Other Links: Drink Driving | Drugs - Their Effects | Drugs - The Penalties
Drugs - The Penalties
The penalties for driving while impaired under the influence of drugs are
EXACTLY THE SAME as driving while impaired under the influence of alcohol.
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If caught you could face penalties of up to:
- Six months in prison
- A £5,000 fine
- Loss of your driving licence for 12 months
In addition to these you will have a criminal record (just like a convicted drink driver) which may also exclude you from:
- Getting a visa to the USA (and potentially other countries)
- Working with children
- Being able to hire a car
PLUS ... A POTENTIAL THREE-FOLD HIKE IN THE COST OF YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
Field impairment tests
Strathclyde Police traffic officers are specially trained in field impairment testing. These internationally recognised tests are used to measure a driver's level of impairment, and to show whether he or she is fit to drive.
Motorists will be tested to walk in a straight line or touch their nose with their finger. It looks and sounds simple enough - but if a driver is under the influence of a drug these tests soon show it.
If a driver is arrested after failing one of these tests a blood sample is taken and sent for analysis and an accurate record of which drug(s) have been taken is produced.
