When a police officer stops you at a DUI checkpoint in Connecticut, it means that they have probable cause to believe that you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you take prescription medications, it is important to know how these can affect your ability to drive.
Driving while taking medications
Prescription drugs can affect your ability to drive in a number of ways. They can impair your judgment, reaction time and motor skills. For example, painkillers can make you drowsy and unable to focus on the road. Anti-anxiety medications can make you dizzy and slow to react to hazards. Stimulants can make you feel more awake but can also cause paranoia, erratic behavior and anxiety.
If you’re not careful, these side effects can lead to crashes and injuries. That’s why it’s important to know how your medications will affect you before you get behind the wheel.
What to do during a DUI stop
If you’re stopped for driving under the influence and you’ve been taking prescription drugs, the first thing you should do is stay calm. Don’t try to talk your way out of the situation or argue with the officer. Just cooperate and follow their instructions. It is possible that the officer will let you go if they determine that your impairment is not severe.
If you are arrested, however, you will be taken to the police station and asked to take a chemical test. This test can detect the presence of drugs in your system, even if you’re taking them as directed. If the test shows that you’re impaired, you may get charged with DUI.
It’s important to remember that you should never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, even if they are prescription medications. If you aren’t sure how a new medicine will affect you, plan to stay home the first time that you take it; this way, you can keep yourself and other motorists safe.
