Can You Beat A Drug Crime Charge?
Every drug crime lawyer in America fields questions about how to beat charges. You'll need to consider a few key things if you're trying to get off the hook.
What Have You Told the Police?
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is admitting to anything in front of the police. If you admit to possession of drugs on the record, the state has every right to use that admission of guilt to wrap a bow on the case. This applies even if subsequent tests prove that the materials in question weren't illicit drugs. Refrain from discussing anything with the cops until you have a drug crime attorney present.
Is There a Good Explanation?
People face charges for drug crimes even when they have prescriptions. An overly zealous police officer might have decided that you weren't using the prescription properly or that you were lying. Especially if you didn't have the paperwork for the prescription on you, things can get weird fast. That's particularly the case during traffic stops. Similarly, police sometimes misinterpret the presence of over-the-counter drugs.
If you have a good explanation, try to document as much of it as possible. Hold onto and make copies of medication bottles and receipts. Your drug crime lawyer may be able to use these bits of information to clarify what happened.
Be aware that legal recreational drugs create some odd situations. For example, legally obtaining drugs in one state doesn't allow you to take them into a state where they're prohibited.
Are You Confident You Didn't Take Anything?
Yes, police officers occasionally arrest people who didn't take any drugs. Sometimes they interpret sleepiness as the effects of drugs, for example. They also can be a little quick to assume that red eyes are a sign of recent consumption of narcotics. Even light allergic reactions will convince police that something is up.
If you're sure there wasn't anything in your system, you have every right to stick to your story. The state must prove its case, and your drug crime lawyer can compel them to produce whatever evidence they might have. If they can't show tests that confirm there were drugs in your system, they better have evidence of possession.
Was a Search Legal?
Cops often don't seek possession charges until they've had the opportunity to search. The police, however, have to show an entire chain of things leading up to the search. If they didn't have reasonable suspicion to pull a driver over, for example, they shouldn't have searched. Likewise, even with reasonable suspicion, they need probable cause.
To learn more information, reach out to a drug crime lawyer near you.
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