DUI charges: It doesn’t have to be an alcohol

When it comes to the DUI charges (Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substance), the vast majority of people for some reason imagine driving, while being drunk. Of course, most DUI cases are somehow related to alcohol, but being intoxicated does not necessarily mean alcohol only. Various illegal substances and even some prescription drugs can induce the driver into a state of intoxication.

As if driving under the influence of alcohol was not bad enough, in case you were driving while being intoxicated with some type of drugs, you risk facing additional charges, which will make your case more difficult and penalties more severe. Furthermore, if the law enforcement officer, who pulled you over, will have reasons to believe that you were driving under the influence of drugs, he will then proceed to searching your vehicle. If he will find some type of illegal substances inside, you will also be charged with possession and maybe even distribution, depending on the circumstances of your case.

The DUI penalties are already harsh enough and you do not need to aggravate them with any additional charges. First of all, there is always a risk of losing your driver’s license. The arresting officer is going to take it away from you. To be fair, you will get a temporary permit that will allow you to drive your vehicle for 30 more days, but you will need to file an official request with the DMV within 10 days after the accident in order to take your chance and try to keep the license. Still, loss of your license may not be as serious as you think in comparison to some other penalties.

First of all, you will be obliged to pay expensive fines, court fees and restitution for any kind of damage you may have caused. Furthermore, you may be sentenced to perform community service, which means hundreds of hours of unpaid labor. In addition, you will be obliged to attend alcohol or drug awareness classes and you will pay for those from your pocket too. You will need to get a new type of insurance, even if you are going to manage to keep your license. The SR22 insurance is specifically designed for high risk drivers, who are more likely to get into accidents. However, if you were driving under the influence of illegal substances and the police also found drugs in your vehicle, you will be facing additional charges that will have an even more detrimental impact on your life.

This is why it is so important to get in touch with a qualified Sacramento DUI lawyer who knows DUI laws in the State of California. He will question if the law enforcement officers had reasons to pull you over in the first place. If there was no probable cause, the case will be dismissed. Furthermore, he will question all the field sobriety tests and their results, so there is always a chance that you will avoid the maximum penalties and will deal with this situation with minimal legal damages. Of course, it will only be possible if your Sacramento DUI lawyer will be capable of handling such a difficult case.