Blog, DUI, DUI Drugs

Can You Be Charged with DUI in South Carolina if You Are Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs?

Most people who are arrested for DUI in South Carolina were under the influence of alcohol when they’re pulled over. They were out at the bar or club with their friends. Or maybe they were at a friend’s house for a barbecue. Usually, the cops end up pulling over people who are drunk or at least tipsy. People don’t seem to realize how little alcohol it really takes to mess up their coordination. They have a few drinks, get behind the wheel and don’t realize the risk they’re taking.  There are times, however, when someone is pulled over because they are under the influence of drugs. Maybe they were using heroin before they got on the road and nodded out. They could have hit another car or passed out while on the side of the road. Or maybe they were smoking methamphetamine and lose control of their car. Using illegal drugs is against the law, whether you were in an accident or not. What most people don’t realize, however, is that you can be arrested and charged for DUI for being under the influence of prescription drugs. Just because a drug is legal doesn’t mean you can’t become intoxicated for taking it. The police are trained to recognize any form of intoxication, even if it is the result of legal prescription. If you or your loved one are charged with DUI and you were only using your prescription medication, call our office. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to get your charges reduced or dismissed. An experienced DUI defense lawyer has handled cases like yours before. They know the law and they know what it takes to poke holes in the prosecutor’s case. DUI Law

How Can it Be Wrong to Use Your Prescribed Medication?

A lot of people don’t realize they can get in trouble for taking medication that is prescribed to you by a doctor. If you can show the police your prescription bottle, how can you get into trouble? The truth is, you may have been warned that your medication could make you drowsy. This could be printed right on the bottle. Or, maybe it came with written instructions on how to take the medication. If you don’t follow these instructions, you be held criminally responsible for driving while intoxicated. There are certain drugs you’re not supposed to take if you’re going to be operating a car or heavy machinery. For example, if you take Ambien or another sleep aid, you can’t drive a car. There are a couple of drugs that people take that make it very dangerous for you to drive. These include opiates such as pain medication and Xanax. The problem with these drugs is that a lot of people take too much of them. They either do it on purpose so they can get high or they’ve simply built up too great a tolerance to them. Either way, they can make it very dangerous for you to drive. You can pass out and crash into someone. Or, you may lose your concentration and hit someone from behind. If you are pulled over and appear to be high or intoxicated, the police will have you take a field sobriety test. If they feel that you are too high to drive, they will arrest you. 

Call and Talk to an Experienced DUI Defense Lawyer in South Carolina Sooner Rather than Later

When you’re arrested, you will be allowed to make one phone call. While it may not happen exactly the same way you see it in the movies, it does happen. You have a couple of choices. You can call a skilled DUI lawyer in South Carolina. Or, you can call your family and ask them to find a lawyer for you. You’re going to have to appear before a judge sooner than you may think. And, you don’t want to do this on your own. This first appearance can dictate how the rest of your case is handled. Call and schedule an appointment with one of our experienced DUI defense lawyers in South Carolina. We can sit down with you and let you know what you’re up against. And, if you were arrested for being under the influence of prescription medications, you may have a valid defense. But you’ll never know unless you meet with someone who knows the law.   

Leave a Reply