Driving under the influence is a criminal offence
Taking part in traffic under the influence of drugs is not allowed. Your driving ability decreases and the risk of an accident becomes much higher. There is a legal limit for cannabis in traffic: if you have used more than that limit, you are committing an offence.
Do not combine with alcohol
Hash and weed reduce your ability to react. Combining with alcohol makes the risk of a traffic accident greater. For a combination of drugs, or of drugs and alcohol, a zero limit applies in traffic.
Using often, always too much
How long it takes for the effects to wear off differs from person to person. If you use several times a week, there is a good chance that you always have too much in your body and so may not drive. If you are checked, you are then committing an offence.
How a check goes
During a check the police stop you and you take a saliva test. If it is positive, the police ask for blood for a test in a laboratory. The police then send an official report to the Public Prosecution Service.
A fine, community service or losing your licence
The Public Prosecution Service can impose a fine or community service. The Public Prosecution Service can take away your driving licence for up to 6 months. If you go to court, the judge can take away your driving licence for up to 5 years.
The CBR and the course
The police also report you to the CBR, the Dutch driving licence authority. The CBR can impose a course on drugs and traffic, an assessment of dependence or a suspension of your driving licence. The driver pays the costs.
Sources
You have read this chapter.
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