Minnesota police officers in Blaine were recently dispatched to a location where a caller reported a vehicle that was stopped in front of a residence for several hours. The officers approached the driver of the vehicle when they arrived. What happened next led to both transport to a local hospital, as well as an arrest and criminal charges for DWI.
Police claim that the man who was behind the wheel of the vehicle at the time told them he had consumed a large amount of alcohol before driving. He reportedly refused to take a field sobriety test, which any driver is entitled to do as such tests are not required by law. Police eventually obtained a warrant to conduct a blood test on the motorist. Paramedics arrived at the scene and, moments later, said the man was in urgent need of medical attention.
BAC test showed a potentially lethal amount of alcohol
The results of the blood test apparently showed alcohol in the man’s bloodstream that exceeded the legal limit for driving. Medical professionals stated that it was a life-threatening situation. The 30-year-old man will be facing DWI charges in court and will be afforded an opportunity to present a defense, as is guaranteed by the criminal justice system.
When can police obtain a warrant to order a blood test?
In Minnesota and throughout the country, a person is not obligated to take a preliminary alcohol screening test. However, most states have implied consent laws, which means that securing a driver’s constitutes consent to take a chemical test after a DWI arrest has taken place. In some cases, like in this incident, if a driver refuses to take the test, police may obtain a warrant to order it done.
