You’ve always wanted to avoid getting a DUI, and it’s been fairly easy for you. You usually only drink when you’re at your house, and you set up drivers to get you home on the rare occasions when you drink somewhere else. For instance, maybe you use a ride-sharing service on New Year’s Eve or on your birthday. You always prioritize staying safe and obeying the law.
But is it possible to get a DUI without drinking any alcohol? Should you be worried about this happening to you?
There are a few ways it could happen
It is possible to get a DUI without consuming alcohol at all. The first way that this could happen is if you are the victim of a false arrest. Maybe you failed a field sobriety test because you were very tired, the officer took that as you being impaired by alcohol, and they decided to bring you in even though you protested your innocence. This does happen from time to time.
More commonly, though, people get DUIs for impairment through other means. For instance, if you use any type of recreational drug, those can also lead to DUI charges. If you are on certain types of prescription medications, the instructions may tell you that you’re never allowed to drive a vehicle while you are taking them. If you do so, even though you’re not breaking the law by using the medication, you could still face charges for impaired driving.
No matter why you end up facing these types of charges, just make sure that you understand all of the legal options you have for your defense. Experienced guidance can help.