There are many situations in which a person’s drink could be tampered with. For example, if you even turn your back for a second at a local bar, someone could slip Rohypnol or other drugs into your drink. If you’re out with friends, someone might think they’re being funny by slipping a sleeping aid into your drink.
These situations come up fairly often, and they are dangerous on their own. What’s worse is when the person who has been drugged leaves the area they’re in and gets into their vehicle. While they’re escaping one potentially dangerous situation, they’re entering directly into another one.
A driver who does not know that they’ve been drugged may start out feeling fine on a drive home only to find that they start developing signs of impairment. Some symptoms of being drugged may include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Passing out/going unconscious
- Feeling hot
- Blackouts
- Feeling detached
All of these symptoms can lead drivers to make significant mistakes on the road. They might miss a stop sign or drive through a red light. They could go out of their lane or even end up in a minor fender bender or more serious crash.
What does an officer do if they think that you’re driving while impaired?
If a police officer sees you, the first thought they have will be about your safety, but they may also believe that you’re driving while intoxicated. If you’ve had alcohol, this could complicate the situation. The officer may ask if you’ve been drinking and give you a Breathalyzer test. They may also ask you to take field sobriety tests to see if you are impaired.
Many police officers have been trained to look for signs of impairment and drugs, but the signs of being drugged can overlap with the signs of being impaired by alcohol. As a result, there is a chance that you could be arrested and taken to the police station. If you feel unlike yourself and know you didn’t drink too much, ask the officer to take you to the hospital.
If you are arrested, it is worth talking to an attorney. This is a complex situation, and you do have a right to defend yourself.
