A Look At Operating Under The Influence

For many, the reference to operating under the influence is automatically associated with drinking and driving. However, many fail to realize that drugs affect people in the same way alcohol does and that means you can be fined even for just driving after taking prescription medication.

Truck drivers with CDL license are required to be drug tested because they might have drugs in their system while driving. Now if an 18-wheeler truck got into a wreck, there would be some serious damage. That is why trucking companies do not want to take that risk.

The studies that have been done are very eye-opening when you realize that 15% of truck drivers tested had marijuana in their system, stimulants showed 12% non-prescription and prescribed 5% and alcohol 1%.

Truck drivers do not have to be intoxicated with a 0.08 BAC generally or higher. They are subject to a reading of 0.04 or higher due to the fact that they are operating a monstrous vehicle and routes that are long.

Most people falsely believe that driving while high on marijuana is not as dangerous as drunken driving. However, this drug also affects the concentration, reaction times and perception and that for up to 24 hours long, whereas alcohol only affects the mind for around 3 to 4 hours and that depends on the amount of alcohol consumed. In fact, marijuana has been the reason behind more than 12% of all fatal accidents involving trucks. That fact proves it is not safe to use marijuana and drive.

Truck drivers work long shifts and sometimes it is hard for them to stay awake. Therefore, they want to get something for it, such as meth or ice. It is very easy for truckers to get hold of those drugs at truck stops. Surveys show that 1 in 5 truckers use those hardcore drugs so they can stay awake.

Law enforcement watches truckers hard. They will not stand for any intoxicated drivers. They will pull a trucker over even if they suspect them. They have ways of testing to see if you are intoxicated. They have the breathalyzer test to see if you have been drinking, they have the field sobriety test, and they can even swab drug test you or search you.

One of the tests law enforcement uses to see if the driver has been drinking and how much is the breathalyzer in which you blow into it. The other is called the nystagmus test. This has various aspects to it. You can be asked to walk and turn, stand on one leg, put your finger to your nose and the Romberg balance test. Another sobriety test is when an officer puts an object, a pen for example, in front of the face and while moving it back and forth watches the driver’s eyes. Then a chemical test can be done which consists of urine or blood samples.

The swab drug test is a swab that they take from the saliva in your mouth. They test and if it comes back hot then that is an OUI.

The bottom line is it is not safe for truckers or anyone to drive under the influence.

Tagged with: Alcohol • attorney • autos • Cars • driving • Drunk Driving • Dui • Law • Lawyer • legal • oui

Filed under: Lawyer

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