Can You Get a DUI for Using Prescription Drugs?

Written by Timothy Czekaj

Driving under the influence (DUI) is typically associated with alcohol or illegal drug use. However, many people don’t realize that you can also be charged with a DUI for using prescription drugs. Whether you’re following your doctor’s orders or not, certain medications can impair your ability to drive safely, leading to serious legal consequences. Understanding how Pennsylvania DUI laws apply to prescription drugs is essential for anyone taking medications and getting behind the wheel.

Definition of DUI Under Pennsylvania Law

In Pennsylvania, DUI laws are designed to keep roads safe by penalizing drivers who operate vehicles while impaired. The legal definition of DUI extends beyond alcohol intoxication. It includes impairment caused by any substance that affects a person’s ability to drive safely.

This broad definition encompasses both illegal substances and legal ones, including prescription medications. The law only cares about whether the drug impaired your ability to drive. Whether the drug is over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor doesn’t change how the law views impairment.

How Prescription Drugs Can Impair Driving

Many prescription medications come with warnings about driving or operating heavy machinery, and for good reason. Drugs like painkillers, sedatives, and certain antidepressants can impair reaction time, judgment, and coordination.

Even medications designed to improve your health can slow your reflexes or make you drowsy, turning a routine drive into a dangerous one. These effects can be just as dangerous as alcohol intoxication when it comes to operating a vehicle. Some people may not notice the effects until it’s too late, making it crucial to understand how your medication affects you.

Common Prescription Drugs Linked to DUI Charges

Many common prescription medications can affect driving ability. These include:

• Opioid pain relievers (e.g., OxyContin, Vicodin)
• Anti-anxiety medications (e.g., Xanax, Valium)
• Sleep aids (e.g., Ambien, Lunesta)
• Muscle relaxants
• Some antidepressants
• Certain antihistamines

These and other medications are frequently linked to DUI arrests.

Can You Be Arrested for DUI If You Have a Valid Prescription?

A valid prescription doesn’t offer immunity from DUI charges. While many believe that following a doctor’s orders protects them legally, the reality is different.

Having a prescription simply means you can legally possess and use the medication—it doesn’t mean you can drive while impaired by it. If a law enforcement officer believes your driving is unsafe due to medication, you can still be arrested, even if you were taking the drug exactly as prescribed.

Penalties for Prescription Drug DUIs in Pennsylvania

The penalties for a prescription drug DUI are similar to those for alcohol-related DUIs. If convicted, you could face fines, license suspension, mandatory DUI classes, and even jail time.

The severity of the penalty often depends on whether it’s your first offense or if you have prior convictions. Prescription drug DUIs can carry significant consequences, and the courts take them just as seriously as other types of impaired driving.

How to Defend Against Prescription Drug DUI Charges

If you’ve been charged with a DUI involving prescription drugs, a skilled criminal defense attorney can build a defense based on the specific circumstances of your case. Some potential defenses include:

Lack of Impairment

One of the most effective defenses is demonstrating that, although you had prescription drugs in your system, you were not actually impaired while driving. An attorney might argue that, even though the drug was present in your body, it didn’t impact your reaction time, coordination, or judgment to the extent that it impaired your driving.

This defense can be supported by witness testimony, dashcam footage, or even medical expert testimony, all showing that you were driving safely and within legal limits despite having the medication in your system.

Improper Field Sobriety Tests

Standardized field sobriety tests (FSTs) are commonly used by police officers to assess whether a driver is impaired. However, these tests are primarily designed to detect alcohol impairment, not the effects of prescription drugs.

An attorney can argue that the results of field sobriety tests are unreliable in your case, especially if the police officer didn’t take your medical condition into account or failed to properly administer the test.

Unlawful Traffic Stop

Police officers need reasonable suspicion that a crime, such as impaired driving, is taking place to legally stop a vehicle. If the officer pulled you over without valid reason—such as for a minor traffic violation that didn’t suggest impairment—the stop could be deemed unlawful, and any evidence obtained afterward (such as field sobriety tests or drug tests) might be suppressed.

An experienced attorney can review the details of the traffic stop to determine if the officer had a legitimate reason to pull you over in the first place. If not, the charges could potentially be dropped due to the lack of probable cause.

Failure to Follow Proper Procedure

Police officers are required to follow strict procedures when conducting a DUI investigation. If the officer failed to read you your Miranda rights, mishandled your drug test, or didn’t properly document the arrest, these procedural errors could provide grounds for a defense.

For example, if there’s a gap in the chain of custody for your drug test sample, it could cast doubt on whether the sample was properly handled, which may lead to the test results being thrown out of court.

Charged with a DUI for Using Prescription Drugs? Call Czekaj Law Today

If you’re facing DUI charges due to prescription drug use in Pennsylvania, don’t navigate the legal system alone. At Czekaj Law LLC, our experienced DUI attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and are ready to fight for your rights. We will carefully review the evidence, explore all possible defenses, and work to get the best possible outcome for your case.

Call 717-275-9770 or contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.