Drug tests are becoming more and more common with employment applications. What happens if you fail?

1. You won’t get the job

2. It will usually just stay between you and your employer. Some employers place those tests into a national database that other potential employers can pull up when you apply for a job.

3. It can show up in a national database for other employers to see. This is rare and only very few employers use this. Walgreens uses it.

4. No, police will not know. It’s not a crime to have drugs in your system unless you’re driving.

Is drug testing legal?

The federal government has limited laws regarding drug testing. Therefore, drug testing is mostly a state issue. States and local jurisdictions have different laws regarding what methods of drug testing are lawful, which substances can be included in a drug test, and when employers can use drug tests.

What Can Cause a False Positive?

There are many legal substances and products that can cause a false positive. The following common substances are among the many that may cause a false positive.

Do I Need a Lawyer if I Fail a Drug Test?

An experienced employment lawyer can help an employee who has not been hired, who has been fired, or who has been denied benefits because of an unlawful or faulty drug test. Your attorney can help you understand the drug testing laws in your jurisdiction, decipher the best course of action for you, and protect your rights and remedies.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.

If you get a DUI, the first thing that you will probably do is retain an attorney. Most attorneys charge for their services on an hourly basis. The lawyer speaks to the client, discusses the case and takes a “retainer”, or advance funds, and bills against the retainer for his work. When the retainer gets used up, the lawyer will require additional payments.

First offense, no injury, no damage. For our purposes we’ll consider a first offense only and we’ll presume you’re lucky enough not to have hit anyone or caused property damage. The conclusion is that if you’re arrested, you should expect to pay somewhere between $5,000 and $12,000 with the largest cost typically being the jump in your insurance rates. (BTW, subsequent offenses may double or triple the costs.) Here’s a breakdown:

• Court Costs. Fines differ from state to state and county to county. Typically first offense fines range between $250 and $1500.
• Legal Fees. Using a lawyer to navigate the system will probably help but (assuming you don’t go to trial) will cost approximately $2,000. Of course, there’s no expense if you don’t have an attorney. Cost: $0 (no lawyer) to $2,000. (Going to trial will likely cost at least $5,000. )
• License Reinstatment. The administrative costs for getting your license back after suspensions vary by state. Expect to pay between $250 and $500.
• Substance Abuse/Counseling/Rehabilitation Classes – If these are required in your case, the costs may range from $100 to $500.
• Ignition Interlock System. If required, you’ll pay an installation fee ($100) and monthly rental fee of approximately $50 to $100 per month. Average time for first offense is 3 months though many states require longer periods. Figure this cost between $0 and $325
• Increased Insurance costs. After a DUI, you’ll be categorized by your insurance company as a high-risk driver. Most insurance companies will raise rates at least $1,000 – $1500 or more annually. This high-risk requirement typically continues for three years, after which the rates drop back down. Expect to pay between $3,000 – $4500 over three years.
• Loss of Income. Sitting in jail, doing community service, court appearances and remedial services may take you away from your job for anywhere from one to four weeks. The median US income in 2014 was about $52,000 a year. So we’re estimating the cost at $1,000 to $4,000.

Conclusion: We estimate that the average cost for a non-injury, non-property damage DUI is between $5,000 and $12,000. Keep in mind that our numbers are on the conservative side.

If you have been arrested for DUI, consider call Alex Truluck.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.