Nobody wants to rack up a DUI, so most folks understand that impairment behind the wheel is never a good thing. Both alcohol and drug intoxication can lead to a DUI arrest, but it is also possible to be charged with drunken driving due to the effects of legitimate medical conditions.
Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t, because there are many examples where seriously ill motorists wind up facing charges for driving under the influence. Read on to learn more.
Which conditions are most likely to lead to an arrest?
Diabetes and the unbalanced glucose levels that accompany the malady are probably the most common culprits responsible for DUI police stops and detentions. Both low and high blood sugar levels can cause confusion in diabetic motorists that leads to erratic driving.
When a police officer initiates a traffic stop, it’s on suspicion of driver impairment. What happens in the next few minutes determines the outcome of the stop, i.e., being free to go or being placed under arrest. The person may be incoherent from illness and suffering a real medical emergency that could be unrecognized by police.
A much rarer condition
There have been documented cases of DUI arrests that arise from a rare medical condition known as auto-brewery syndrome. With this, some people’s bodies are unable to properly digest carbohydrates.
When these people eat normal diets that include carbs, they produce high numbers of yeast in the gut. After meals, instead of being processed naturally by the body, the yeast ferments and produces alcohol. Thus, for these patients, simply eating a high-carb diet induces intoxication.
Medical documentation can be pivotal in your defense
If you have either diabetes or the rarely diagnosed auto-brewery syndrome, being able to document the condition with up-to-date medical records can alter the course of your defense. Learning more about your rights and responsibilities may lead to better court outcomes.
