You know that it is illegal to drive after you’ve been drinking alcohol. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over the legal limit, you could face charges. It is even possible to be arrested for drunk driving if you’re under the legal limit, if the officer believes that you were impaired.
However, say that you find yourself in an emergency situation. A friend has been injured and you want to take them to the hospital. But you’ve already consumed a number of alcoholic drinks. Could you use that emergency as an excuse and drive anyway?
It is still a violation of the law
In short, no, you cannot drink and drive in an emergency. Ohio law explicitly states that no one can operate a motor vehicle if they are under the influence of alcohol or other substances – such as prescription medications or illegal drugs. There are no exceptions listed. If a police officer pulls you over, they could still arrest you, even if you insist that you’re just trying to help your friend.
So what should you do?
In a situation like this, the best option would be to contact the authorities and have an ambulance dispatched. Medical professionals can then assist your friend and transport them to the hospital. Doing it this way means that you face no chance of a drunk driving arrest or of being involved in a car accident.
That being said, people often just react in the moment and do not think through the full ramifications. If you have been arrested on drunk driving charges, knowing how much of an impact they can have on your future, you need to learn about all of your legal defense options.