“Drugs”

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  1. Introduction
  2. “Vehicle” and “Motor Vehicle”
  3. “Drive”
  4. “Drugs”
  5. “Legal Limit”
  6. Open Container
  7. Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
  8. Driving Under the Influence Per Se (“DUI Per Se”)
  9. Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI)
  10. Second and Subsequent Offenses
  11. Underage Drinking and Driving (“UDD” or “Baby DUI”)
  12. Strict Liability
  13. Juveniles and Minors
  14. Evidence of Impairment
  15. Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs)
  16. Drug Recognition Experts (DREs)
  17. Expressed Consent
  18. Breath Tests
  19. Blood Tests
  20. Prima Facie Case Requirement
  21. Preparing for Trial
  22. Voir Dire
  23. Expert Testimony
  24. Proving Chain of Custody
  25. Double-Refusals

This term is defined by the impaired driving statute. It means:

      1. any drug, as defined in § 27-80-203(13);
      2. any controlled substance, as defined in § 18-18-102(5); and
      3. and any inhaled glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor or vapors, as defined in § 18-18-412.

§ 42-4-1301(1)(d).

“Drug” in § 27-80-203(13) means substances:

        1. Recognized as drugs in the official United States pharmacopoeia, national formulary, or the official homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States, or a supplement thereof;
        2. Intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in individuals or animals;
        3. Other than food, intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of individuals or animals; or
        4. Intended for use as a component of any substance specified in (I), (II), or (III).

A “controlled substance” in § 18-18-102(5) means:

a drug, substance, or immediate precursor included in schedules I through V of part 2 of this article, including cocaine, marijuana, marijuana concentrate, cathinones, any synthetic cannabinoid, and salvia divinorum.

“Toxic vapors” in § 18-18-412(3) means the following substances or products containing such substances:

(a) Alcohols, including methyl, isopropyl, propyl, or butyl;

(b) Aliphatic acetates, including ethyl, methyl, propyl, or methyl cellosolve acetate;

(c) Acetone;

(d) Benzene;

(e) Carbon tetrachloride;

(f) Cyclohexane;

(g) Freons, including freon 11 and freon 12;

(h) Hexane;

(i) Methyl ethyl ketone;

(j) Methyl isobutyl ketone;

(k) Naphtha;

(l) Perchloroethylene;

(m) Toluene;

(n) Trichloroethane; or

(o) Xylene.

Although in the vast majority of impaired driving cases you will not need to spend any time proving that the impairing substance qualifies as a “drug” under the statute, you will, on rare occasion, find that someone is under the influence of a substance that does not neatly fit into any one of these categories. In those situations, you may need to consult an expert on the drug to determine whether you can proceed with impaired driving charges.

Resources

CDAC Video Trainings

Drugged Driving Series

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—Narcotic Analgesics

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—Inhalants

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—Hallucinogens

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—Dissociative Anesthetics

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—CNS Stimulants

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—CNS Depressants

The Seven Drug Categories Primer—Cannabis

CDAC Drug Category Pocket Cards

DRE Matrix

Cannabis   

CNS Depressants

CNS Stimulants

Dissociative Anesthetics

Hallucinogens

Inhalants

Narcotic Analgesics

National Resources

Drug Toxicology for Prosecutors