Driving Under the Influence of Prescription medication is the latest trend in charges filed in Orange County, CA. Most common, the police will arrest a driver who has taken a central nervous system depressant, even if the medication was prescribed.
A Central Nervouse System Depressant dui include alcohol, barbituates, anti-anxiety, anti-depressants, tranquilizers and numerous other prescription drugs and medications.
In order to be arrested for a DUI involving drugs, police must do the following Drug Recognition Evaluation:
- Breath alcohol test
- Interview of arresting officer
- Preliminary examination and first pulse
- Eye examinations
- Divided attention tests:
- Romberg
- Walk and turn
- One leg stand
- Finger to nose
- Vital signs and second pulse
- Dark room examinations and ingestion examination
- Check for muscle tone
- Check for injection sites and third pulse
- Interrogation, statements, and other observations
- Opinion of evaluator
- Toxicological examination
Central Nervouse System depressants include Carisoprodol, Soma, Benadryl, Dramamine, Dilantin and Ambien.
Anti-anxiety medications include Alprazolam, Xanax, Chlordiazepoxide, Lubrium, Clonazepam, Klonopin, Diasepam, Valium, Lorazepam, Ativan, Meprobramate, Restoril.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for a DUI involving prescription medication in Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach or Orange County, contact DUI Lawyer Scott D. Hughes for your free consultation.