Criminal Defense Attorney Frank Lannom

Driving While Impaired

The common procedure for DUI questioning and arrest involves the question “Have you taken a drug prior to driving?”. Given the widespread use of anti-depressants, many drivers will volunteer the use of commonly prescribed drugs such as Paxil, Zoloft, and Lexapro. Charging officers and Prosecutors will then try to use this admission to bring enhanced DUI charges against a citizen who was taking a legally prescribed drug and may have well been under the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol content.

Does Using Anti-Depressants Make Me An Unsafe Driver?

Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that drivers taking legally prescribed anti-depressants had a decreased crash risk of 14%. This finding shows a decrease in accidents – not an increase. In short, driving is improved with the use of anti-depressants. Very often. the small use of alcohol is often used by police and prosecutors to combine with any drugs, including anti-depressants, to assert even an alcohol level below the legal limit is enhanced by “drugs”. This continues despite the government’s own testing shows that this is not the case and there is no enhancement of the effects of alcohol by prescribed drugs.

Hire A DWI Lawyer Who Understand How to Fight For Your Innocence

In every case we believe long term use of a properly prescribed drug used as directed can improve driving and should not add to the prosecution of a Driving While Impaired case. Anti-depressants should not make you an impaired driver and when our government’s own studies prove they enhance your concentration while driving. I and my team will work out a strategy to aggressively and effectively fight your DWI/DUI charge. Our consultations are no cost and always confidential.