OVI and Prescription Drugs Lawyer in Steubenville

According to a report from the Center for Disease Control, 44% of Americans currently take at least one prescription drug. However, many individuals fail to realize that the side effects of their medications can strongly resemble alcohol intoxication. If a police officer pulls you over assuming you are drunk, you could suddenly find yourself facing serious trouble with the law.

Understanding Side Effects and Impairment

Several common side effects of prescription drugs actively mimic drunkenness, including foggy thinking, confusion, extreme sleepiness, drowsiness, severely slow reflexes, and dilated pupils. These symptoms directly impact your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Consequently, a police officer who stops you can make a lawful arrest if they believe your behavior is caused by a prescription medication. Law enforcement officers actively patrol to keep citizens safe, and they won’t hesitate to arrest impaired drivers, regardless of the underlying cause. A dedicated Steubenville criminal lawyer knows exactly how quickly these misunderstandings can happen to innocent drivers.

Chemical Testing and License Suspensions in Ohio

If you are pulled over on suspicion of driving while impaired in Jefferson County, Ohio, the officer might ask you to submit to chemical testing of your blood, urine, or breath. These tests are imperfect and could falsely indicate that you are impaired. While you possess the right to refuse chemical testing, it is never recommended. Refusing the test automatically causes you to lose your driver’s license for up to a year. This action by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is formally called an Administrative License Suspension (ALS). Each subsequent refusal generally adds another full year of suspension to your record. Consulting a Steubenville OVI attorney is crucial if you are facing these harsh administrative penalties.

Common Prescription Drugs Leading to Arrests

Prescription medications are explicitly authorized by a doctor to treat specific medical conditions or to ease debilitating symptoms. Unfortunately, some of these drugs cause severe side effects like slurred speech, sleepiness, and slow reflexes. Below is a list of these common drugs:

• Methadone
• Demerol
• Klonopin
• Adderall
• Hydrocodone
• Xanax
• Ritalin
• Ambien
• Codeine
• Oxycodone
• Oxycontin
• Ativan
• Vicodin
• Valium
• Morphine
• Norco
• Percocet
• Lunesta
• Lortab
• Lorcet

These drugs arrive with pharmacy paperwork listing all potential side effects and warning you to avoid driving until you fully understand how your body reacts. Your absolute best bet is to read these information sheets and heed the warnings. If a misunderstanding occurs and you are arrested, a Steubenville criminal lawyer can step in to aggressively protect your rights.

Ohio OVI Penalties

An OVI resulting from prescription drug use carries the exact same penalties as an alcohol-related OVI. You could face a mandatory jail sentence ranging from three days to six months, a fine between $370 and $1,075, and a suspended license lasting from six months to three years ON TOP OF any ALS received upon arrest. Furthermore, there is absolutely no eligibility for limited driving privileges for 15 to 30 days after the crime was committed.

Defenses Against Prescription OVI Charges

Fortunately, Ohio law clearly provides specific ways to beat prescription-related OVI charges. One valid legal defense is a lack of evidence. Without a chemical test result—either because the officer didn’t test you or you lawfully refused—there simply isn’t enough evidence for a conviction, and the judge may dismiss your case entirely.

Additionally, you cannot be convicted of an OVI if two strict conditions apply:

• The medication was formally prescribed to you by a licensed health care provider legally authorized to prescribe drugs.
• You took the drug via injection, ingestion, or inhalation exactly as instructed by that licensed health care provider.

It is incredibly difficult for a prosecutor to successfully argue that a valid, properly taken medication unlawfully impaired you. Youngstown Criminal Law Group intimately understands how your necessary medical treatments can lead to unexpected trouble. To speak with a knowledgeable Steubenville OVI attorney about your case, contact us today at (330) 791-8104.