Alaska Penalties for a Marijuana DUI

You’ve probably heard the saying before: “drugged driving is drunk driving.” There’s a good reason this saying exists—DUI laws are exactly the same for both drugged and drunk driving. In fact, they’re the same law completely. The law says it’s illegal to be behind the wheel when you are intoxicated or inebriated in any way that could prevent you from being able to drive safely. So whether you’ve had a few too many to drink or smoked a little bit too much, you could find yourself facing serious criminal penalties if you choose to drive.

Being Convicted

The only difference between alcohol and marijuana-infused DUI charges is that alcohol has a firm, defined limit for what entails “intoxicated” (.08 percent BAC). Marijuana’s limits aren’t so well-defined. That means prosecutors have a pretty tough fight on their hands to definitely prove that you were driving under the influence, especially considering our state’s “implied consent” laws don’t pertain to marijuana, and you aren’t required to submit to a blood or urine test if you’re suspected of driving while intoxicated by this substance. However, you lose this protection if you are involved in an accident that causes serious injuries to someone else.

Marijuana DUI Penalties

The penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana are the same as those for alcohol. Here are the penalties for a first-time offender:

• Large fines: Up to $1,500
• Jail time: No less than 72 consecutive hours in jail
• License suspension: A mandatory 90-day suspension of your driver’s license
• Mandatory ignition interlock device installation

Penalties for further offenses escalate even further. For a second offense, the maximum fine increases to $3,000, and your minimum jail sentence increases to 20 days, plus a one-year license revocation. Third, fourth, and fifth offenses get even more drastic, particularly if the offense is within a 10-year window of a previous offense. A third DUI offense within a 10 year period will result in your license being revoked for the rest of your life!