JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — People suspected of driving under the influence now have a choice: Give a breath sample or face a court order for blood.
For the past year, the state attorney’s office in Duval County has been piloting a program that allows law enforcement to get search warrants for blood.
“You have the option to refuse the breath test still, but if you do that we are going to get the evidence anyway,” said Assistant State Attorney Rich Mantei.
Every day in the city between five and 10 people are arrested for driving under the influence. The numbers are less in neighboring Clay and Nassau counties.
The practice of getting judges to sign search warrants, sometimes in the middle of the night, is presently only being done in Duval County.
“It is not 24/7 year, right now…because there’s some manpower and budget things that go into it…but it is going to become a lot more common,” said Mantei.
Since the program began about a year ago, the state attorney’s office said 20 people arrested for driving under the influence have been ordered by a judge to give a blood sample.
Although blood testing is the most accurate of chemical testing, failing a blood alcohol test does not necessarily mean there is no way around being convicted. Issues such as chain of custody, the time it took to administer the test, etc. can come into play.
If you have recently been accused of drunk driving in Jacksonville don’t lose hope! Call our Jacksonville DUI lawyers for a free consultation (either in person or on the phone):
Duval County Office
841 Prudential Drive, 12th Floor
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904-610-6545
Free Consultation!
