It is very clearly illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When considering alcohol in particular, drivers have a legal limit of 0.08%. They know that drinking more than just one or two drinks puts them in danger of crossing this line and facing serious charges. They also know that they cannot drive under the influence of illegal drugs.
That being said, impairment can come from some sources that you may not be as quick to expect. It’s important to understand that this type of impairment can still lead to an arrest.
Other types of medication can also cause impairments
The key is to be very cautious of anything that you’re putting in your body. You always want to read the labels on any type of medication that you use.
For example, many prescription medications will say that you shouldn’t operate heavy machinery after using them. This includes your car. It could also be true for over-the-counter medications. Just because you are legally allowed to use the medication doesn’t mean that you’re not impaired.
The same is true for things like cough syrup, or even mouthwash. You may not consider this the same as having an alcoholic drink, but some of these substances do still contain alcohol and could influence your ability to drive. Something like mouthwash could also cause you to fail a breath test, even if you’re not impaired.
Your defense options
If you do wind up facing serious charges, then it’s very important to know what legal options you have. A DUI can have significant ramifications, and you need to know what steps to take.