A Look At Operating Under The Influence

by Paul Dirchens

Most people think that operating under the influence means drinking and driving, but what they don’t realize is that drugs have the same effect. Whether the drugs are prescribed or not it does not matter, you can still be fined for it.

Truck drivers who possess a CDL license have to undergo required drug testing, because there is a good chance of them having drugs in their system while they drive. An 18 wheeler truck that causes an accident will also probably cause serious damages and even bodily injuries. That is a risk that truck companies understandably don’t want to take.

The studies that have been done are very eye-opening when you realize that 15% of truck drivers tested had marijuana in their system, stimulants showed 12% non-prescription and prescribed 5% and alcohol 1%.

Truck drivers do not have to be intoxicated with a 0.08 BAC generally or higher. They are subject to a reading of 0.04 or higher due to the fact that they are operating a monstrous vehicle and routes that are long.

There is a misconception that being high on marijuana is safer than alcohol but that just is not the case. Marijuana is said to affect your concentration, perception and reaction time for possibly as long as 24 hours versus a 3-4 hour span for alcohol depending on the amount consumed. Marijuana has been the cause in more than 12% of trucking accidents that were fatal.

Truck drivers work long shifts and sometimes it is hard for them to stay awake. Therefore, they want to get something for it, such as meth or ice. It is very easy for truckers to get hold of those drugs at truck stops. Surveys show that 1 in 5 truckers use those hardcore drugs so they can stay awake.

Since intoxicated drivers are not to be tolerated, law enforcement personnel keep a good eye on truck drivers. Even if it is suspected that a truck driver might be under the influence they will be pulled over and then there are many ways of determining intoxication. There is the breathalyzer test to determine if a driver had been drinking, but then there is also the field sobriety test and the swab drug test.

One of the tests law enforcement uses to see if the driver has been drinking and how much is the breathalyzer in which you blow into it. The other is called the nystagmus test. This has various aspects to it. You can be asked to walk and turn, stand on one leg, put your finger to your nose and the Romberg balance test. Another sobriety test is when an officer puts an object, a pen for example, in front of the face and while moving it back and forth watches the driver’s eyes. Then a chemical test can be done which consists of urine or blood samples.

The swab drug test is a swab that they take from the saliva in your mouth. They test and if it comes back hot then that is an OUI.

The bottom line is it is not safe for truckers or anyone to drive under the influence.

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To read more good information about OUI Maine, try these blogs with posts on Maine DUI laws.

Published by: Paul Dirchens on September 30th, 2009 | Filed under Legal



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