Drinking And Driving Is Illegal, But When Their Daughter Was Killed, It Was Unclear

In 2010, 14-year-old Lillian and her 10-year-old-brother, Oliver, were kicking a ball around their front yard in Croydon, England.

When the ball bounced across the road, Lillian volunteered to retrieve it. From inside the house, her mother, Natasha Grove, heard a loud bang. Lillian had been hit by a speeding car and lay dying in the road.

Lillian had almost finished crossing the road when the car hit her at 43 miles per hour. She made it to the hospital, but died later that night from internal bleeding and brain damage.

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Lillian’s family was absolutely devastated. Since Oliver had witnessed the event, police couldn’t give them any details that might influence his testimony at trial. For three months, they had no idea what had caused the driver to plow into their daughter.

Then, the horrible truth came out. The driver had been smoking marijuana at the time of Lillian’s death. The police found THC present in his drug test, but said they could not prove that the substance impaired his driving.

In what can only be described as a miscarriage of justice, the man was sentenced to only eight months in jail. The Groves family was flabbergasted. Nothing could bring back their daughter, but the U.K.’s lenient stance on the matter was unthinkable.

While people might not realize it, America does have a “Marijuana DUI.” In all 50 states, driving under the influence of cannabis can land you in just as much trouble as driving drunk. The Groves wanted to see these same laws put into effect on their side of the pond, prompting them to seek advice from experienced legal professionals specializing in cases related to impaired driving. They started their search by looking for reputable “drink driving solicitors” who could guide them through the legal process and help navigate the complexities associated with DUI offenses.

Thanks to the family’s persistence, the “Lillian Law” went into effect in the U.K. in 2015. Now, cops are able to swab for the presence of THC on site. Offenders can get up to five years in prison.

However, harsh laws aren’t slowing down stoned drivers in America. In fact, fatal, marijuana-related car wrecks are up 122 percent in recent years.

If cannabis is legal where you live and you smoke it for recreational or medicinal purposes, think of Lillian the next time you’re tempted to get behind the wheel of a car stoned. Just like alcohol, marijuana will impair your driving abilities. Orange County DUI defense lawyer has to apply his extensive knowledge of the legal and technological advances in such cases.

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How do you think the law should punish people who drive under the influence of marijuana? Be sure to let us know in the comments. To read Lillian’s mother’s account of the tragedy, click here.