How to Avoid Arrest for Drug Crimes
Tips to Help You Stay Out of Trouble
No one wants to be arrested for a drug crime. The best way to avoid an arrest for a drug crime is only common sense– DO NOT USE ILLEGAL DRUGS. Do not associate with people who use illegal drugs.
Of course, in the real-world people do use drugs so here are tips to keep yourself from being arrested.
Do not smoke marijuana in your car.
There are two main reasons to not smoke marijuana in your car. First, it makes it easy for the cops to arrest you, second you endanger the lives of yourself and other people.
Law enforcement officers are trained to detect the odor of marijuana. Any time they make a traffic stop they will be on alert for a reason to search your vehicle. Marijuana has a strong, lingering, and distinctive odor. If an officer smells the odor of marijuana coming from your car then the officer has probable cause to search you and your car.
If you use marijuana or other drugs in your car you might leave the marijuana or paraphernalia in plain view. If an officer sees the marijuana, paraphernalia, or any evidence of other illegal activity they can search your vehicle.
Using marijuana or certain other drugs, impairs your ability to operate your vehicle. This makes it more likely you will draw the attention of law enforcement for a violation of a traffic law. Once the officer sees you are impaired they can arrest you and search your vehicle.
The law makes it easy for the police to search a vehicle. Most people commit traffic infractions every time they drive their car. The police can stop any car that commits a traffic infraction. Once your car is stopped, they can have a drug sniffing dog check for the presence of drugs. You can be arrested for drug possession or for any other illegal activity exposed.
Driving while impaired by marijuana, alcohol, or any illegal substance can lead to catastrophic consequences for you, your passengers, or third parties. Any accident does not even have to be your fault for you to be convicted of a crime for any death or injury caused by an accident. Please do not risk destroying your life, the lives of innocent people, and all of the families involved.
Do not commit another criminal offense while you have illegal drugs on or about your person.
If you get arrested for a criminal offense the police can search you, your body cavities, your clothes, and the area you were in when you were arrested. This could include your house, car, work place, bicycle, and the bench you sat on in a bar or restaurant. Often people are detained for one crime and then the police find drugs in the suspect’s pocket. Police can stop and pat down anyone they reasonably suspect may have committed a crime. This is a very low standard. The officer just has to give a factual reason he thought you may be involved in some crime. Anything found can be used to prosecute you for your possession of illegal drugs.
Do not draw attention to yourself as a person who uses illegal drugs.
Officers have a tremendous amount of discretion about who they focus on checking for illegal activity. If you wear a shirt with a big marijuana leaf the officer has every right to focus on you as a suspect. Police officers have a duty to arrest criminals, and if you make it easy they will be happy to arrest you.
Do not hang out in places where drugs are used.
Regardless of the place being the alley behind the abandoned store or your friend’s apartment, if drugs are used in that place on a consistent basis, chances are the police know it.
Do not keep your identification with your illegal drugs.
The attorneys in our firm have handled many cases where police find a wallet or a purse containing illegal drugs and a person’s identification. If police find illegal drugs in a car full of people, they have trouble convicting anyone for possession of illegal drugs. If they find your purse with a driver’s license, and a bag of illegal drugs in the purse, they have a strong case against you.
The drug crime defense attorneys at Rhoden Law Group have decades of experience dealing with drug offenses. We have handled all types of drug related charges from drug trafficking to possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. If you get arrested for a drug crime call Rhoden Law Group immediately. Do not discuss your case with anyone until you have spoken with an attorney.