Drug Driving and the consequences

It’s a very severe offence to drive under the influence of drugs, and people found driving under the influence are likely to face motoring and criminal convictions. If the police find your driving behaviour suspicious, they have the right to stop you. If the police believe you may be driving under the influence of drugs, they may perform a roadside drug test on you; the police officers have access to tests that can detect the levels of cannabis and cocaine in your blood. If the roadside drug test shows a positive result, the driver will be asked to perform extra tests at the police station. Once the driver has undergone the urine and blood tests at the police station, the police will be able to detect whether they have taken any substances that may impact driving; these include the drugs prescribed to you by a doctor. If you are facing motoring charges, we highly advise you to contact one of our experienced solicitors at Belmont Solicitors. 

How do drugs affect your driving?

It is illegal and dangerous to drive under the influence of illegal drugs; it is also illegal to drive under the influence of some legal prescription drugs.

• Amphetamine, for example, dexamphetamine or selegiline
• Clonazepam
• Diazepam
• Flunitrazepam
• Lorazepam
• Methadone
• Morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, for example, codeine, tramadol or fentanyl
• Oxazepam
• Temazepam

If you have been prescribed any of these medications, the medical professional must diagnose you with the correct dosage, and it is your responsibility to take your medications accordingly. If you were prescribed a medication that makes you feel drowsy or dizzy, you must not drive and consult a medical professional before driving first. 

Penalties for drug driving

If you get caught driving under the influence of drugs by the police, you will be charged with drug driving. If you plead guilty straight away, the court might give you a much milder punishment; if you decide to plead not guilty, you will have to collect a lot of evidence for the court to believe that you are not guilty.

If you are found guilty of the charges, you will face a driving ban of at least 12 months. Apart from the driving ban, you will also receive a fine depending on the seriousness of the offence. You will receive a criminal record, and for more severe offences, you may even face a prison sentence.

Problems after getting caught drug driving

Any drug driving charges will go on your criminal record. With a drug driving criminal record, you will likely struggle to find a new job; employers regularly perform DBS checks; if your role consists of driving, you will struggle to find a new job and continue with a new one. That may lead to unemployment and financial issues. You may also struggle to travel to other countries. If the person who was driving under the influence of drugs was 18 years of age or older, their conviction will stay on their record for 11 years after the conviction date.

Are you facing motoring charges? 

If you think you have committed an offence or have received a notice that you did, we highly advise that you contact one of our motoring experts as soon as possible. We will ensure that you come out with the best possible outcome and you are well informed of the processes you are likely to face. If you are facing court dates, our experienced solicitors have excellent relations with barristers in Glasgow; that will defend your case in court to the highest possible standard. 

Contact Belmont Solicitors now. 

We understand that facing driving charges can be significantly confusing and stressful for anyone. We will ensure that your process is as stress-free as possible, enabling you to come out with the lowest possible charges and enabling you to get back to your daily life. 

Contact us now by calling 0141 7298 848 or email us at info@belmontsolicitors.co.uk, or pop into our office in the heart of Glasgow!

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