In the state of Arizona there's been a significant increase in prescription drug related DUI arrests within the past several years. The Arizona Republic reports that it's not all that uncommon for law enforcement officers to arrest an individual for DUI when it comes to impairment through anxiety relievers, sleep aids, and anti-depressants.
"There are times when there is actually a debate. When you advise that they're under arrest for DUI, they don't understand. They explain, 'I wasn't drinking,'" Sgt. Ed Wessing, a drug-recognition expert with the Mesa Police Department, told the Arizona Republic.
Many people in Arizona are unaware that a person can be convicted of a DUI for being under the influence of any drug; including medication that has been prescribed by a doctor. In 1999, the Arizona Department of Public Safety encountered approximately 4,400 drug-related DUI cases, but last year the department saw 14,700 drug-related DUI cases. That's more than a 230 percent increase!
And when it comes to driving under the influence of prescription drugs, offenders may receive the same sentence as those who have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. FindLaw states that most first-time DUI offenders are sentenced to driver's license revocation, mandatory alcohol education and treatment, probation, the installment of an ignition interlock, and possibly jail time. A skilled DUI attorney can usually assess a case and come up with a good defense strategy for drug related DUIs. For questions about fighting a particular prescription drug related DUI charge, contact an experienced Arizona DUI attorney.
Related Resources:
- DUI: It's Not Only About Drinking and Driving (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
- Highway Drug Arrests in Arizona (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
- See a Phoenix DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
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