Marijuana DUI

Philadelphia Marijuana DUI Lawyer

A drunk driving charge can happen one of two ways in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you have been consuming alcoholic beverages and are above the legal limit of .08 and are pulled over you can be arrested for DUI in Philadelphia, PA.

A second way, and equally as common, you can be arrested for DUI in Philadelphia is if you are under the influence of drugs whether they are prescribed medications or street drugs. Marijuana, also referred to as pot, weed, chronic and cannabis, is a very common street drug in the Philadelphia area. People often smoke marijuana and then opt to operate a motor vehicle which can lead to being arrested.

You stand to lose a lot if you are facing marijuana DUI charges and you should immediately speak with a Philadelphia Marijuana DUI Lawyer.

Philadelphia Penalties for Marijuana DUI

A DUI conviction, even a first offense, can disrupt your life now and in the future. Upon conviction you will face severe fines, fees, increased insurance premiums and a loss of driving privileges.

First time DUI offenders may be eligible for the Pennsylvania ARD program. This is a program that, once completed, may allow you to have your record expunged.

If you were found with drugs in the car at the time of the DUI arrest you will face additional charges related to the drugs such as drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The consequences for these charges can be substantially more severe than the DUI charges and can involve fines, fees, community service and jail time.

Signs of Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana DUI

There are several signs and behaviors that can indicate that you were possibly driving under the influence of marijuana. They are:

  • Smell of marijuana in car
  • Driving excessively slowly
  • Erratic driving behaviors
  • Slurred speech
  • Glassy eyes
  • Impaired cognitive function
  • Diminished motor skills

Marijuana DUI Defense in Philadelphia

Marijuana DUI cases are different than a traditional alcohol involved DUI. Initially, it must be determined that the police had reason to pull you over. Once it is established that the police had sufficient reason to pull you over the focus of the defense may shift to how was the marijuana detected in your system. Typically a blood or urine test is used to determine the concentration of THC, a breakdown product of marijuana consumption, in your blood or urine. There can be flaws in a marijuana blood or urine test that can help your case in court. Flaws may be test accuracy, was the marijuana medically prescribed and how long had it been since you ingested it prior to driving. The Philadelphia DUI Defense Attorneys at Jensen Bagnato, P.C. will use their extensive experience handling DUI cases and their knowledge of PA DUI law to devise a solid and strategic defense. Having your charges dropped or dismissed is their ultimate goal. If that cannot happen they will do their best to have the charges reduced.

Contact a Philadelphia Marijuana DUI Defense Lawyer

Contact a Philadelphia Marijuana DUI Lawyer at Jensen Bagnato, P.C. to discuss your case at (215) 546-4700.