Drug Driving Offence
About Drug Driving Offences
The laws on Drug Driving changed on 2 March 2015. Now it is possible to be convicted of drug-driving even if you are not impaired by the drugs in your system.
Before this date, the only offence which the police could prosecute a person for who was driving or attempting to drive was ‘driving whilst unfit through drugs’. However, this required the prosecution to show that the drugs impaired the person’s ability to drive.
It is important that the court does not treat drug driving offences as if they are drink driving matters. ie. 3 x over the drug drive limit does not equal being 3 x over the drink-drive limit.
Unfit while driving or attempting to drive
Even now, the police regularly charge people under the old ‘unfit’ law which is often then changed to this new offence of exceeding the drug limit once the matter gets to court.
The offences are only committed if the drug driving is on a road or public place.
If you would like to know more please contact us today.
Penalties for drug driving
The penalties for drug driving are not as prescriptive as for drink driving. This is partly because the limits for illegal drugs are set in line with a zero-tolerance approach whilst ruling out accidental exposure.
This is different from the approach taken when setting the limit for alcohol, where the limit was set at a level where the effect of the alcohol would be expected to have impaired a person’s driving ability. There is no official sentencing guideline for drug driving. There is only guidance which does not hold the same weight as an official guideline.
If you would like to know more on alcohol and driving please visit Drink Driving.
Drug Driving in Charge
There is a lesser offence of being in charge of a vehicle while over the prescribed limit. This is a completely different charge and is generally used when there is no evidence of you having driven, but you are found in control of a vehicle. There is a defence if you can show that there was no likelihood of you driving while over the limit.
The penalties are different from drug driving and range from 10 penalty points to a disqualification. Like drug driving, you can be sent to prison being in charge of a vehicle with drugs in your system.
For more information please see our FAQs on drug driving offences below.
Drug Driving Summary
Other Names
Driving or attempting to drive with illegal drugs or medically prescribed drugs in your system, driving with drugs over the prescribed limit
Main Legislation
Maximum Penalties
Driving Penalties: A minimum driving ban of 12 months.
Fine: Unlimited.
Court
Magistrates only (unless an appeal)
Imprisonable? Yes – up to 6 months imprisonment.
Have you been charged with a Drug Driving offence?
Get in touch today to find out how we can help.
Ask a question
Get in touch by filling in the form and one of our friendly team will get back to you.
Or give us a call on 0115 784 0382
Relevant Cases
Driver Avoids Totting Ban for a Second Time
A driver who had been disqualified for 6 months in the magistrates' court after a second 'totting...
No Penalty Points for Driving Without Insurance
Driver avoids penalty points for driving without insurance using special reasons We recently...
Company Not Guilty of Failing to Give Driver Details
Our company client was acquitted of failing to give driver details after a trial in the...
Drug Driving Offence FAQs
Are there any other defences for prescription drugs?
(a) the specified controlled drug had been prescribed or supplied to you for medical or dental purposes,
(b) You took the drug in accordance with any directions given by the person by whom the drug was prescribed or supplied, and with any accompanying instructions (so far as consistent with any such directions) given by the manufacturer or distributor of the drug, and
(c) Your possession of the drug immediately before taking it was not unlawful.
You will not have a defence if:
(a) your actions were contrary to any advice, given by the person by whom the drug was prescribed or supplied, about the amount of time that should elapse between taking the drug and driving a motor vehicle, or
(b) your actions were contrary to any accompanying instructions about that matter given by the manufacturer or distributor of the drug.
What is the standard of a careful and competent driver?
What are the current drug limits for prescription drugs?
| Controlled Drug | Limit (microgrammes per litre of blood) |
| Amphetamine | 250 |
| Benzoylecgonine | 50 |
| Clonazepam | 50 |
| Cocaine | 10 |
| Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol | 2 |
| Diazepam | 550 |
| Flunitrazepam | 300 |
| Ketamine | 20 |
| Lorazepam | 100 |
| Lysergic Acid Diethylamide | 1 |
| Methadone | 500 |
| Methylamphetamine | 10 |
| Methylenedioxymethamphetamine | 10 |
| 6-Monoacetylmorphine | 5 |
| Morphine | 80 |
| Oxazepam | 300 |
| Temazepam | 1000 |
Reviews
Contact Us
Get in touch today by simply filling in our contact form and one of our friendly team will get back to you.
Alternatively, call us on: 0115 784 0382