There were no major injuries following a car crash caused by a man overdosing on heroine while driving his car last weekend outside of Chicago. The car, operated by the totally incapacitated driver, rear-ended another car before the man was taken into custody and delivered to a local hospital for treatment.
While drunk driving is a well-documented cause of motor vehicle accidents, the use of illicit drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs can make driving just as dangerous. Marijuana can slow reaction time, impair judgment of time and distance, and decrease coordination. Drivers on cocaine or methamphetamine can often be aggressive and reckless while sedatives can put a driver to sleep behind the wheel.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that more than thirty-one million people drove after drug or alcohol use in 2013. The picture does not get any better a year later when, in 2014, 10 million people over the age of 12 admitted to driving under the influence of illicit drugs alone.
In Illinois, a person is guilty of DUI if he or she drives under the influence of any drug or combination of drugs to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving, or if there is any amount of a drug, substance, or compound (excluding THC below 5ng/ml) in the person’s breath, blood, or urine from the unlawful use of cannabis.
Drivers in Illinois are subject to consent laws allowing law enforcement to conduct tests of blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining the content of alcohol, drug, or intoxicating compounds. Refusal to consent may result in license revocation or suspension.
Penalties for Illinois DUI DWI can be serious and are enhanced if a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs is driving with minors under the age of 16, operating in school zones, cause serious injuries to others, or are uninsured.
If you are charged with an Illinois DUI/DWI, contact the Law Offices of Ronald L. Bell P.C. for assistance. Attorney Bell has been recognized as an Illinois Best DUI Attorney in client satisfaction by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys. Contact our offices today for help.