Awaiting Blood Results For Drug Driving? What You Need To Know
Awaiting Blood Results For Drug Driving? What You Need To Know
If you’re awaiting results for drug driving, it is important not to let the time run down without securing expert legal representation. As soon as the police ask you to provide a sample of blood, saliva, or urine, it’s a good time to access specialist legal advice. Reach out to one of our skilled drug driving solicitors today for free and with no obligation by calling 033 03411690 or making an online enquiry.
Can’t recommend Abdul and his team enough.
Even when I taught there was nothing I could Abdul reassured he would do everything he could.
Very perfessional and were always at the other end of the phone.
Received the best outcome there is and kept my license.
These guys are the real deal. Abdul was absolutely excellent in dealing with my drink driving case. We didn’t have a very strong case but thanks to his preparation, perseverance and calm approach in court, the charge was dropped.
In court, Abdul was quick thinking and really dictated the speed and flow of proceedings, taking time to properly consider the argument put forward and close down the prosecution.
Highly recommend.
Understanding The Drug Driving Blood Test Procedure
For a long time, drug driving was penalised in the UK under broader laws around dangerous driving. However, in 2015, the Road Traffic Act was updated to introduce a specific offence for drug driving. This change defined legal limits for 17 different drugs, setting thresholds for what constitutes an illegal amount in your system while driving.
Around half of these drugs, such as cocaine and cannabis, are already illegal. However, you may be surprised to learn that the list also includes some prescription medications that your doctor may prescribe, which are legal but still restricted in terms of how much you can have in your system when driving. The police must prove that you exceeded the legal limit of one of these drugs while operating a vehicle to bring a prosecution.
How do the police test you for drug driving?
The police can ask you to provide a roadside saliva sample or field impairment test (FIT). If the officer at the scene concludes that a driver has failed either the FIA test or the saliva analysis has shown a positive result, they can be arrested and taken to a police station and asked to provide a blood sample.
Drug Driving Blood Test Results: How Long Do You Wait?
The average wait time for drug driving blood test results is six to eight weeks. However, this isn't a fixed limit. It is not uncommon for the results to take longer, sometimes well beyond eight weeks.
The process is lengthy and involves several steps:
- The police must get a medical professional to take the sample at the police station or a hospital.
- It then has to be sent to a forensic science laboratory, which differs in size and efficiency. The lab that the police send your sample to may also be very busy or overworked.
- Finally, the results have to get back to the police, and they have to get around to notifying you.
In short, the process can take time, and not hearing back within eight weeks does not guarantee a negative result or that “things are looking good”. It’s crucial to seek professional legal advice if you have been arrested on suspicion of drug driving so we can start to prepare the best defence for your case.
Drug Driving Technical Defences
If you are concerned that your blood test result for drug driving may come back as over the limit, there may still be options open to you. In our long experience of successfully defending clients against drug driving charges, we have identified key areas where effective defences can be built, such as:
- If there was a significant time gap between your being stopped by the police and when your blood is tested.
- The roadside test kits may be fallible.
- The police or prosecution sometimes mishandles blood test evidence.
Our specialist drug driving solicitors have a 95% success rate in overturning or reducing driving bans. To see how we’ve helped clients in similar situations, visit our client testimonials and case studies and learn how we’ve achieved favourable outcomes.
How Long Do The Police Have To Prosecute You For Drug Driving?
The police usually have six months to prosecute you for a drug driving offence, and you can spend a great deal of that time waiting for the blood test results to come back from the lab. Many accused individuals endure over two months of stressful waiting, expecting that no news might mean they are under the limit. However, when the police eventually notify them of their intention to prosecute, it can be a shocking surprise.
Again, this is why engaging a specialist drug driving solicitor to represent you early on is so important. They can advise you what to do, what to expect, and the best defence you can put forward.
Contact A Legal Professional Today
If you’d like additional information about the drug driving blood test procedure or other areas of the legal process, please reach out to us. Chat with one of our specialists about your situation for free and with no obligation to use our services by calling 033 03411690 or completing a confidential online enquiry.
“Hi Abdul, I would like to thank you and your team for looking after me after been charged with Drink Driving, from the initial contact with Nancy to speaking to you and especially Keiran who represented me in court, who I can’t thank enough. When I thought there was no hope you and Kieran sorted what I thought was a hopeless case. I would strongly recommend you to anyone in the same position. Again thank you to you and your team.”
Mr Abdul Ali took my case on a few weeks before my case, he understood how vital it was for me to not get a ban on my driving licence due to totting up of points.
He was reassuring all through out the build up to my case, he guided me all through the information I would need for presenting evidence for an exceptional hardship case and on the day went through how the court process would be.
I was very nervous but through his expertise and guidance I was able to present my case and was successful in not being banned from driving.
I could not state highly enough how valuable he was to my case and me personally as soon as I met him I knew he was the right solicitor for me.
He took the time to understand my case and what I had to loose and did everything in professional capacity in court to ensure I received the verdict that I wanted.
I would highly recommend his services and expertise to anyone in such driving offences situation.
Amazing support from Abdul.
I had charge from the court for 12 points for two different incidents.
Abdul assisted me with this like family and finally got out of the charges. It was nearly a year journey and I never felt left alone.
I recommend everyone to seek advice from him, very knowledgeable and helpful.
“Stopped for drink driving, I started a dream job, and I could have lost everything, Kieran was brilliant at putting forward detailed legal arguments, which resulted in the prosecution offering no evidence in my case. Unbelievable, Thank you to Parnell & Peel Solicitors.”
Wow, words cannot express how happy I am today when I was told the good news by Abdul that my drink drive court case has been dropped.
From the very first day I contacted Abdul when i was charged with drink drive offense, he assured me to calm down and that he will do all he can to get me the possible outcome and that is exacted what I had.
I will 100% recommend Parnell and Peel Solicitors to you if you find yourself at the wrong side of the law.
Once again, thank you Abdul, Thank you Parnell and Peel Solicitors.
First of all I would like to start with a massive Thankyou to Abdul Ali and his team.
This is to be my first review as I have never ever posted one.
I was charged with Failure To Provide Specimen with the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The prosecution was looking to throw the book at me give a custodial sentence however due to Abdul’s above and beyond examination of the evidence it was concluded that the prosecution had no case as they had no evidence of me driving the car.
If you are in trouble it is always worth getting legal advice and seeing what can be done.
This guy is an extremely educated person and knows exactly what he is talking about.
He was throughout in contact even answering my phone at stupid times when I used to have some questions so I got to give it to him for his dedication.
All in all I would definitely say this firm and Abdul Ali is definitely someone I’d blindly put my trust in.
Abdul was brilliant to work with.
Answered all calls and texts with helpful information and on the day of court.
He got me the outcome I wanted
Contacted Pamell and Peel on Friday re a driving offence.
Answered immediately.
Abdul has been extremely helpful.
I would definitely recommend.
I am extremely grateful for the exceptional services provided by solicitor Abdul in my drink-driving case.
His expertise and dedication resulted in a successful outcome even before we went to court.
I was impressed by his thorough understanding of the legal system and his ability to navigate through the complexities of my case.
I highly recommend Abdul for anyone in need of a reliable and skilled solicitor.
Thank you for your outstanding work!
They done the impossible, got caught drink driving, I thought I would lose my license, however Abdul Ali insisted that I had a case, I just decided to take the risk, it went a lot better than I could have ever imagined.
He managed to drop my case before it got to the second trial, the whole experience was very smooth and he was very positive and uplifting throughout the whole process.
Just trust them and leave them to do their job.
THEY WILL SORT IT.
Will recommend them to everyone!
These guys are the real deal. Abdul was absolutely excellent in dealing with my drink driving case. We didn’t have a very strong case but thanks to his preparation, perseverance and calm approach in court, the charge was dropped.
In court, Abdul was quick thinking and really dictated the speed and flow of proceedings, taking time to properly consider the argument put forward and close down the prosecution.
Highly recommend.
I was stopped for drink drive I was devastated as I stood on the verge of losing everything
I spoke to Abdul and he was reassuring and informed me that we could put a technical defence forward.
The prosecution on the day of the trial offered no evidence.
I am so grateful to the team at Parnel.
My experience was excellent particular thanks go to Abdul
After a gruelling process of putting forward a post consumption defence the CPS failed to counter defend the evidence presented by the team at Parnell and Peel.
I’m a happy man and glad I get to keep my licence!
Drink driving- Not guilty.
Worth every penny!
I was certain I would lose my license at the time.
After contacting Parnell and Peel, Abdul quickly filled me with confidence and explained in great detail how he would defend my case.
He clearly has a lot of experience and knowledge.
In the end I didn’t even need to go to trial as my case was dropped a few days before, all thanks to Abdul and his team.
I can’t thank him enough and I would highly recommend Parnell and Peel solicitors to anyone.
“My family and friends were sceptical about using Solicitors after I was stopped for drink driving. Parnell & Peel Solicitors were willing take a case on that others told was hopeless. I am astounded by Abdul and his teams brilliance in helping me to avoid conviction. If you have been stopped for drink driving do not hesitate to use Parnell & Peel Solicitors.”
Abdul Ali was extremely helpful and re-assuring throughout the process.
He was always available and on-call even outside your traditional working hours.
I’d highly recommend Abdul as with his experience and confidence regarding the matter, he’s always comfortable in dealing with it as he’s been there and done it many times before!
Can’t recommend Abdul and his team enough.
Even when I taught there was nothing I could Abdul reassured he would do everything he could.
Very perfessional and were always at the other end of the phone.
Received the best outcome there is and kept my license.