Yes, you can be arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or a DUID in Pennsylvania if you were taking medication and are found to be driving while impaired or if you are involved in an accident while on prescription medication. It does not matter if the prescription is legal or if the drug is illegal. It is still considered to be a DUID.

If a police officer sees you breaking the law for any reason, such as not signaling a turn, inadvertently running a stop sign or speeding then, you could receive a DUID instead of a simple moving violation if drugs are found in your system. 

A DUID is a serious offense. Several anti-depressants and sleeping pills can fall into the DUID category. Pennsylvania follows what is referred to as the "per se" law, which means that any drug on the List of Schedule I and Schedule II is automatically charged in the Highest Impairment Tier. It is important to remember that even if you have been arrested for a DUID, it does not automatically mean you will be convicted. 

Penalties for DUID

Driving under the influence of drugs in Pennsylvania means you may be charged at the highest level of the three-tier DUI system. 

First offense:

• Three days to 6 months incarceration
• A fine ranging from $1,000 to $5,000
• A full year driver's license suspension
• Attending alcohol highway safety school
• The court may order you to take a related treatment program

Second offense:

• 90 days to 5 years behind bars
• A fine ranging from $1,500 to $10,000
• A year and a half driver's license suspension
• Attending alcohol highway safety school
• Installation of an Ignition interlock on your vehicle for 12 months
• The court may order you to take a related treatment program

Third offense:

• One to 5 years incarcerated
• A fine ranging from $2,500 to $10,000
• A year and a half driver's license suspension
• Installation of an Ignition interlock on your vehicle for 12 months
• The court may order you to take a related treatment program

If you are facing a DUID charge, call us at Melaragno, Placidi & Parini as soon as possible. Do not wait or try to handle the matter yourself. The criminal law system is complicated and complex and one mistake while handling a charge, without the assistance of a skilled DUID attorney, can deliver disastrous results. Learn more at https://www.erieinjuryattorney.com/.