The vast majority of impaired driving charges relate to alcohol intoxication. Most people are somewhat familiar with drunk driving rules due to driver’s education training and public awareness campaigns. People know that they can get arrested for being over the legal limit for their blood alcohol levels or if they display obvious difficulty safely controlling a vehicle.
Drugged driving can be equally dangerous. However, fewer people are familiar with the rules that apply to drugged driving cases. Unlike drunk driving allegations, drugged driving charges do not involve a legal limit that someone has to exceed. Instead, they simply need to have certain substances in their bloodstream. The following types of drugs have the strongest association with drugged driving charges.
Narcotic pain relievers
A variety of different prescription medications can affect driving ability. Narcotic pain relievers, including opioids like fentanyl, are among the most dangerous. These medications affect someone’s cognition and their ability to monitor their surroundings. They can put someone at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Even when people believe they have developed a tolerance to a narcotic pain reliever, driving after taking their medication could lead to their arrest and prosecution.
Prohibited substances
South Dakota bans numerous different drugs ranging from heroin to LSD and methamphetamine. Each of those drugs has a unique impact on the human body, but all of them can create driving hazards. Motorists might become too agitated or too sleepy to drive safely. Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a prohibited drug could easily lead to charges.
Over-the-counter medication
A surprising number of people think that they can take any over-the-counter medication they want and drive afterward. However, many over-the-counter medications can affect driving capabilities. Cold, cough and flu medication can make people drowsy or leave them feeling loopy. Sleep aids could also put someone at risk of making dangerous choices or losing control of a vehicle. As a general rule, any medication that affects wakefulness, muscle control or how someone thinks could potentially lead to drugged driving charges.
Drivers accused of a drug-related driving offense may have several options available for defending against those accusations. Fighting drugged driving charges successfully can help people avoid jail, fines and the loss of their licenses.