scared to death in oklahoma

[shai6]

What is the name of your state? oklahoma

I had been at my parents house which is about 30 minutes away from where i live. I left to go home around 11:00pm, got home took my prescribed sleeping pill very shortly after i got there, because I had plans to go to the bedlam game the next morning with a friend. Anyway around 3:00am, I had a couple of friends call and needed a designated driver, i got up and proceeded to go pick them up, mind you, my driving is not perfect, but i went a little left of center, got pulled over, and was asked if i had been drinking, replied no, was very tired. So the officer allowed i had slurred speech, unsteady on my feet, slow lethargic movements, but i did allow i had taken my sleeping pill earlier. He ask me if i would take a blood test, which i refused, being very scared of needles, and have never been stopped and had this happen before, not knowing what to do. Anyway i was arresed and put in the drunk tank, not allowed a phone call, and my license was taken. What can i do in this case. I'm not the most energetic person during the day, let alone at 3:am. I have court in a day or so, should i plead not guilty and retain a lawyer?

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by shai6

What is the name of your state? oklahoma

I had been at my parents house which is about 30 minutes away from where i live. I left to go home around 11:00pm, got home took my prescribed sleeping pill very shortly after i got there, because I had plans to go to the bedlam game the next morning with a friend. Anyway around 3:00am, I had a couple of friends call and needed a designated driver, i got up and proceeded to go pick them up, mind you, my driving is not perfect, but i went a little left of center, got pulled over, and was asked if i had been drinking, replied no, was very tired. So the officer allowed i had slurred speech, unsteady on my feet, slow lethargic movements, but i did allow i had taken my sleeping pill earlier. He ask me if i would take a blood test, which i refused, being very scared of needles, and have never been stopped and had this happen before, not knowing what to do. Anyway i was arresed and put in the drunk tank, not allowed a phone call, and my license was taken. What can i do in this case. I'm not the most energetic person during the day, let alone at 3:am. I have court in a day or so, should i plead not guilty and retain a lawyer?

**A: you need a lawyer.

[stephenk]

next time your drunk friends call for a ride have them get a taxi.

How did they get home that night since you were not able to reach them?

[zippysgoddess]

You can get charged with a DUI, which is driving under the influence, for prescription drugs, just as easily as you can for illegal drugs, or alchol.

I am betting your sleeping pills even came with a warning not to drive, operate heavy machinery, or to use before performing tasks that require alertness.

So in that respect, you are guilty, because you were driving under the influence, just because it was prescribed by your doc, or even if you had taken something over the counter, doesn't make a difference.

Definitely retain a lawyer, and provide the necessary information from your doctor relating to your prescription. While driving after taking it was not proper, you might get off easier if they know you hadn't planned on it, and were trying to help drunken friends. Doubtful, but possible.

I do not think pleading innocent will get you very far. A prescription drug like that can make you just as dangerous behind the wheel, as someone would be who had taken illegal drugs, or drank alcohol.