Defending DUI Cases Involving Prescription Medications in Tennessee

When most people think of DUI charges, they picture a driver who’s had too much alcohol or used illegal drugs. However, Tennessee DUI laws don’t just apply to alcohol or street drugs—they also cover drivers impaired by legally prescribed medications. If you’ve been charged with DUI while taking prescription medication, it’s important to know your rights and the complexities involved in defending such a case.

Understanding Tennessee DUI Laws

In Tennessee, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of any intoxicant, whether it’s alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-401, a driver is considered to be driving under the influence if they are impaired to the extent that they cannot safely operate their vehicle. This means that even if the substance in your system was prescribed by a doctor, you can still face DUI charges if it affects your ability to drive.

Prescription Medications and Impairment

Prescription medications like painkillers (opioids), benzodiazepines (for anxiety), sleep aids, and even certain over-the-counter drugs can impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. The issue isn’t whether the medication is legal, but whether it impairs your mental or physical faculties.

There’s no specific limit, like a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for alcohol, for most prescription medications. Instead, law enforcement officers rely on their observations, field sobriety tests, and sometimes blood or urine tests to determine impairment. However, proving that someone was actually impaired by a prescription drug at the time of arrest can be much more difficult than it is in alcohol-related DUI cases.

Challenges in Proving Impairment

One of the key challenges in DUI cases involving prescription medications is proving actual impairment. Unlike alcohol, where breathalyzers can easily show intoxication above a legal limit, prescription drug cases are often based on subjective evidence like:

• Field Sobriety Tests: Officers may ask drivers to perform tests like walking in a straight line or balancing on one foot. However, these tests are often designed for alcohol impairment and may not be accurate in prescription drug cases, particularly if the person has medical conditions.
  

• Officer Observations: In many cases, officers rely on signs like slurred speech, drowsiness, or confusion to determine impairment. These symptoms can be caused by a range of factors, including the driver’s medical condition or the side effects of their medication.
  

• Blood or Urine Tests: While these tests can confirm the presence of a drug in your system, they don’t always indicate when the drug was taken or whether it caused impairment at the time of driving.
  

Given these factors, DUI cases involving prescription drugs are often more complex than traditional DUI cases.

Recent Trends in Tennessee Case Law on Prescription Medication DUIs

Over the past few years, Tennessee courts have faced an increasing number of DUI cases involving prescription medications. These cases highlight the challenges in defining impairment and have led to some notable developments in case law.

1. Shifting Burden of Proof on Impairment: Recent decisions in Tennessee have emphasized the prosecution’s burden to prove not just the presence of medication, but that the medication directly impaired the driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. For instance, some courts have ruled that the presence of a prescription drug in the defendant’s system was not enough to secure a conviction. The prosecution had to show clear evidence that the medication impaired the defendant’s faculties at the time of driving.
   

2. Use of Medical Experts: In several recent cases, the defense has successfully challenged DUI charges by introducing expert testimony to explain how the medication affects the individual. For instance, courts have accepted testimony from a pharmacologist who testified that the prescribed dosage of the medication would not have caused significant impairment in a person of the defendant’s weight and tolerance.
   

3. Field Sobriety Test Challenges: A growing trend in Tennessee case law is the successful challenge of field sobriety tests in prescription DUI cases. Courts have begun questioning the reliability of these tests, especially for drivers with medical conditions or those under the influence of medications that do not affect coordination in the same way alcohol does. For example, defense attorneys have argued that the defendant’s poor performance on a sobriety test was due to their chronic pain condition, not impairment from the prescribed medication.
   

4. Case Law on Drug Recognition Experts (DREs): Tennessee courts are also seeing challenges to the qualifications of Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). In some cases, the defense has argued that these officers lack the medical expertise needed to accurately assess impairment from prescription medications. Recent rulings have shown that courts are willing to scrutinize the testimony of DREs more closely, especially if the defense can introduce more qualified medical experts to dispute their findings.
   

These trends suggest that Tennessee courts are becoming more open to complex defenses in DUI cases involving prescription medications, particularly when there is expert testimony or scientific evidence that challenges the prosecution’s claims of impairment.

Defenses in Prescription Medication DUI Cases

If you’re facing DUI charges in Tennessee for driving while on prescription medication, there are several potential defenses to consider:

1. No Actual Impairment: One of the most common defenses is arguing that, while you had medication in your system, you were not actually impaired at the time of driving. You may have been taking the medication as prescribed without any side effects or impairments.
   

2. Challenging Field Sobriety Tests: Many prescription medications, or even underlying health conditions, can affect your ability to perform field sobriety tests. For example, a driver on anti-anxiety medication may appear sluggish, but that doesn’t mean they are too impaired to drive safely.
   

3. Improper Officer Training: Tennessee law enforcement officers are trained to detect alcohol impairment, but they may not have the same level of expertise in recognizing the effects of prescription drugs. A defense attorney can challenge the officer’s qualifications and ability to accurately identify prescription drug impairment.
   

4. Medical Necessity: In some cases, you may argue that you were legally prescribed the medication and were unaware of the potential for impairment. Additionally, if you were driving due to a medical emergency or necessity, that might be considered a mitigating factor.
   

5. Invalid or Inconclusive Testing: Blood or urine tests that show the presence of drugs don’t necessarily prove that the driver was impaired at the time of the incident. For example, some medications can stay in your system for days or even weeks after use, long after their impairing effects have worn off.
   

Penalties for Prescription Medication DUIs in Tennessee

The penalties for a DUI conviction in Tennessee are the same whether the impairment was caused by alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications. A first-time offense can result in:

• 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail (a minimum of seven days if BAC was 0.15% or higher).
  

• Fines ranging from $350 to $1,500.
  

• License suspension for one year.
  

• Mandatory DUI school.
  

• Potential installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID).
  

Subsequent offenses carry increasingly severe penalties, including longer jail time, higher fines, and longer license suspensions.

The Importance of Experienced Legal Representation

If you’ve been charged with a DUI while taking prescription medication, it’s critical to work with an experienced DUI attorney. Prescription medication DUIs are complex because the evidence is often subjective, and it can be difficult to prove actual impairment. At Patriot Law, I understand the nuances of defending prescription drug DUI cases in Tennessee and will work tirelessly to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and protect your rights.

We know that medications can be necessary for your health and that following your doctor’s orders shouldn’t lead to harsh penalties. Let us guide you through the legal process and help you build a strong defense.

Conclusion

Facing DUI charges involving prescription medications can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when you believe you were driving safely and following your doctor’s orders. Understanding your legal options is key to defending against these charges, and with the right defense strategy, you can avoid severe penalties. Contact Patriot Law today to discuss your case and get the help you need.