DEARBORN — On August 13, the Dearborn City Council approved an amendment to its drunk and impaired driving ordinance, to bring the City in compliance with a statewide law. Drivers in Dearborn can now be arrested for “driving under the influence of intoxicating substances.”

An individual may risk arrest or prosecution if they ignore the prescription warnings that say it may not be safe to operate a vehicle, after taking a particular medication, which has an effect on one’s driving. Other examples that would merit prosecution, include taking more than the recommended dosage and then driving, or mixing prescription drugs with alcohol and other drugs and then driving. 

Governor Rick Snyder signed Public Act 543 in January. The law explains the legal definition of drugs and drugged driving, but many have criticized the law for being too broad and unspecific. 

This could mean that drivers can now be stopped and arrested for using dozens of common and uncommon herbs, such as ginseng, magnesium, melatonin or chamomile, and other herbs used as “home remedies.”

However, Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad says that officers would exercise “common sense” when conducting a traffic stop. The department has trained their officers to pick up on clear signs that a driver under the influence of a substance would exhibit. 

The ordinance amendment goes into effect immediately