Potheads Beware: Weed Breathalyzers In Development
One of the more contentious aspects of the marijuana legalization controversy is the question of DUI’s: how will police officers know if a person is driving under the influence of marijuana when the only proven means of finding out is with a blood test?
Well, with recreational and medical legalization on the rise in some American states, you can rest assured that scientists are currently working on it — the marijuana breathalyzer.
On The Spot Marijuana Sobriety Tests
As early as next year, citizens in states like Washington and California could be breathing into 2 devices when cops pull them over. Clinical trials for this new marijuana breathalyzer are scheduled to start at the beginning of 2016, according to Hound Labs Inc., the Californian company working on the technology.
Blood, urine, saliva, and hair tests are the standard means of detecting marijuana in a person’s body. However, this doesn’t mean that such tests can tell you whether a person is under the influence of marijuana in real-time — these tests can simply reveal whether a person has been high on pot in the past few days or weeks. Measuring THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content in a driver’s bloodstream can’t say whether that person is stoned while they’re driving.
Field Sobriety Tests and DUI’s
Technology is advancing at rapid speeds these days, so we shouldn’t be surprised that developments are underway in the realm of field sobriety tests. After all, not even alcohol breathalyzers are 100% accurate, so everybody should reasonably expect that improvements are on their way in terms of DUI prevention and punishment.
States like Washington, where recreational marijuana is legal, have implemented laws that attempt to ensure that stoned drivers are held responsible for driving under the influence: Initiative 502 states that drivers are impaired if they have a minimum of 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. But that legislation is based on the shaky THC testing model, meaning that such test results don’t have that much weight in the courtroom.
Tennessee hasn’t legalized marijuana… yet. But field sobriety tests are certainly used state-wide to determine whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol breathalyzers measure a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) to determine impairment. According to Tennessee DUI law, a driver is too intoxicated to drive if they have a BAC of 0.08% or higher.
DUI Crimes Are Serious… Get Help!
The state of Tennessee takes driving under the influence very seriously. Although it’s considered a misdemeanor, it’s one of the most severely punished misdemeanors out there. When you’re arrested for a DUI for the first time, you’re looking at at least 2 days in jail, heft fines, community service, mandatory alcohol safety courses, and suspension of your driver’s license for an entire year. And repeat offenders get punished much worse.
The fact is, you should never consider going to trial for DUI if you’re planning on defending yourself without legal representation. At Turner Law Offices, P.C., our team of lawyers have years of experience helping clients accused of DUI crimes prove their innocence in the eyes of the law. The sooner you seek the help of an attorney, the better your chances are for a satisfactory resolution — so don’t wait!
Call today or go online to set up your Free Initial Consultation, and meet with a skilled lawyer who’s ready and waiting to get you on track toward the justice you deserve.
