In Minnesota, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of either:
- Alcohol;
- Any controlled substance that obstructs motor skills.
The first is called drunk driving and can result in a DWI charge. The second is known as Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, or Drugged Driving, and can also lead to a Minnesota DWI offense.
Common Controlled Substances
Controlled substances can be both illegal and prescription drugs. Common controlled substances include:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- LSD
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription muscle relaxers
- Sleeping pills
Drugged Driving is harder to prove that Drunk Driving because it is difficult to determine the actual presence of a controlled substance in a person’s body at the time of driving. Alcohol leaves the body quickly after ingestion, making it easy to determine how drunk a person was when driving. Many controlled substances, however, stay in a person’s system for days or weeks after consumption, making it tough for officers to figure out an offender’s level of impairment while driving.
As a result, many jurisdictions employ Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) to help determine if a person is intoxicated with a controlled substance. These DREs are police officers trained to recognize certain bodily and behavioral cues that indicate impairment.
Use Our Free BAC Calculator
Use our free BAC calculator on the Ask Appelman App to see if you’re over the MN legal limit before you drive.
Minnesota Drugged Driving Lawyer – Appelman Law Firm
Minnesota also has a “per se” law, which makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with any amount of certain controlled substances in the body. The substances included in this no-leniency law are listed in Schedules I and II of the Minnesota DWI Legislature.
Drugged Driving is a serious offense in Minnesota that has serious consequences. Speaking with a criminal defense attorney who knows the legal system inside and out is essential.
