North Pinal AZ Prescription Drugs DUI

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that you could also be charged with DUI because of prescription drugs? It could be absurd that my cousin was arrested for DUI here in North Pinal, Arizona because of his probable prescription drug abuse. All along, I thought that a person can only be charged with DUI if he was caught drunk driving.

Wade

North Pinal, AZ

DUI does not necessarily apply to drinking and driving. DUI means driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and by saying drugs, it includes prescription medications as well. The probable reason why your cousin was stopped for DUI in North Pinal, Arizona is because the prescription drug that he has taken caused him drowsiness, dizziness or even mental confusion.

Most of the prescription drugs that can affect our driving should have a warning on the label that states not to operate heavy machinery. In Arizona, a person can be charged with a DUI if his/her driving is impaired due to prescription medication. If a police officer has observed a person driving erratically, they may ask him/her to take a blood or urine test to rule out the presence of alcohol or drugs in the system. But if the person do test positive for a prescribed drug, he/she can be charged with a DUI. But these tests do not determine if the driving was affected solely from the medication. The officer only observed the person’s driving for a very short period of time and this may not have even been the reason for your cousin’s driving to be affected.

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI arrest, DUI drugs