Marijuana traffic car laws in Florida
In the state of Florida, driving under the influence of marijuana is treated in much the same way as driving under the influence of alcohol. This means the penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana, also known as “drugged driving”, are just as severe as alcohol and prosecuted under the same statute that prohibits drink driving.
In this article, we take a closer look at some of the most basic Florida marijuana traffic car laws that you might want to know about.
Florida Traffic Laws and Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
Drugged driving is also a common crime in Florida and some estimates suggest that 30% of drivers pulled over for speeding or bad driving are under the influence of marijuana. However, some incidents involve both alcohol and marijuana and Florida doesn’t test every driver involved in a crash which means it’s not easy to determine the true impact of driving under the influence of marijuana in particular. With this in mind, while it’s tricky for prosecutors to prove suspects were impaired due to driving under the influence of marijuana, it most certainly happens.
What Might You Consider “Driving Under the Influence”?
Recreational use of marijuana is illegal in the state of Florida and there are some harsh penalties in terms of convictions. These laws are regulated by both Florida and federal law and while some laws have become more lax in recent years, they still apply. is classified as a controlled substance (Schedule I) in Florida
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Now, in case you might be wondering, what does “under the influence” mean?
This refers to when a driver is not capable of driving safely due to the effects of alcohol or drug use. Law indicates that a driver is under the influence when blood-alcohol level is more than 0.08% but prosecutors will also point to a drivers actions in order to prove the individual was under the influence while driving.
And that’s just part of the story. Believe it or not, prosecutors do not need to show evidence of unsafe driving but rather just show that a driver was driving while under the influence of marijuana.
The Exception and Potential Penalties for DUI of Marijuana
If you are a registered patient of medicinal marijuana, it’s legal to possess medical marijuana products in the state of Florida. However, it’s still illegal to use such products in the vehicle or to be under the influence of medical marijuana products while driving. It’s true, metabolites stay in the body for some time after using these products so the simple advice is to avoid using these products before driving.
Possession of up to 20g of marijuana is punishable by a $1,000 fine and one year in jail. There may also be community service, home confinement or a suspension of the drivers’ license. It really depends on the circumstances and whether the driver has any previous convictions etc but the law will most certainly take action either way.
Conclusion
Driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal in Florida and it’s also important to be clear and careful regarding the use of medical marijuana. The law is just as strict regarding driving under the influence of marijuana as it is alcohol and the potential outcome is avoided by not taking any chances and abiding the law at all times.
