Compassionate And Accessible Legal Advocacy For Alabama

You can get a DUI without drinking

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2025 | CRIMINAL LAW - Drunk Driving

It is true that the majority of DUI arrests involve alcohol. Drivers can be arrested whenever they are impaired by alcohol consumption. This typically means they are over the legal limit, but not always. For example, an impaired driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.07% could still be charged with DUI if their impairment is evident.

However, drivers should remember that they don’t necessarily have to drink alcohol to be charged with DUI. Blowing a 0.00% on a breath test does not automatically mean you won’t face charges. You could still be impaired by other substances.

Illegal drugs

Impairment can result from any type of drug use. Perhaps you’ve been using marijuana or experimenting with other illegal substances. If law enforcement can show that these substances impaired your driving, you could still face DUI charges.

Unlike alcohol, it can be more difficult for police to test for these drugs and prove that they were affecting you at the time of the stop. Some drugs remain in a person’s system for days or even months, showing up on tests even though their impairing effects last only a few hours.

Legal drugs

Beyond illegal substances, many legal drugs, such as prescription medications, can also lead to impaired driving charges. Always read the instructions before taking any medication. If they warn against operating heavy machinery, that includes driving a car.

Many medications cause side effects such as confusion, excessive fatigue or dizziness. Even if you have a valid prescription, you could still be violating impaired driving laws if the medication affects your ability to drive safely.

If you are facing DUI charges, take the time to carefully explore your options. Having experienced legal guidance will help.