What exactly does Arizona law have to say about the substances involved in a DUI? It does not come any plainer, or clearer than this. To paraphrase Arizona law A.R.S. 28-1381(A)(1): It is unlawful for a person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while that person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vapor-releasing substance containing a toxic substance or any combination of liquor, drugs or vapor-releasing substances if the person is impaired to the slightest degree.
DUI includes not just drinking, but also the consumption of drugs. And the law does not differentiate between drugs that are ingested, smoked, inhaled, or taken internally by other methods…to put it a more colloquial way, in terms of law enforcement and how DUI is determined, drugs is drugs.
Wait a minute, you say. What if you attend a children’s birthday party and inhale something from the helium-filled balloons? What if a party host serves “enhanced” brownies? Or chocolate-covered rum balls? What if you park in a garage full of carbon monoxide fumes? Or a person with diabetes takes too much, or too little medication, and then has just one alcoholic beverage? Are those things going to get me arrested, jailed, or what?
You can play “what if” until it’s no longer entertaining, but being charged with drug-related DUI in any form is no joking matter. Incarceration, felony convictions, large fines, none of those is a joke, and all of those can accompany a DUI offense, depending on the circumstances.
Getting behind the wheel while impaired may result from not thinking clearly, whatever you believe may be the cause. Of course, nothing in this blog should be taken as legal advice. If you have a DUI-related problem, your first thought should be to acquire experienced legal advice from an attorney well-versed in DUI matters. At Zachary Law Group, you are welcome to come in for a FREE 30-minute case evaluation. From there, we will do our best to assert your legal rights and represent you in court should that become necessary. We’re ready to “Zach-It!” for you, but you need to make the first move. Contact us today at 1-855-Zach-law.
