Rancho Cucamonga Marijuana DUI Lawyer
Understanding California Marijuana DUI Laws
With the decriminalization of marijuana consumption, Californians now have the ability to partake in this substance freely. However, it is still an intoxicant, and driving while under its influence is still illegal. If you are convicted of driving under the influence of marijuana, you could still face DUI charges similar to that of alcohol, meaning you could be facing serious penalties that can impact you for many years to come. Don’t face your prosecution and DMV hearing without the assistance of a Rancho Cucamonga DUI lawyer.
At Newman & Allen, we are dedicated to helping you obtain the best possible outcome to your situation. Since opening in 1996, we have helped a wide range of criminal cases, including hundreds of DUIs of all types. We are familiar with the ever-changing landscape of DUI law, particularly with the recent changes involving the decriminalization of marijuana. Our attorneys are aggressive and fearless in their defense strategies, making us a powerful ally to have in your corner for your trial and hearing. We review all of the evidence in your case to help strengthen your case as much as possible and give you the best chance at an ideal conclusion.
Impact of Alcohol and Marijuana on Driving
While statistics show that alcohol-related DUIs are much more common than marijuana-related DUIs, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that the overall number of drivers with marijuana in their system has increased by 50% from 2007 to 2014; which means high drivers are on the roads now more than ever before. Therefore, determining the differences between alcohol and marijuana-related DUIs is crucial to understanding a California citizen’s rights.
As drunkenness impacts driving capabilities, so does being high. However, a marijuana-related high impacts someone’s driving in vastly different ways when compared to alcohol intoxication.
Common side effects of driving under an alcohol-related influence are:
- Speeding
- Swerving
- Careless lane changes
- Forgetting to put headlights
- Forgetting to put on a turn signal
Common side effects of driving under a marijuana-related influence are:
- Slower reaction time
- Worsened tracking ability (Ability to stay within lane)
- Inability to judge speed and risk
As you can see, the side effects of alcohol-influenced driving are much more concrete than the side effects of marijuana-influenced driving. Therefore, police officers are more likely to pull over and book someone for drinking too much alcohol when compared to someone smoking too much weed.
Consequences of Marijuana DUI in California
Under Vehicle Code 23152(e) VC, it is illegal to drive a car while under the influence of any drug, including marijuana. The penalties for this crime are exactly the same as they would be for an equivalent alcohol charge, which means a guilty conviction could change your life dramatically.
The punishments in California are:
- First DUI: Up to 6 months jail; minimum $390 fine; 3 or 9 months DUI school; 6-10 months suspended license
- Second DUI: Up to 1-year jail; minimum $390 fine; 18 or 30 months DUI school; 2 years suspended license
- Third DUI: Up to 1-year jail; minimum $390 fine; 30 months DUI school; 3 years revoked license
- Felony DUI: 16 months, 2, or 3-years state prison; minimum $390 fine; 18 or 30 months DUI school; 4 years revoked license
Any subsequent DUI convictions within 10 years of the original offense or any aggravated DUI convictions could result in facing even more stringent penalties, such as longer jail sentences, larger fines, and even the installation of an ignition interlock device. Marijuana DUI charges can be more complex to successfully convict you of, so it’s imperative that you seek counsel from an attorney for assistance with your situation in order to avoid these potentially life-changing consequences.
Our Satisfied Clients
-
“She was out of state and she still took my call.”
Thank heavens our case was dismissed, but my first encounter with Ms. Allen was over the phone and she was honest and knowledgeable. I knew i would retain her. She was out of state and she still took my call.- Bernadette B. -
“Very professional”
JC was very wonderful and very professional when handling the case for our family member. She always responded quickly to all questions we had. If we ever need a law firm which specializes in their area of expertise I will never hesitate contacting them again.- Paul K. -
“Excellent Communication”
“I can express that Mr. Newman is caring, professional and knowledgeable.”- Liz D. -
“Jc takes personal interest and she fights for you as if you were a part of her own family!”
“She answered all my questions and thoroughly explained every situation 4 times a day if I needed it. Jc always made me feel comfortable and was just a call away.”- Eric C. -
I highly recommend this law firm, they are extremely knowledgeable, responsive and offer excellent customer service.- Jasmine C.
-
“Very positive experience”
Our family had a very positive experience with the firm. JC Allen has an exceptional legal mind, demonstrates genuine empathy, and is a great listener -- a rare combination of skills. Thankfully, the reason we retained Ms. Allen never developed and we did not have to pursue any legal action. However, if we did, we were confident that we had the right attorney on our side.- Adam S. -
“The best people”
This is the best people to ever help you out with a case J.C and Dustin are terrific people and helped me my way through it worth the money because they help you get through whatever you need to get through I have nothing bad to say about them if you need an attorney Newman & Allen is the place to go I would definitely go with them again they just don't care about the money they ask you about your goals in life and care about you and really try there best to help. You succeeded I definitely thank them a whole lot Especially Dustin who helped me through my case thank you again i really suggest Newman & Allen as an option because they will help you with whatever case you have anyone from Newman & Allen ante terrific, Kind good people and thank you once again!- Darius S. -
“She did an amazing job!”
When my son crashed his car on the freeway and was arrested for drunk driving I was overcome with worry and dread. I had no idea what was in store for my son and how this mistake would affect his future. It wasn't until we retained Attorney Allen 2 months later that I could finally stop worrying about what lie ahead. She clearly explained the entire process from start to finish, carefully detailed all of our options and gave us an honest and realistic idea of what to expect in the end. She did an amazing job representing him at all the court proceedings and continued to follow up with him to make sure he was fulfilling his requirements. What I am most grateful for is the manner in which we were treated. Attorney Allen didn't shame us or belittle us. Right away we knew she cared about our son and wanted to give him a second chance at a promising future.- Jacquie A.