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    New Canaan DUI Drug and Alcohol Interactions

    Many people believe that DUI charges can only happen when an individual has been drinking heavily. Under Connecticut law, however, a DUI can result from any drug or alcohol impairment, even if it was caused by interactions at low doses. If you were charged with a DUI, you should seek out an experienced defense attorney with experience handling New Canaan DUI drug and alcohol interactions. A top DUI lawyer in CT could help you build an effective defense.

    How Drug and Alcohol Interactions Cause DUIs

    People may not be aware of the reaction they might have to a prescription drug, and they may not realize that the drug interacts with alcohol. In this case, an individual could end up becoming much more intoxicated than they intended, even if they did not consume much alcohol. Furthermore, it is possible that the drug by itself would not have caused impairment.

    Under the law, however, if the mixture causes impairment to the point where an individual cannot drive as a reasonable driver, police can still arrest and charge someone with a DUI. Even if the BAC test is below the legal limit, such as 0.02 or 0.03, an impaired individual could face DUI charges.

    Effects of Drug and Alcohol Interactions on DUI Cases

    When drugs and alcohol are both involved in a DUI case, it can be more complicated for the prosecution. For example, suppose there was a case in which the defendant had a blood alcohol level of only 0.02 and the prescription drugs alone would not have caused impairment. With the drug and alcohol interaction, however, the defendant was impaired.

    This case could be difficult to prove to a jury or anyone that does not have a scientific background. In this situation, the prosecution would need a toxicologist or other medical professional to explain the interaction and why it would cause impairment. The defense would want its own expert witness or toxicologist who can explain to the jury why this interaction would not render the defendant intoxicated or impaired.

    Penalties in Connecticut

    Impairment due to drug and alcohol interactions will not statutorily make the penalties more serious. There is no statute that says if a person has both drugs and alcohol in their system they will spend more days in jail. However, that scenario is something that the prosecutor or judge may not like. As a result, they may want a defendant who tests positive for both drugs and alcohol to serve extra jail time or incur extra penalties within the same range. The penalties are severe, which is why it is important to reach out to a lawyer who has knowledge about New Canaan DUI drug and alcohol interactions.

    How Are These Situations Litigated?

    In these cases, a drug and alcohol interaction can be helpful for the defense. For example, a defendant could have received DUI charges after they were involved in an accident, they crossed the yellow line, or they were pulled over or stopped at a routine traffic stop. It could be helpful if the defense attorney can show that the person was not drinking heavily, or that they were trying to do the right thing and just did not realize the effect mixing drugs and alcohol would have. This can be used as a mitigating circumstance in favor of the person being charged to help obtain a better resolution of the case.

    Contact a New Canaan DUI Attorney

    If you have been accused of a DUI, you should be fully prepared before you appear in court. A New Canaan DUI drug and alcohol interactions lawyer could look at the details of your case and argue in court on your behalf. For the best chance at a favorable outcome in your case, contact a top attorney today.