New DUI Jersey Law prohibits drivers from operating motor vehicles under the influence of any drug, whether legal or illegal, if the driver has taken too much of that drug to drive with the caution and care of a sober person. More and more drivers are using oxycodone and driving each year as the national opioid epidemic rages on. Having a prescription is no defense. If you are arrested for driving under the influence of oxycodone in New Jersey, you may be found guilty of DUI, as well as potentially a disorderly persons or indictable offense, depending on the circumstances of your case. The following article examines the effects of taking Oxycodone, the methods of proof that the state will use in prosecuting you for driving under the influence of Oxycontin, and the penalties you may face if convicted of an Oxycodone DUI in New Jersey. To discuss your case with an experienced NJ DUI lawyer who can help, call (732) 659-9600 now.
If police respond to a traffic collision in which you were involved, find you sleeping in your vehicle, or observe you driving poorly after you have taken Oxycodone, they may conduct a DUI investigation. They will observe any objective symptoms of impairment caused by the side effects explained below. Officers will also likely ask you to submit to field sobriety tests that will determine your ability to perform a divided attention task like driving. A specialized officer known as a Drug Recognition Expert may also examine you and take vital sign readings to determine whether you are under the influence of an opioid like Oxycodone. Finally, officers may take a blood sample from you to determine the level of Oxycodone's active metabolite (or "active ingredient," in layman's terms) in your blood near the time of you driving or traffic collision. This information may all be introduced at your DUI trial to prove you were driving less safely than a sober person would have in your situation.
If you are convicted of DUI on Oxycodone in New Jersey, You will face steep fines, license suspension, and potentially jail time. Depending on any prior DUI convictions, you will lose your license for between 3 months and up to 10 years. In addition to losing your license for 3 months to 1 year for a first offense, 2 years for a second offense, and 10 years for a third or subsequent offense, you will be forced to pay a $1,000 motor vehicle surcharge each year for the next 3 years.
You may be sentenced to jail for a first offense and it is mandatory for a second or third DUI. In fact, a third DUI charge will land you in jail for 180 if convicted. Additional penalties included substance abuse classes at the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). And you may also face other consequences, such as the loss of your job due to inability to drive and skyrocketed insurance costs. Based on these extensive repercussions, it is in your best interest to consult an experienced New Jersey DUI lawyer at the earliest possible date if you are charged with or arrested for driving under the influence of Oxycodone.
Oxycodone is a pain pill. The drug is categorized as an opioid analgesic; heroin and fentanyl belong to the same general family of opioid drugs. Oxycodone has been marketed under the brand names Dazidox, Endocodone, ETH-Oxydose, OxyContin, Percolone, Roxybond, Oxydose, and other names. It typically comes in pill form, ranging in size from 5 to 30 mg.
According to the Physician's Desk Reference, Oxycodone is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone is typically only prescribed to people who have significant pain that requires round the clock relief and cannot be treated by less drastic means. It is habit-forming. In general terms, opioids like Oxycodone change the way the brain reacts to pain.
You should consult your doctor regarding specific warnings and potential risks before taking Oxycodone, but side effects can include changes in heartbeat, difficulty breathing, seizures, extreme drowsiness, lightshades, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, agitation, fever, sweating, confusion, shivering, muscle twitching, a loss of coordination, and diarrhea. These side effects can be amplified or worsened by interactions with other drugs like alcohol. As you can image, these effects can drastically reduce your reaction time and driving capabilities. You may not even be aware of how much your driving is impaired by Oxycontin until you are pulled over by police.
Arrested for DUI on Oxy in East Brunswick, NJ?
If you have been charged with DUI on oxycodone or any other pain blocking drug, you should speak with a knowledgeable attorney who can explain the process and what happens next. Our highly skilled New Jersey DUI lawyers represent clients charged with all manner of driving under the influence offenses, including drunk driving, DWI refusal, and drug DUI. With local offices in Edison, we consistently appear in courts in New Brunswick, Woobridge, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Piscataway, and throughout Middlesex County on behalf of clients arrested for these charges. If you need help with a DUI case involving oxycontin, call (732) 659-9600 now for a free consultation. A member of our team is available immediately to assist you.