Thursday, December 29, 2016

California man fights DUI charge for driving under influence of caffeine

California man fights DUI charge for driving under influence of caffeine | US news | The Guardian
"Attorney for Joseph Schawb, charged with driving under the influence of a drug when his blood test showed only caffeine, calls the charge unheard of.
 ‘There are no studies that demonstrate that driving is impaired by caffeine, because no one cares about caffeine,’ said a forensic toxicologist.
Image result for Overkill MemeCaffeine may be the “nootropic” brain drug of choice in Silicon Valley, but an hour’s drive north in Solano County, California, the stimulant could get you charged with driving under the influence.
...After being pulled over on 5 August 2015, Schwab was charged by the Solano County district attorney with misdemeanor driving under the influence of a drug.
Almost 18 months later, Schwab is preparing to go to trial.
The only evidence the DA has provided of his intoxication is a blood test showing the presence of caffeine.
...The 36-year-old union glazier was given a breathalyzer test which showed a 0.00% blood alcohol level, his attorney said.
He was booked into county jail and had his blood drawn, but the resulting toxicology report came back negative for benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, THC, carisoprodol (a muscle relaxant), methamphetamine/MDMA, oxycodone, and zolpidem.
The sample was screened a second time by a laboratory in Pennsylvania, according to documents provided to the Guardian, where the sole positive result was for caffeine – a substance likely coursing through the veins of many drivers on the road at any given time..."

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