Criminal Law News

The numbers of motorists driving under the influence in California and around the country has dropped significantly over the past five years.  Law enforcement agencies are now targeting a new category of motorists – those driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

Last week, the New York Times ran a report on how the incidences of driving under the influence of medications are increasing around the country.  The NYT article reflects the bias of law enforcement agencies against motorists who might be suffering from the side effects of their medication.  Many of these motorists are not aware of the side effects of the drugs they take.  It’s common for some citizens, like elderly motorists, to be on more than one medication for a variety of illnesses.  These can react with each other, generating side effects that the doctor may not have informed them about.  Besides, prescription drugs can also react with the food you eat, and even a glass of wine, possibly affecting your driving abilities.

Many states around the country, including California, are flexing their muscles to nab more supposed intoxicated offenders.  They are hiring specialized drug detection officers and buying new technologies to detect the presence of medications in drivers.  As more and more numbers of Americans start medications, California criminal defense lawyers are concerned that these people will be charged merely for taking their medication and driving.

If you’re taking any kind of medication, it’s important to know that being prescribed medication, and not being aware of the side effects, is not a defense to a California DUI charge.  Talk with your doctor about the medications you’re taking, and follow all his instructions to the letter.  Avoid combining drugs with alcohol.  Don’t self-medicate yourself, and if you’re on more than one medication, make sure that they don’t contain the same ingredients.  You could be unwittingly overdosing yourself, and it could be not just a health risk, but also an accident risk.