When people hear the term DWI, they usually think about someone who has had a few too many drinks and made the mistake of getting behind the wheel. But here’s something that might surprise you: even if you’re only taking prescription medication — legally, as directed by your doctor — you can still end up facing serious DWI charges.
You may not have been aware that taking prescription drugs can result in serious legal consequences if they affect driving performance. Understanding how Texas law applies to prescription medications and DWI can help you avoid unexpected legal trouble.
How can prescription drugs lead to a DWI?
State law defines intoxicated a little differently than most folks expect. It’s not just about alcohol or illegal drugs. Law enforcement officials can conclude that you’re intoxicated if they notice that your normal bodily and mental functions have been compromised.
Medications like Xanax, Ambien, Vicodin or even strong allergy medicines like Benadryl can affect your alertness, reaction time and judgment. Even if you feel fine after taking your meds, if an officer thinks you’re driving impaired, you could be arrested and charged with DWI.
How do officers know you’re impaired?
Unlike alcohol, there’s no quick breathalyzer test for prescription drugs. So, police officers have to rely on what they see. If you’re swerving, driving too slow, running red lights or seeming confused or drowsy during a traffic stop, that will raise red flags.
But here’s the catch: just because a drug shows up in your system doesn’t automatically prove you were too impaired to drive. That’s often a big part of the legal battle later on.
Prescription medications might be legal, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe for driving. In the Lone Star State, if a drug affects your ability to operate a car safely, it can land you in the same hot water as someone driving drunk. If you find yourself facing a DWI because of prescription meds, you should consider enlisting legal guidance at your earliest convenience to explore possible defense strategies.