Get Help With Drug Driving

Know the facts on drug driving

A drug driving offence is committed when someone drives a vehicle with a blood concentration exceeding the legal limit. The regulations for illegal drugs are set in line with a zero-tolerance approach but do rule out accidental exposure. The law does not show a distinction between misused, illegal drugs or over-the-counter drugs as prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Below are the medicinal and illegal drugs and their limits:

‘Medicinal’ drugs (‘risk based’ approach) Threshold limit in blood

·  Specified ‘illegal or prescribed’ drug

·  Amphetamine (e.g. Dexamphetamine or Selegiline) 250µg/L

·  Methadone 500µg/L

·  Diazepam 550µg/L

·  Clonazepam 50µg/L

·  Morphine 80µg/L

·  Oxazepam 300µg/L

·  Methadone 500µg/L

·  Morphine 80µg/L

·  Oxazepam 300µg/L

·  Flunitrazepam 300µg/L

·  Lorazepam 100µg/L

·  Clonazepam 50µg/L

‘Illegal’ drugs (‘accidental exposure’ – zero tolerance approach) Threshold limit in blood

·  Cocaine 10µg/L

·  Temazepam 1,000µg/L

·  Methylamphetamine (Crystal Meth) 10µg/L

·  Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-Ecstasy) 10µg/L

·  Benzoylecgonine (Ecgonine Benzoate) [main metabolite of Cocaine] 50µg/L

·  6-Monoacetylmorphine (Heroin) 5µg/L

·  Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol (Cannabis) 2µg/L

·  Ketamine 20µg/L

·  Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) 1µg/L

If an officer has reason to suspect that the person in control of a vehicle is under the influence, they may require them to take a Preliminary Drugs Test in certain circumstances. The drug testing device is a disposable detection device (much like a pregnancy test) and analyses a small amount of saliva.

There would also be several other checks such as checking the persons pupils, walking along a straight line, touching the tip of the nose with the finger or standing on one leg. If the officer is not satisfied with the results, the person could be taken to a police station and a blood test undertaken.

Ultimately, if someone is found to be under the influence of drugs whilst driving, it can result in a number of issues such as difficulty travelling to the USA, rise in insurance premiums and loss of driving licence.

If you want to have someone who is committed to your case by your side, invest in the help of Simon at Collingham Chambers today.