Are you on probation for a drug offense? Are you going through one of the state’s Drug Courts in order to avoid a serious criminal conviction? If so, you know (or should know) that you’re most likely going to have to submit to drug testing.
Usually, drug testing is done through a simple urine screening, and there’s an entire industry that’s grown up around helping people cheat their way through these tests. Before you shell out your hard-earned money for synthetic urine (or actual urine from a “clean” donor), you’d be wise to understand the risks if you get caught.
Virginia makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to even try to defeat a drug test
Parole officers and those associated with the county Drug Courts in this state are pretty savvy people. They know that there are plenty of people willing to take chances in order to continue using their drug of choice.
For that reason, they’re pretty careful about how urine is collected. Don’t expect a lot of privacy during the collection process – and don’t expect the tester to be fooled by synthetic urine or a sample you obtained from someone else.
If you’re caught (and the odds are high that you will be), you can expect to have your legal problems compounded by a Class 1 misdemeanor charge. If you got the urine from a friend or relative, they may also face charges for their role.
While a Class 1 misdemeanor may not sound that bad, in theory, you can’t expect leniency from the judge in this situation. Since you’re already in legal trouble over the drugs, the judge may hit you with the maximum penalty allowed by law: Up to 12 months in jail and a fine of $2,500 (in addition to court costs and other fees).
The restrictions that come with probation or Drug Court can feel overwhelming, but you don’t want to add to your legal problems by making rash decisions. If you made a mistake, get experienced legal guidance before you decide what to do next.