SPOKANE, Wash. – A new state law in Washington is changing how DUI blood tests are conducted. Drivers pulled over for a DUI won’t need to go to the hospital for a blood draw. Instead, the procedure will be carried out by a police officer.
This change allows officers to draw blood at various locations such as patrol cars, blood drawing stations at the jail or at a police station. Officers still need to obtain a warrant before performing the blood draw. Refusing to comply could result in an additional charge.
Police emphasize the importance of this new tool in reducing DUI incidents. One Spokane Police officer noted that most DUI cases they encounter are related to cannabis rather than alcohol.
Officers underwent three days of training and will only draw blood from the arm. However, concerns have been raised by a lawyer about officers, rather than medical staff, performing the procedure.
The process for delivering blood samples for testing involves a strict chain of command. This ensures that the integrity of the samples is maintained throughout the process.
