Mount Vernon DUI Defense Lawyers

Drug-Impaired Driving

Many DUI cases in Virginia may involve drug impairment. A person could face DUI charges if they are accused of driving while impaired by marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, prescription opioids, sleep aids, muscle relaxants, or any other substance that affects their ability to operate a vehicle safely. Even if a medication had been legally prescribed, DUI charges may apply if a person's use of the drug led to impaired driving.

Unlike alcohol, which has a legal limit that can be measured, most drugs do not have a clearly defined amount that will result in intoxication. This may make it more difficult for prosecutors to prove that a person was intoxicated, since the presence of drugs in their system does not necessarily mean that they could not drive safely.

Defense Strategies in Mount Vernon DUI Cases

At Robinson Law, PLLC, our attorneys will review everything that happened during an arrest for DUI. We will identify the opportunities for defense based on improper procedures by police officers or other factors. Some potential steps we may take include:

Evaluating the Legality of a Traffic Stop

An officer's decision to pull a driver over must be based on a reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation or criminal activity. If the officer who stopped your vehicle did not have a legal basis for doing so, our lawyers may challenge the stop itself. Evidence gathered during an unlawful traffic stop, including field sobriety test results or other observations made by an officer, may be excluded from a DUI case, which can weaken the prosecution's arguments.

Challenging Field Sobriety Test Results

While field sobriety tests are meant to provide standards that can be used to determine whether a person may be intoxicated, they ultimately come down to an officer's interpretations of a person's behavior. Our lawyers can review dashcam or body camera footage captured during the stop, looking at the conditions on the road during testing, the officer's training, whether they provided the right instructions, and physical or medical factors that may have affected a person's performance. We may be able to provide explanations for a person's performance and show that they "failed" for reasons other than intoxication.

Contesting Chemical Test Evidence

Breath tests and blood tests will typically be performed at a police station after a person has been arrested for DUI. With our understanding of the factors that may affect these tests, we can determine whether their results may be challenged. For breath tests, our attorneys can look at calibration and maintenance records or review an officer's qualifications to determine whether they followed the right testing protocols. We may argue that conditions such as acid reflux or diabetes led to inaccurate breathalyzer test results.

For blood tests, we can review the chain of custody of a blood sample from collection through laboratory analysis, storage conditions, procedures followed during testing, and the qualifications of the analysts involved. A contaminated sample, gaps in the chain of custody, or laboratory errors may be reasons to challenge blood test results.

Addressing Drug-Related Evidence

In cases involving allegations of drug impairment, our attorneys may review the procedures followed during evaluations by drug recognition experts (DREs) and the reliability of blood test results. We can also take steps to address the difference between the detection of a substance and proof of impairment as we work to prevent a criminal conviction.

Contact Our Mount Vernon, Virginia DUI Attorneys

During the short period of time following a DUI arrest, there may be several opportunities for defending against a conviction. At Robinson Law, PLLC, our attorneys can act quickly to preserve evidence and evaluate defense options. We will stand by your side and determine the ideal steps to take to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. Contact our Mount Vernon drunk driving defense lawyers at 703-844-3746 to arrange a free consultation.