When you drive, you must be in your right mind so that you can drive safely. If you have been drinking or have taken any medications or drugs, you might not be able to legally drive. Some people don’t realize that they can face criminal charges for driving under the influence of drugs.
Driving under the influence of drugs is something that is very serious. You should realize that you can face these charges even if you are using legal or over-the-counter drugs. The deciding factor here is that the drug or medication impairs your mind. It doesn’t matter if the medication is a narcotic, a prescription, a supplement, or an over-the-counter drug. As long as it impacts your mind, you can face criminal charges if you drive while taking it.
Many drugs have specific warnings on them. Some drugs, such as antihistamines or pain relievers have warnings that tell you that you might need to avoid driving or that you could get dizzy taking them. You should heed these warnings and pay attention to how the medications impact you to determine if you can drive while taking them.
One thing that you should know is that the penalties for drugged driving are comparable to those of drunk driving. The exact circumstances of the incident matter here, so you should be ready to learn about facts surrounding the case against you if you’re facing charges
You also should make sure that you are being honest when you are developing your defense. It is imperative that you consider all options for your defense to determine which one you feel is most appropriate for your case.
Source: FindLaw, “You Can Get a DUI on Legal Drugs,” accessed July 21, 2017
