Can Prescription Medication Lead to a DWI
There are many misconceptions surrounding a charge of driving while intoxicated.
One of the common mistakes many people make when thinking about DWI is
that only someone under the influence of alcohol can be arrested.
Any driver that is under the influence of
any substance that impairs their ability to drive a car may be arrested for DWI, even if that substance is prescription medication.
While prescription medication is prescribed by a doctor to help you treat
a symptom, these drugs are still considered controlled substances, meaning
that they have a limited scope of use. They are listed as controlled substances
usually because they affect the normal function of your body in some way.
If you are taking prescription drugs and driving a vehicle, you may be
charged with DWI.
For an alcohol-related DWI, law enforcement can use your blood alcohol
content (BAC) to prove that you were intoxicated. Unfortunately, there
is no way to measure the amount of drugs that must be in a driver’s
bloodstream before they are considered to be too impaired to drive. Therefore,
police must prove that your mental or physical abilities were impaired
by taking the prescription medication.
If you have been lawfully arrested and are under the influence of medication,
you may be facing:
First DWI
- 180 days in jail
- $2,000 fine
Second DWI
- One year in jail
- $4,000 fine
Third DWI
- 10 years in prison
- $10,000 fine
In addition, a judge may decide to order you to:
- Install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle
- Serve community service
- Attend DWI school
- Suspend your license
- Ensure you have a criminal record
If you have been arrested after driving under the influence of prescription
medication in San Antonio, you need the help of a reliable DWI defense
attorney that can help you. Attorney Guillermo Lara is here to fight on
your behalf. With a scientific and data-driven background, our lawyer
examines all of the possible evidence that law enforcement may have against
you and aggressively fights to diminish or eliminate the charges against you.
DWI Defenses in Texas
Attorney Lara can help you with all types of DWI cases in Texas, including
if you need representation during an
ALR hearing or if you have been charged with
intoxication manslaughter or other serious felony DWIs. By conducting thorough investigations, and utilizing advanced forensic
technology, Attorney Lara is capable of finding the defense necessary
to help you overcome your DWI charge.
- These defenses could include:
- Officer lacked probable cause to pull you over
- Your rights were violated during the arrest
-
Field sobriety tests were inaccurate
-
Breath test was incorrectly administered
-
Blood test analysis was faulty
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a DWI?
Even for a first DWI charge, it is imperative that you work with a skilled
San Antonio DWI attorney. When you have been accused of driving while
intoxicated, you have a lot to lose and in some cases, you could only
have 15 days to take action. Not only is your license threatened, but
you may find yourself facing:
- Jail time
- Extensive fines
- Community service
- Increased insurance premiums
- Loss of your professional license
Why Attorney Guillermo Lara Jr.?
Not only has Attorney Lara built up a proven record of success, but he
possesses the additional training and technology needed to aggressively
fight his clients' DWI charges and build powerful defenses. Attorney Lara
is trained in the operation of the Intoxilyzer 5000, and his scientific
background includes research at the University of Texas Health Science
Center, where he worked with DNA analysis and genotyping.
This provides him with keen insights on the forensic process, enabling
him to successfully battle one of the trickiest issues in a DWI case: a failed
breath or blood test.
Call Guillermo Lara at (210) 787-2842 today. Retain the proven defense needed to fight your DWI charges!
