An interstate drug stop, whether lawful or unlawful, will certainly happen to some drivers when traveling across state lines. As the quantity of drugs you are charged with possessing goes up, so do the penalties for such charges. Greater amounts are basically referred to as “trafficking.” Cutting off the source of the commerce drug trade is one of the more considerable roles the local state law enforcement and the federal government plays in the “War on Drugs.”
Interstate Drug Stop Penalties
An interstate drug stop can have major consequences. Even a minor drug conviction can have a serious impact on a suspect’s future, from their source of income and opportunities to occupation, loans, and leases. A serious charge, such as possession with the intent to distribute, can demolish any hopes of preserving normality, as you can spend years in prison, waste thousands of dollars in fines, and lose your property due to search and seizure.
Both federal and state laws have very detailed penalties for the various degrees of drug possession, and it typically depends on the “schedule” of drugs nabbed. Some illegal drugs in certain quantities and amounts hold their own mandatory minimum sentencing, denoting you must serve a certain period of time if convicted.
First offenses for possession with intent to distribute marijuana can hold a sentence of one year and a half. Harder drugs like cocaine can result in a sentence of up to 18 years imprisonment and pay a $15,000 fine.
Interstate Drug Stop Defense
For individuals associated in an interstate drug stop, the law can be difficult to understand and you may have concerns about whether the arresting officer acted within the law or violated your rights. The primary evidence for the prosecution is always the confiscated drug itself. A qualified defense lawyer can file motions to suppress the evidence for any oversight that the police made while conducting the search to obtain the evidence. Without the substantial evidence, the prosecution’s case may not have enough evidence and the case might be reduced or dismissed.
An experienced attorney will examine all of the circumstances surrounding your case, including things like whether you first gave the police officer reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Once it has been determined that the police officer had probable cause, did you, in fact, give the adequate consent to be searched or did law enforcement have to get a warrant? These concerns need to be checked out and dealt with before they have a case against you.
Interstate Drug Stop Lawyer
An interstate drug stop can lead to an arrest and in some cases an infringement of the Constitutional rights of drivers. If you have been pulled over as a drug suspect, you need the best legal representation only an exceptional New Mexico drug defense attorney can give to offer protection to your rights.
