A new law that goes into effect on Tuesday expands the use of mandatory blood draws and breathalyzers for individuals arrested for drunken driving, according to a press release from District Attorney Susan Reed.
According to the release, Senate Bill 328 allows authorities to draw blood without warrants for the following additional offenses: driving while intoxicated-3rd offense; driving while intoxicated with a child passenger; driving while intoxicated, where the officer “reasonably believes an individual other than the suspect suffered bodily injury and was transported to a hospital or similar facility”; driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction of DWI with a child passenger, intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter.
Prior to the new law, only people arrested for intoxication manslaughter or intoxication assault were required to give a sample of their breath or blood.
