Georgia DUI Cough Syrup
An alcoholic beverage isn’t the only thing that can cause a driving under the influence arrest. Some cough syrups contain alcohol and can raise your blood alcohol content (BAC). The court does not care why your BAC level is over the legal limit, so they show little mercy to those who use this to treat an illness. If you are facing Georgia DUI charges after using cough syrup, you should immediately speak with an experienced defense lawyer.
If the court finds you guilty of DUI, you could be ordered to serve jail time and probation, pay fines and court costs, attend substance abuse education classes, and perform community service. Your license may also be automatically suspended unless you request a hearing with the Department of Driver Services (DDS). You will also face increased insurance costs as well as a criminal record that could affect your future.
Drivers under the age of 21 are most at risk of a Georgia DUI cough syrup charge. Because of Georgia’s Zero Tolerance laws, the legal limit for minors is .02%. Even a small amount of this substance may be enough to push an underage driver over the legal limit. The punishment for an Under 21 drunk driving includes a driver’s license suspension as well as community service.
Many other things in addition to cough syrup can affect the results of the breathalyzer test. For example, the breathalyzer machine assumes that the subject’s body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If your temperature is elevated by just 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit, your BAC result could be increased by 7%. A defense attorney who specialized in these types of cases can investigate your breathalyzer test to determine if a fever or other factors had an impact on your reading.
Avoid the risk of a Georgia DUI cough syrup charge and connect with our law firm is dedicated to helping those accused this type of charge. Please complete our form online today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
