1/06/2019

Strong Defenses To The Possession Of CDS NJ While Driving

By Stephanie Russell


In most states, CDS is a legal term that stands for the Controlled Dangerous Substances. Every state has a list of non-prescription drugs that are illegal and you are likely to be awarded a criminal charge if the court proves that you were either buying or selling them. The charge for the Possession of CDS NJ in a motor vehicle is a very serious traffic violation. If the court proves without reasonable doubt that you were in possession of the drugs, you are likely to be awarded the most extreme penalties. There are a number of defenses to this crime that you need to be aware of.

If the law enforcement officers discover that you are operating a vehicle that contains the illegal substances, you should not panic. It is very difficult to prove some of the fundamentals of this charge and the prosecution has to prove these aspects before they can secure a conviction. This is good news for the accused person because there is a chance that the court will dismiss your case on grounds of insufficient evidence.

Before the court finds you guilty of the crime, the prosecution needs to proof that you were fully aware of the fact that the substances were in the vehicle. Under those circumstances where the prosecution fails to provide proof of your knowledge on the presence of these substances in the car when the police officers conducted the search, then the case will most likely be dismissed.

The court can only find you guilty of the offense if the substances were identified while the car was moving. If in any case the drugs are actually discovered in your car but the car was not operational, there is an opportunity for you to prove to the court that you were not driving the vehicle and are innocent of the crime.

Legal possession is another common defense for this charge. You are innocent of this crime if you possess the substances legally. A good example is where the doctor prescribed the substances or you were taking the prescription drugs to a member of your family. It is also important for the prosecution to proof the substance was illegal.

The charge for the possession of these substances only applies where the individual was driving on a public road or highway. Even if the law enforcement officers find the substances in your car but you are driving on a private road, then the court has no option but to drop the case or reduce the penalties.

The other defense for this charge is illegal search and seizure by the law enforcement officers. The law enforcement officers are only required to search your car if they have a warrant to do so or if they have a probable cause. If the police officer stopped the car without any probable cause, the court can dismiss the case on grounds of breach of the constitutional rights of the person.

If you have been found guilty of possession of CDS, you can use either of the above defenses to get your case dismissed. A lawyer can help you when you find yourself in this problem.




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