What Connecticut’s New Marijuana Laws Mean For Drivers
Monday, September 27th, 2021 by admin | Posted In: Uncategorized
The state of Connecticut passed a new law legalizing and heavily regulating the sale and possession of marijuana for residents over the age of 21 years old. The new law, which went into effect on July 1st, will allow adults to purchase and possess marijuana while also strengthening or creating new ways for the state to regulate the drug and keep it out of the hands of young people.
What does this mean for preventing Connecticut auto accidents due to the use of drugs?
The first, and most important thing to know, is that it is still against the law to drive your vehicle while under the influence of any drug, marijuana included. Not only is driving while impaired illegal it is also one of the deadliest things you can do behind the wheel of a car.
The new law gives law enforcement officials a couple of tools that they did not have before to detect and enforce laws that prohibit driving while under the influence.
First, the law requires training for police officers in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE.) This training will allow police officers who pull someone over for any moving violation to better detect if the person is under the influence of any substance.
Secondly, the new law allows for Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluations to be used to suspend a driver’s license. This is a change in how the law functioned previously. Also, a driver suspected of driving under the influence of any substance may no longer refuse a DRE evaluation.
One other change that the law has brought about is that police officers will no longer be able to pull a vehicle over due to the suspicion of marijuana being used in the car.
If you are a marijuana user you are now able to possess 1.5 ounces of marijuana on your person and be holding up to 5 ounces in either your home or locked in the glove box of your car or truck.
The only way to avoid a Connecticut auto accident that is caused by drugged driving is to not drive while you are high. If you are going to get high, you should designate a driver as you would if you were going to be drinking.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident that involved a driver who was high, contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your case.
