DUI from Legal Medications
Take the Proper Precautions
If you think that the only reason people get DUI’s is from drinking alcohol and driving… think again! And no, we aren’t talking about having one drink at the bar that would keep you in the legal BAC limit to drive, and we aren’t talking about smoking some medical marijuana and then hopping in the car… we are talking about DUI’s that can be given while you are under the influence of completely legal drugs.
While this might be a shocking truth to some, it does, in fact, happen to some people. Although this is not a regular occurrence, it is something to keep in the back of your mind if you take pills of any kind.
So what does this really mean? Here is a breakdown of what getting a DUI from legal drugs looks like…
First and foremost, if you take any pill, whether it be prescribed for a cold or something else, or an over the counter medication, the box and bottle will always come with a warning label. Some of these labels tell you not to take this particular kind of medicine while you are pregnant or nursing, and others come with warnings about how taking this medication can cause drowsiness, so it is best to not operate any machinery while it is in your system.
When all is said and done, driving a car can still count as operating machinery.
For instance, if you take a cold medication that has a warning label that states to not operate any machinery (or drive a vehicle) while it is in your system and you decide to get in the car and drive somewhere, a police officer has every right to issue a DUI if you are driving recklessly, or appear to be under the influence of something.
While each state has its own laws pertaining to this subject, each state does, in fact, have a law that deals with people driving under the influence of legal drugs and medications. So be aware of what you’re taking and be sure to read the warning labels on the back!
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images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/4/24). Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash.