High court OKs no-warrant blood draws in Wisconsin drunken driver case
The Supreme Court says law enforcement officers can generally draw blood without a warrant from an unconscious person suspected of driving while drunk or on drugs.
The high court issued its ruling Thursday in a case involving a Wisconsin law about impaired driving.
The question before the Supreme Court had to do with what happens when a motorist suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is unconscious, generally as a result of a crash. The Wisconsin law said that in such cases, blood can be drawn without a warrant.
Lawyers for a driver who had blood drawn under those circumstances had argued that the law violates the 4th Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure.
RELATED: Supreme Court refuses to approve citizenship question on 2020 census »
RELATED: Partisan gerrymandering is upheld by Supreme Court »
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
