If you are prescribed a drug like a pain killer or tranquilizer that you have to take daily can you be convicted of a DUI?
2006-12-15 05:27:50 · 27 answers · asked by jdtexas35 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Yes you can. DUI stands for driving under influence of intoxicants. Intoxicants meaning anything that impairs your ability to operate a motor vehicle. Impairment usually is found by a series of field sobriety tests. In those tests the officer is checking your eyes for fluid motion, your pupils for response to light and horizontal nystagmus. They also will do a series of motor skills tests. Examples of these would be the walk and turn, walking a line, one leg lift, etc. Based on all of these tests, the officer makes a judgement of wether he believes you are impaired. You'll then have to blow on an intoxilizer which measures the level of alcohol in your blood system. If that test comes up negative they will, if available, have you checked by a drug recognition expert who has extensive training in recognizing signs of intoxication by other substances prescription and non prescription to establish what the impairment is from.
2006-12-15 05:45:30 · answer #1 · answered by gcso238 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Just because a drug is legally prescribed by a physician, doesn't mean you can do whatever you want with it. If the drug impairs your ability to drive, you can be arrested and convicted based on the same evidence (erratic driving, failed field sobriety tests, etc.) as you would if it were alcohol in your system. Also, when you're prescribed things like pain killers, they should come with warnings about activities you must avoid such as using heavy machinery or driving.
2006-12-15 05:39:55 · answer #2 · answered by BriMitch 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I will try to explain how the Breathalyzer works, When you blow into the machine it is designed to detect the grain alcohol in your lungs. If you were not drinking and your driving was so bad as to get you pulled over and you did some balance test that the officer felt that you did not perform will then you would get a breath test if the machine gave a zero reading and your balance test or psycho-motor test were poor then this would mean that you were under the influence of something, and you would be charged. If you were on prescription drugs it tell you on the bottle not to drive until you see the effect the drug will have on you, and you must have the prescription bottle with you.
2006-12-15 06:35:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes - if that drug, while legally prescribed to you, impairs your senses or ability to drive in any way, you can be charged with DWI/DUI in most states. Carefully check labels, dizziness, drowsiness. Even if you have taken the drug and it does not cause those side effects in you - a police officer can charge you.
2006-12-15 05:32:05 · answer #4 · answered by Republican Mom 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If it's that stong a drug the bottle usually says, "do not operate a motor vehicle". In VA the DUI statute reads, "operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of self administered drugs or intoxicants".
2006-12-15 07:16:48 · answer #5 · answered by Keith 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. You are responsible for the possible side effects of the drugs you take, and you are to heed the perscription label's warnings about possible dangers in driving while on the medication.
2006-12-15 06:23:56 · answer #6 · answered by WC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES! Just having a prescription does NOT bar you from being prosecuted and convicted for DUI. If you have a prescription you just can't be prosecuted for illegal posession.
2006-12-15 07:05:48 · answer #7 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That would fall under DUI. Driving while under the influence
2006-12-15 05:30:16 · answer #8 · answered by daanzig 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Anyone with an IQ over 20 knows the answer to that question. And since you apparently are dumber than Forrest Gump...perhaps your twin...I'll enlighting you...YES. Both are classified as narcotics and can GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL, DO NOT PASS GO A COLLECT $200....clear enough??
2006-12-15 08:48:20 · answer #9 · answered by iraq51 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely.
2006-12-15 05:30:13 · answer #10 · answered by Judge Dredd 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋