You Don’t Need to Tell Police About Medications Never Volunteer Information
A decade ago, the number of DUI cases involving prescription medication was hardly worth remarking on. These days, those cases constitute roughly one-third of the DUI cases we see here at the Law Office of James R. Snell. Attorneys Jim Snell and Vicki Koutsogiannis recently attended a class on medication-based DUI cases at the National College for DUI Defense. They came away with a few tips on how to help citizens avoid being arrested for taking medications prescribed by a doctor. Breathalyzers may not be a perfect tool, but they offer a lot more clarity than DUI cases involving other drugs. In those cases, officers often rely on Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training to identify a driver that may be under the influence. Our attorneys have completed this training, so we can say from experience that it is far from comprehensive. Basically, it involves making an educated guess, based on behavior, on whether a driver is impaired. It’s far from hard science and leaves a lot of room for human error.
against you. Even if you are taking medications exactly as prescribed, there is no reason to tell the officer you have taken anything. Similarly, you should never leave medications in plain sight. The way our law enforcement system works encourages police to arrest now and ask questions later. We’ve had cases where somebody was arrested for medication-based DUI only to have their bloodwork come back totally clean. There are ways to defend yourself against an unjust arrest, but it’s a lot better to avoid being arrested in the first place. If you’re pulled over, be polite, but don’t answer any questions you don’t have to. Conventional wisdom states that if you’re innocent, you should have nothing to hide. The problem with this thinking is that it assumes the police will take everything you say on good faith and won’t use it against you. Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens, so use good judgment when volunteering information regarding prescription medications.
Because of the circumstantial nature of ARIDE arrests, it’s crucial that you don’t volunteer any information an officer can use
MEMEs
Zesty Zucchini Enchiladas
For a lighter take on enchiladas, go carb-free by swapping tortillas for zucchini!
INGREDIENTS
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2 teaspoons cumin
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4 large zucchini
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1 tablespoon olive oil or ghee
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2 teaspoons chili powder
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3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
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1 large onion, chopped
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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2 cups shredded cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
chicken mixture on top. Roll the zucchini “tortilla” and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all zucchini and chicken is used. 3. Cover the enchiladas with remaining sauce and sprinkle
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. 2. Use vegetable peeler to
with cheese. Bake 20 minutes, and enjoy!
thinly slice zucchini. Lay out three slices, slightly overlapping, and spoon
Adapted from delish.com.
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