Drugs and Law. Judge Gavel and Colorful Pills on a Wooden Desk, Dark Background, Closeup View

When drugs are found in your vehicle by law enforcement, you need the best drug crime lawyer by your side. Facing possible criminal prosecution is a scary experience that no one should have to endure alone. With an experienced and seasoned drug crime lawyer who understands the law, you can rest easy knowing that you’re in good hands. Our office has over 40 years of experience and conducted over 100 jury trials. We know the winning strategies needed to win your case and protect your future. 

What Happens if You Get Caught with Drugs

Police Officer Stopping the Driver of a Vehicle and Questioning Him Over an Alleged Offence Through the Open Window of the CarNo one wants to get caught with drugs in their possession, whether they are guilty or not. In most cases, a regular traffic stop is all it takes for the police to find drugs in your possession through an impromptu search. Whether these searches are justified or not, the consequences can be significant and life-changing if the police catch you with drugs during the traffic stop. If you were a passenger in a car where drugs were found or if you were arrested, you should seek guidance from a drug crime attorney immediately for the following reasons: 

  • Constitutional restrictions – The laws pertaining to the search and seizure of vehicles are some of the most complex areas of constitutional law. Due to the changing nature of the legalities involved with search and seizure, the constitutionality of these actions may be different from term to term. This makes fighting the case more complicated when you’re caught with drugs. A good drug crime lawyer will know the appropriate questions to ask that include: 
    • How was the search of your vehicle justified by the police? 
    • How did the police justify the stop? 
    • Where did the police find drugs? 

These questions from a drug crime attorney are necessary to determine important facts in the case and establish constitutionality. Our lawyers have years of trial experience and winning cases in the courtroom. We stay up to date on regular changes to search and seizure laws. As a drug crime attorney, we will quickly identify if the police violated your constitutional rights during the stop and search. If so, the court may exclude the alleged evidence in the case. 

  • Illegal search and seizure – As a registered owner of a vehicle, you have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The law can waive some of this privacy on public roads by giving police the chance to stop and search your vehicle without a warrant. Typically, police officers will not stop and search a vehicle unless they believe there may be evidence of a crime. They may have received this information from an anonymous tip or seen people engaging in illegal activity in the car. It’s important to note that police are not permitted to search your vehicle after a traffic stop just because they want to. Without a warrant or substantial justification, random searches by the police are illegal. Searches without a warrant must be justified using the following reasoning: 
    • If police find evidence during an emergency like a car accident
    • There was probable cause for the police to believe that drugs were in the car
    • Police discovered evidence as a result of a search from a legal seizure
    • Evidence found after you consented to a car search or admitted to having them
    • If police find evidence of a crime in plain sights, like seeing something on your passenger seat or through your window

Again, specific facts that justify an impromptu search of your vehicle must be clear. There must be reasons why a police search is necessary, or it is considered illegal without a warrant.

Police often attempt to get individuals to consent to a search. It is your right to refuse to provide consent to any search. 

  • Illegal evidence – What happens if you get caught with drugs during an illegal search? The court must exclude any evidence that they discover during an illegal search from the case. This is called the exclusionary rule, which requires the prosecution to forego illegally obtained evidence and dismiss the charges. With a knowledgeable drug crime lawyer by your side, you’ll be able to properly fight the evidence and charges against you with winning strategy and litigation.
  • Drug crime prosecution – Arizona has many short and long-term consequences if police catch you with drugs. It’s important to remember that you’re innocent until proven guilty. It must be proven that you knew drugs were in your car at the time of the search. The consequences of being caught with drugs in your car will depend on: 
    • Whether you had the intent to distribute or if it was for personal consumption
    • Prior criminal history
    • The type, amount, weight, and class of the illegal substance
    • If a federal or state court hears your case
    • Other mitigating or aggravating elements, like firearms

What happens if you get caught with cocaine in the car? Illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, crack, or prescribed opioids are considered a schedule I and II controlled substances. This means that the police will likely impound the car and make an arrest. 

What Does Police Do With Confiscated Drugs? 

Once an arrest is made, the judge may issue a warrant for the impounded car. Your car may or may not be returned to you based on the evidence found. The drugs are confiscated and sent to a secure laboratory where they are analyzed, organized, and tested, awaiting trial, depending on the amount and type. Smaller amounts are often stored at the police station, while large amounts are taken to a secure federal or state vault. Since these cases can be a long, drawn-out process, drugs that have been seized and are no longer needed as evidence are incinerated. Some law enforcement agencies will contract out the destruction of illegal substances to the DEA or Drug Enforcement Agency. 

If Drugs Are Found in Your Car, Who is Responsible? 

Young Male Driver Is Caught Driving Under Alcohol Influence. Man Covering His Face From Police Car Light.You may be thinking, “the drugs found in the car are not mine.” An arrest is not a conviction, and it must be proven that you were aware of the drugs in your car. This is when a drug crime attorney is important to consult on gathering information proving that the illegal substances found were not yours. A drug crime lawyer will be able to establish that you were not the only one that had access to the vehicle at the time and that you were unaware of the drugs. They will also be able to establish whether the police had “probable cause” when they caught you with drugs in the car. If they can not establish “probable cause,” the court will discard the evidence. 

When You Need the Best Drug Crime Lawyer

What happens if you get caught with cocaine or other “street drugs”? You may be thinking, “the drugs found in the car are not mine.” Our experienced trial attorneys will provide the appropriate expertise, support, and strategy to ensure your rights are protected. If you were a passenger in a car where drugs were found or the owner of the vehicle and have been accused of trafficking or possession, you’ll need to take immediate action. These charges carry harsh penalties, and the sooner you partner with a drug crime lawyer from our firm, the better the outcomes will be for you. 

We have significant experience in the areas of DUI – drugs, marijuana, narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, juvenile drugs, drug sales, drug manufacturing, and drug transportation. The legal system is complex, and you don’t want to get caught in its web. 

Give us a call today for a free case assessment to get started on your case! 

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