G-Man

G-Man

Want to know more about G-Man? Get their official bio, social pages & articles!

 

Supreme Court: Officers Can Draw Blood from Unconscious DUI Suspects

DUI Law title on a book and gavel.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has decided that police officers can perform a blood test on a DUI suspect without a warrant -- providing that person is unconscious.

The ruling, issued Thursday, gives officers the legal right to draw blood from an unconscious person who's suspected of drinking or doing drugs. Otherwise, they're required to get permission -- or a warrant, if the suspect refuses.

The precedent-setting decision came about from a Wisconsin case in which a DUI suspect was tested after he'd been knocked out in a crash. Although Wisconsin law allows drawing blood from an unconscious motorist, the man's lawyer argued it violates the Fourth Amendment, which protections citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. The court didn't agree.

Is the Supreme Court's ruling reasonable? What could be a downside to this new rule?

Photos: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content