A middle school student is dead after a car accident that also critically injured three other middle school-aged boys. None of the boys were wearing a seatbelt and all four were ejected from the vehicle. The father of the deceased, the person driving the vehicle, was arrested at the scene and is under investigation for vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault. Further, there is evidence to suggest that the driver was “under the influence of prescription medication at the time of the crash.”

Washington Prescription Medication DUI Laws

Even if you have a valid prescription for a drug that you have consumed, you can still be arrested for a DUI in Washington. In Washington, “A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state:

• And the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood; or
• The person has, within two hours after driving, a THC concentration of 5.00 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's blood; or
• While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug; or
• While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor, marijuana, and any drug.”

The law states that the word "drugs," shall include but not be limited to those drugs and substances regulated by the state law chapters pertaining to prescription drugs and drugs which fall under the purview of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, “and any chemical inhaled or ingested for its intoxicating or hallucinatory effects.”

All-in-all, the use of any type of drug, whether it be prescriptive, illegal, or over the counter in nature, that has been shown to cause side effects and may impair a person's ability to operate a vehicle may result in a DUI charge.

Penalties of a Prescription Drug DUI in Seattle

Prescription medication DUIs can be particularly tricky because they can happen even if the person was taking the drug as prescribed by a doctor and impairment from drugs such as these can be very difficult to prove. That being said, penalties resulting from prescription drug DUIs often carry the same weight as other criminal DUI charges. A person with no prior DUI offenses can still face nearly a year in jail, with fines up to $5,000 and a 90-day suspension of their driver's license.

Due to the complex nature of a prescription drug DUI, you need a lawyer with expertise in fighting DUI charges. Steve Karimi has the skills and expertise to get you the best possible results. If you have been arrested for a prescription drug DUI in the Seattle area, you need legal assistance. Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today for a free consultation with a top rated Seattle DUI attorney.