A recent United States Supreme Court ruling which hinders police officials from drawing blood from drivers suspected of DWI without a warrant may lead to protocol changes for this procedure in Longview and Gregg County, Texas.
The court chose to disregard the opposition’s argument that the rate at which alcohol metabolizes by the body justifies drawing blood without a warrant.
Gregg County District Attorney Carl Dorrough stated that Texas lawmakers in 2009 incorporated a statute to the Texas Transportation Code that enables law enforcement to perform warrant-less blood draws in certain specific situations. He added that even though the Supreme Court gave its ruling that disapproved of warrant-less blood draws three years ago, and the cases didn’t involve the state, cases have increased in which defense lawyers are using this ruling to defend their clients.
Dorrough said at least seventeen arrests from 2013 or earlier in Austin are in danger for prosecutors as those cases begin their travel in appeal courts, where judges are barring the results from blood alcohol tests because they were done without a warrant.
Getting charged with a criminal offense can affect many aspects of your life, including your career, your personal relationships, and your most basic freedoms. If you are in a situation in which you need legal help to protect your rights in a criminal offense case in Dallas or other areas in Texas, do not hesitate to get in touch with our attorneys at Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter by calling our offices today at (214) 845-7007.
