Smoking pot in a car will soon be illegal starting January 1st
Q Could you please enlighten us as to the laws regarding using marijuana in a vehicle? Things are tough enough on the roads now without drivers smoking weed or inhaling it from other users in an enclosed vehicle. Please tell us that it is illegal! — Don Purkey, Monte Sereno A It soon will be, thank goodness. But first …
Q I am a cyclist and hardly a day goes by when I do not smell the pungent odor of marijuana wafting out of an open car window. This is especially disturbing while I am riding my bike and protected only by a thin polystyrene shell that’s supposed to make me feel safe.
What are the regulations for driving and smoking marijuana in a vehicle? — Nathan Greig, Belmont A As of Jan. 1, it will be illegal to smoke pot when driving or riding in a vehicle in California. The penalties will be similar to driving drunk as the state tries to rein in a growing concern on our roads.
DUI marijuana or “stoned driving” remains a crime even though California voters have passed Prop. 64, which legalized the use of recreational marijuana.
It is already illegal to drive while intoxicated with marijuana and to have an open bag of cannabis in a motor vehicle. The new law goes further by banning smoking marijuana or consuming cannabis edibles while driving or riding in a vehicle.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2007 to 2014 the number of nighttime weekend drivers in the U.S. with marijuana in their system increased nearly 50 percent. Q I drink nothing but non-alcoholic beer (Clausthaler, of course). I was told that I could be charged with a DUI if I had an accident. The beer has one-half of 1 percent alcohol which means my blood alcohol would probably be less than .01 but I would have alcohol in my system.
Could I be charged? — Dave H. A Yes. This is far below the 0.08 limit for drunk driving, but if your driving is erratic, a cop could ticket you for what is called “buzzed driving.” Q Please remember the horrific crash on Interstate 80 where four people were killed by a drunk driver. We are beginning the holiday season with office parties, home drop-in visits, all motivated by camaraderie and joy. Sadly, two families will not be among the holiday celebrants.
Take care, slow down and refuse that second drink, if you plan to drive. — Wilma Pallette, Santa Clara A And remember the tragedy on the Bay Bridge where a suspected drunk driver smashed into a toll booth, killing the toll taker.