Did your doctor legally prescribe you a prescription drug, and then you got arrested for possessing that drug? Imagine you were driving your vehicle in Union County, a police officer pulled over an officer found a bottle of Valium pills in your vehicle. The prescription label, however, had fallen off the bottle and the officer wrongly assumed you were in illegal possession of the drug.
Even worse, maybe the officer chose to arrest you — not only for illegal drug possession — but also for drugged driving. Some of the most common prescription drugs that result in possession and/or drugged driving allegations include:
- Antihistamines: These cause slower reaction times and coordination difficulties.
- Decongestants: These can result in drowsiness, dizziness and anxiety.
- Valium: This creates impairment similar to alcohol.
- Antidepressants: These can impair drivers like alcohol.
- Hydrocodone: This can result in severe impairment that is not very different from morphine.
- Sleeping pills: These can impair drivers even after a full night’s sleep.
Defending yourself against DUI charges and prescription drug charges will require a strategic and well-thought-out approach. In some cases, a defendant’s case may be assisted by obtaining a copy of the documentation showing that a particular drug was indeed prescribed by his or her doctor. Presenting this documentation to the court could be sufficient to get the defendant’s charges dropped or dismissed.
When possession charges are combined with a DUI allegation, it may be necessary to employ various arguments to cast doubt on the prosecution’s assertion that the defendant was too intoxicated to drive. In the event that a conviction is likely, however, the defendant may wish to negotiate a plea deal.
