County Attorney Attends Drugged Driving Seminar

County Attorney J.B. Hines

by Edmonson Voice Staff

County Attorney J.B. Hines addressed the fiscal court on Monday, June 9th, and gave an update of several items he and his office has been working on. 

He first said that the County Attorney Traffic School that's recently been implemented has had a positive impact and child support activity was finally "in the black," meaning that enforcement numbers are increasing.

He also reported that the home incarceration program is also going well, and that he and his office were working well with Jailer Hank Vincent with the system. 

He also discussed some 6 month goals he'd set for his office and that they were being met. He said he and his staff had been working long hours in order to get everything coming together and that he has a plan in place for interning a new law student soon. 

Drugged Driving Seminar
Hines recently attended a seminar focused on drugged driving because of his concern about the risks created by drugged driving, not only to the driver, but also to passengers and others who share the road. "Drugs bought on the street and drugs prescribed by your doctor can impair a person’s ability to safely drive a motor vehicle," Hines said. "To drive a motor vehicle impaired while under the influence of drugs is illegal.  Drugged driving is just like drunk driving.”

He continued by saying: “Many folks believe that only street drugs can lead to an arrest for drugged driving.   Many prescription drugs come with warnings against the operation of machinery, which includes motor vehicles.  It is important that warnings that come on prescribed medications are given attention as the drug may impair one’s ability whether taken with or without medical supervision.  A person can get a DUI even if the drug is prescribed and taken as prescribed.”  

Hines noted that when an officer pulls a driver over for suspected driving impaired due to alcohol or drugs, or both, the driver will be subjected to field sobriety tests.  The officer is looking for signs whether the driver is has impaired faculties necessary for the safe operation of a motor vehicle. These faculties include motor skills, balance and coordination, perception, attention, reaction time, and judgment. He pointed out that even small amounts of some drugs can have a measurable effect on driving ability.

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