Drugged Driving

Also called drug-impaired driving or DUID, the offense of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an impairing substance other than alcohol, defined broadly as any substance that, when taken into the body, can impair a person's ability to drive safely. Many countries criminalize drugged driving through statutes separate from ordinary drunk driving law, and some jurisdictions apply per se laws that presume impairment from the mere detection of a controlled substance, similar to blood alcohol thresholds used for alcohol-related driving offenses. Detecting drug impairment is more complex than detecting alcohol impairment, typically requiring laboratory analysis or evaluation by a trained Drug Recognition Expert following a multi-step protocol, because drug metabolites can remain detectable in the body for days or weeks after use, meaning a driver who tests positive may not actually be impaired at the time of the stop.