Modern pharmaceutical science has provided civilization with significant help across all areas of health care needs. From mood stabilization to chronic pain relief, much of society relies on a vast number of different prescription drugs. While these can help improve our quality of life, many prescriptions come with warning labels that are ignored by the people they help.
If you are prescribed medication and you are wondering whether you can be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) for operating your vehicle while on it, the answer is a resounding yes.
You may strictly associate DUIs with alcohol and the federally enforced blood alcohol limit of .08. But, in truth, anything that may impair your driving can lead to a DUI charge. After all, the crime is not driving under the influence of alcohol but simply driving under the influence. Pennsylvania police officers make a point to be on the lookout for all kinds of toxic influence which may impair the driver’s cognitive functions.
How prescription drugs can affect your driving
Odds are that your prescription drug has the potential to affect you in the following ways:
- Blurry vision or dizziness
- Failure to focus
- Impaired movement speeds
- Nausea
- Fatigue or drowsiness
To better understand the ways your prescription drug can impact your ability to operate a vehicle, speak with your doctor or an otherwise qualified medical professional. Depending on your criminal history, penalties for a DUI range from the implementation of an ignition interlock system and heavy fines to several months of jail time and revocation of license.
