One of the tasks of the Colorado State Patrol is to track trends among impaired drivers in the state. Last year’s legalization of marijuana sales in the state provided the Patrol with an opportunity to gather data that will be useful in measuring reasons officers list in post-legalization impaired driving arrests.
In 2014, the State Patrol issued 5,546 citations to motorists alleged to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. About 1 out of 8 involved marijuana, either used by itself or in conjunction with other substances such as alcohol.
The State Patrol said 674 drivers – about 12.2 percent of all DUI suspects – were driving while high on marijuana. A little more than half of that group (354 drivers) was believed to be high on marijuana alone (the rest were believed to be high on marijuana and other substances).
The 354 drivers were cited for DUID (driving under the influence of drugs), according to law enforcement officials.
The three months in which the most drivers were cited for violations involving marijuana were April, December and January.
The agency says three-quarters of all DUI and DUID arrests began with phone calls from proactive motorists.
You might recall that last year, the Colorado Department of Transportation study found that a little more than 2 out of 5 marijuana users in the state believed it was acceptable to drive after consuming pot. CDOT also said 57 percent of recreational users drive within 2 hours of consumption. About 1 in 5 of them weren’t aware of DUID laws that can result in an arrest, and serious problems in not only the court system, but also the DMV.
An attorney experienced in DUID defense can help you sort out the charges, possible penalties and the best legal options available to you.