication.
Consequences for drug DWI charges
In Texas, drug DWI charges have similar penalties to alcohol DWI charges. This remains the case no matter if you have narcotics or prescription drugs in your system. If you’re a first-time offender, you will receive a misdemeanor charge. You could also face up to six months in prison. And you may have to pay a fine of up to $2,000. Subsequent charges become more serious, and a second infraction can lead you to face a fine of up to $4,000, as well as one year in jail. If you receive a third drug DWI, you could spend up to 10 years in prison. And you may have to pay a fine of up to $10,000. You will also face felony charges in this case. If an officer catches you with illegal drugs in your vehicle, you could end up facing possession charges as well.
Defenses for drug DWI charges
Your traffic stop may have stemmed from prescription medication side effects. Yet, you may have taken your medication in the manner your doctor instructed. In this case, you could argue that you did not perceive wrongdoing by driving after taking your normal dose. And whether your charges arose from prescription or narcotic use, there may have been inaccuracies in the blood test that law enforcement officials performed. This issue could arise if they administered it improperly. Thus, it’s possible that the test’s evidence will be too inconclusive to stand.
Dealing with drug DWI charges is difficult. But by no means is it impossible, and there are ways to fight back against them. A criminal defense attorney can help you do so.
