New Hampshire police face a tough road now that the state is surrounded by states that allow the use of recreational marijuana. The issue is that people from those states might drive into this one and cause crashes that injure or kill people.
The problem of impaired driving isn’t one that is new, but it is one that has changed over time. All drivers must remember that any substance that impairs your ability to drive should be avoided if you are going to be getting behind the wheel. Impaired driving charges aren’t limited only to alcohol.
Trying to control the issue of impairment for reasons other than alcohol can be challenging. One consideration that police officers have to deal with is that there aren’t test kits that are readily available for drugs that are akin to the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test. There are tests that can determine whether a person has used drugs, but these don’t definitively tie the impairment level to them.
Field testing kits are becoming more likely to be able to do the job of determining the impairment level of drivers, but this technology is still being developed. Using it would require the state to pass legislation regarding the matter.
It is imperative that drivers in this state remember that they do have rights when they are pulled over for the suspicion of impaired driving. This includes not answering questions or making statements. It also means that you have the right to have legal representation present when you are questioned. If you are facing charges for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, don’t forget that you also have to handle the administrative process that comes with these charges.
