If you’re on pain medication, you should know that you could be at risk of getting arrested for DUI. Many – if not most – people have no idea about the affects pain medication can have on their ability to drive safely. California law prohibits the use of any drugs that impair skills necessary to drive well – including both prescription and non-prescription medications.
Whether you just have a headache or recently underwent surgery and are taking pain medication, the best way to prevent getting arrested for DUI is to avoid driving all together. If you’ve already been arrested, the best way to prevent a conviction is by contacting Attorney Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm for expert legal assistance.
How to prevent a pain medication DUI
Attorney Chambers is dedicated to educating people about DUI, including the prevention of DUI arrests. The use of pain medication is so commonplace in our society, and DUI arrests are also frequent. If you need to take pain medication and want to avoid getting arrested for DUI, here’s what you need to know.
Effects of pain relievers that could impair driving
Each person reacts differently to certain pain medications, so it’s important to evaluate yourself and your symptoms before deciding to jump behind the wheel of your car after taking pain medication. But here are some of the most common reactions to pain medication:
- Hydrocodone – this common pain reliever is the main component of Vicodin. It’s similar to opiates such as morphine, codeine, and oxycodone. Effects that can impair drivers include intense euphoria, drowsiness, sedation, disconnectedness, mental clouding, and diminished reflexes
- Valium – Only 10 milligrams of this popular tranquilizer can result in a driver being as impaired as someone with a blood alcohol level of .10%, which is above the legal limit of .08%.
- Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Advil – Even these everyday medications can impair drivers, so make sure you don’t just pop a couple pills and forget about it. Make sure you always read product labels and measure exactly how much medicine you’re going to take before hand. Don’t just swig and go! Also stop driving immediately if you notice that you’re impaired in any way.
Possible legal defenses for pain medication DUI
The good news is that California law doesn’t have a set limit for how much of a drug can be in a driver’s system to qualify as impaired. It’s not like being arrested for an alcohol DUI because your BAC was over .08%. That means that it’s possible that you weren’t impaired while driving at all – the police officer who arrested you just falsely concluded that you were. There are many other ways to avoid a conviction in a pain medication DUI case that may apply, depending on your exact circumstances.
Get personalized help
You’re welcome to schedule a free personalized case evaluation with Attorney Chambers today. He’ll go over all the salient details of your case, offer his highly qualified legal advice, and answer any questions you might have. He’ll also start devising a legal strategy to achieve the most favorable possible outcome in your case – whether that’s dismissal, preventing jail time, lessening fines, or other ideal results.
You can trust Attorney Chambers to fight for your rights and best interests throughout your pain medication DUI case in Southern California. Get started today by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or using the chat box below.
