DUI Urine Test

Drivers arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in the state of Florida are subject to especially cumbersome requirements. After you get a DUI in Tampa, for instance, you may be required to submit to a DUI urine test. Florida law requires drivers in the state to operate under what is known as “implied consent.” This means that drivers who are pulled over on suspicion of DUI must submit to either a breath, blood, or urine test as requested by the arresting officer.

The problem, of course, is that refusing such a test will expose drivers to penalties associated with failure to comply. This creates a difficult situation where drivers feel the need to subject themselves to a test that is less than accurate. If you have been put in this unfortunate situation, contact Musca Law today to discuss your options.

Why Does The Urine Test Exist?

Florida police officers typically request the urine test when a breath test provides a reading of .08 or less. When a driver is under the legal limit for alcohol, police officers suspect the influence of drugs, so they use urine tests to find traces of those drugs. The tests find traces of simple street narcotics like marijuana, more serious drugs like cocaine and even certain non-prescription drugs.

The Problem With Urine Tests

Why do you need to contact a Tampa DUI lawyer when you’ve submitted to a urine test? The issue has everything to do with reliability. Though often employed by police officers, these tests have shown to be unsuccessful in pinpointing the exact time a drug was used. For example, you could be found guilty on the basis of cough syrup ingested many hours before. The Tampa DUI lawyers at Musca Law can work to ensure that this evidence never sees the courtroom.

A Tampa DUI attorney can work with you to file motions to exclude urine tests well before the onset of the trial. Through the use of expert testimony and effective advocacy, Tampa DUI attorneys are able to prove the unreliability of these tests. When the state’s case relies so heavily on unreliable urine tests, they are often unable to continue when that evidence is excluded.

Fighting a wrongful DUI requires the best possible representation, and excluding a DUI urine test can mean the difference between a conviction and a dismissal. Musca Law will fight for your rights before and throughout the trial process.