Taking your daily medicine exactly as your doctor ordered seems safe. However, driving after taking certain prescription drugs can cause serious legal trouble in Kentucky. If a drug slows your reaction time or impairs your judgment, police can charge you with driving under the influence even if you did not drink alcohol.
How Kentucky law handles prescription drug DUIs
Kentucky law forbids you from driving while under the influence of any substance that impairs your ability to drive. This broad rule includes legally prescribed medications. However, the law draws an important distinction. If you took a listed controlled substance – such as oxycodone, hydrocodone or alprazolam – under a valid prescription, a court may rule certain blood test results inadmissible.
Even without blood tests, prosecutors can still use officer observations and field sobriety tests to build a case against you. A first DUI conviction can cost you $200 to $500 in fines, up to 30 days in jail or both. A fourth conviction within 10 years becomes a Class D felony.
Challenging a Prescription Medication DUI Charge
Challenging this type of charge typically involves a close examination of the circumstances surrounding your arrest and the testing procedures used. Since standard breathalyzers do not detect prescription medications, police often rely on blood tests and physical field sobriety assessments.
With the help of an attorney experienced in Kentucky DUI cases, you might challenge the accuracy of a blood test or show that an underlying health issue caused poor physical balance. Dashcam video can also show whether the officer lacked a valid reason to pull your vehicle over in the first place.