Arizona court ruling upholds DUI test for marijuana

This idea of any non-zero level of (a long list of) drugs being equated with driving impaired has always worried me; this recent CoA ruling affirms that this is proper. So, nothing to do with this case, i’m wondering if a decongestant, pseudophedrine (commonly found in many cold medicines) cause dui per 28-1381(A)3??? why or why not. I am chemistry challenged.

STATE v. HON. HARRIS/SHILGEVORKYAN

There are three ways to run afoul of Arizona’s DUI statue. The most common would be #2, BAC > .08 (referred to as drunk per se), typically anymore it is via blood evidence; another way is #1 being “under the influence… if … impaired to the slightest degree”, typically via field sobriety tests. The third way, and the one at issue here is #3, “While there is any drug … or its metabolite in the person’s body”.

28-1381. Driving or actual physical control while under the influence; trial by jury; presumptions; admissible evidence; sentencing; classification

A. It is unlawful for a person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle in this state under any of the following circumstances:

1. While under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vapor releasing substance containing a toxic substance or any combination of liquor, drugs or vapor releasing substances if the person is impaired to the slightest degree.

2. If the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle and the alcohol concentration results from alcohol consumed either before or while driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle.

3. While there is any drug defined in section 13-3401 or its metabolite in the person’s body. (there is an exception later for drugs prescribed by a licensed practictioner)

 Oh, and looking at 13-3401, there isn’t just some list, there are many many lists, with many many many different chemicals mentioned. E.g. Testosterone; is it illegal to drive with testosterone in your system? Confused.

The Court of Appeal Opinion

synopsis: the defendant was charged with both 28-1381(A)(1), impaired to the slightest, and 28-1381(A)(3), having a prohibited substance present in his body (in this case, his urine). The first charge was dismissed before trial, leaving only the urine. The justice court dismissed the complaint based on a motion from the defense. The state then both moved for reconsideration (to justice court?), and appealed to Superior court. In any event the appeal to Superior court affirmed the justice court’s dismissal. The state then   sought a “special action review” from the Court of Appeals. The CoA at their discretion (i.e. they didn’t have to) accepted jurisdiction and reviewed the case.

Much of the legal gyrations revolved around the precise meaning of “its metabolite” and whether “its” is singular (the position of the defense; which was that there is one and only one proscribed marijuana metabolite, Hydroxy-THC; which was NOT found in the defendant’s urine), or plural (the state’s position). So the CoA reaffirmed their own prior decision on this point, Phillips, and slapped down the justice and superior court’s findings.

Interesting tidbits from the decision:

• Our holding is consistent with A.R.S. § 1-214(B) (2012), which permits interpretation of “[w]ords in the singular number [to] include the plural” in order to effectuate legislative intent.
• Ariz. R. Crim. P. 16.6(b). “If a defendant can admit to all the allegations charged in the [complaint] and still not have committed a crime, then the [complaint] is insufficient as a matter of law.”
• the “statute created a flat ban on driving with any proscribed substance in the body, whether capable of causing impairment or not.” (my emphasis)

—

Arizona court ruling upholds DUI test for marijuana / Associated Press / Wed Feb 13, 2013 5:10 PM
PHOENIX — An appeals court has issued a ruling that upholds the right of authorities to prosecute pot smokers in Arizona for driving under the influence even when there is no evidence that they are actually high.

The ruling by the Court of Appeals focuses on the chemical compounds in marijuana that show up in blood and urine tests after people smoke pot. One chemical compound causes drivers to be impaired; another is a chemical that stays in people’s systems for weeks after they’ve smoked marijuana but doesn’t affect impairment.

The court ruled that both compounds apply to Arizona law, meaning a driver doesn’t have to actually be impaired to get prosecuted for DUI. As long as there is evidence of marijuana in their system, they can get a DUI, the court said.

The ruling overturns a decision by a lower court judge who said it didn’t make sense to prosecute a person with no evidence they’re under the influence.

The lower court judge cited the proliferation of states easing their marijuana laws, but the Court of Appeals ruling issued Tuesday dismissed that by saying Arizona’s medical marijuana law is irrelevant regarding DUI.

The Legislature adopted the decades-old comprehensive DUI law to protect public safety, so a provision on prohibited substances and their resulting chemical compounds should be interpreted broadly to include inactive compounds as well as active ones, the Court of Appeals said.… more

Supreme Court?

according to a story in the azdailysun.com 3/31/2013 the case is being appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court.

My prediction is they will decline to hear the case. To the extent this needs fixing, the legislature needs to step up and fix it.

(the which may decline to hear it altogether).