Follow directions carefully to be sure that it is safe to drive
In California, most people know that it is against the law to drive under the influence of alcohol. If you are stopped while driving drunk, you can be charged with a crime (DUI). What some people don’t realize, however, is that in California, it is also a crime to drive under the influence of drugs. If you are impaired while driving due to drugs — even over the counter medications or prescription drugs — then you could be charged with a criminal offense.
According to a skilled DUI defense lawyer Rancho Cucamonga, CA, there is no legal limit for driving under the influence of drugs, or DUID. Unlike DUI offenses, which can be charged if a person has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher (for anyone aged 21 or older who is not currently on DUI probation), DUID can be charged if you are impaired by the use of drugs. It may also be charged if you are impaired by the combination of drugs and alcohol. Again, it does not matter if the drugs that you have taken are legal, such as marijuana or a prescription written for you by your doctor, or even a medicine that you picked up at the drug store, like Benadryl. If the drug that you took impairs your ability to drive, you could be charged with a DUID.
As with DUI charges, a DUID brings with it serious consequences. The penalties include the loss of your license, potential jail time and/or probation, steep fines and fees, community service, and mandatory drug education classes. In addition, you will face other collateral consequences, such as the need to inform your insurance company of your conviction — which will substantially increase the cost of your insurance premiums for years to come.
So how can you avoid a DUID, particularly if you need to take prescription drugs to manage a medical condition? As a DUI defense lawyer Rancho Cucamonga, CA can explain, the best course of action is to carefully read the inserts and packaging for every medication that you take. Most medicines that will impact your ability to drive will warn you that you should not drive or operate heavy machinery after taking it. If your medicine has this warning, do not drive after taking it. Talk to your doctor about any concerns that you may have, and if there are any alternatives to the medication that would still allow you to drive safely. Most importantly, do not drive after taking a new medicine until you know how it affects you.
If you have been arrested for a DUI of drugs, you will need an aggressive DUI defense lawyer Rancho Cucamonga, CA to represent you. These cases can be challenging, but an experienced attorney can put together strong factual and legal defenses to the charges — particularly given that there is not a legal limit to determine whether you were impaired.
The Chambers Law Firm represents clients in Rancho Cucamonga and the surrounding areas who have been charged with DUIs. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to learn more about how we can help if you have been charged with a DUI or a DUI of drugs. Initial consultations with a DUI defense lawyer Rancho Cucamonga, CA are always free of charge.
