As the one who started this, thanks for all the input.

I would be the first to agree that if you can wait to get home to medicate. always do that. But most chronic pain users probably do know their limit before they get to feeling ' extra good' so to speak.

But we live in a new dark decade that makes the 1950's look like the old TV show 'Happy Days' when in fact, the 1950's were anything but happy days.

I did not mention that eye glasses distort pupils to a degree and a cop needs no excuse to search you and if he does find a pill bottle, it does have to be in an appropriately labled container and not one of those OTC containers. That goes in Texas and probably every state.

As far as blood tests being reliable, I have my doubts that it would hold up in court. Like one poster said that what if you refained from taking any pain pills or tranqualizers the day you went driving but did so the night before. Some drugs take days and perhaps longer to get out of your system.

I think that the law should have stuck stricly with DWI. LE and law makers probably aimed DUI at the illegal drug crowd but of course those of us that have perscriptions get pushed into the pool with them.

Lastly, I like to see this country at ground level and plan to continue to drive as long as I can. I know my limit and stick to it. But it is bad enough to live with all the other ____that goes with being a chronic pain patient but I don't plan to live chained to my home like a person under house arrest. My crime: A degenerating back at middle age.

As a kid, I was taught police were our friends. As I got older, I found out the truth. They wield almost uncecked, unlimited power with that favorite of mine 'PROBABLE CAUSE'.

It's getting to the point you have to have a lawyer on retainer to even breath. Most of us that are chronic pain patients have a hard enough time affording treatment and medications. It would be nice to be like Donald Trump and say 'Talk to my attorney'. Fact is, most of us may use an attorney at most, a handful of times for routine things like getting a divorce, wills, etc. I guess that I should be calling the attorney that helped get my social security disability and see if I can call him if I get pulled over and what would it cost. Might be cheaper to hire a full time driver or personal assistant.

I think I have created a new cottage industry with this thread. People that do nothing but run errands and drive the chronic pain patient or those suffering from severe stress around no matter how responsible or how long that patient has been taking the same medications and does know the limits and sticks with them. Think of the new jobs that could be created.