quote: Blood tests by police unchallenged so far STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER MARK AGEE REPORTS | 6B
Authorities are still waiting for a defendant to challenge Dalworthington Gardens' tough new policy on drunken drivers, under which officers request search warrants for blood tests in all cases, and then draw suspects' blood themselves.
Nine cases have been to court, but all nine defendants pleaded guilty, officials said.
The prosecutions have gone "as smooth as we could want them to go," said Richard Alpert, chief of the Tarrant County district attorney's misdemeanor division.
Other departments around the state have their eye on the small town's policy.
Elgin Assistant Police Chief Phillip Taylor said his department is having the same problem Dalworthington Gardens was: Many suspects are refusing breath and sobriety tests.
"Suspects are learning that all they have to do is shut up and not say a thing," Taylor said. "Then they go to court and make the officer prove they were drunk."
By the numbers
39 Suspects who have had their blood drawn by Dalworthington Gardens police
38 Number who were legally drunk
9 Number of those cases that have made it to court
9 Number who pleaded guilty
SOURCE: Dalworthington Gardens Department of Public Safety
[This message was edited by Robert S. DuBoise on 04-12-06 at .]
Posts: 479 | Location: Parker County, Texas | Registered: March 22, 2002
And lest you think that the officers were wrong about the 39th, he wasn't "drunk" - he had cocaine in his system. Yet one more reason for blood over breath!
Posts: 1089 | Location: UNT Dallas | Registered: June 29, 2004
