Mandatory blood - we are finally getting into the "who pays?" situation where DPS has not authorized expenses for mandatory blood in felony DWIs and logically, we got the bill. How are some of you handling this situation?

Bill for what? Isn't it just a request for you to seek reimbursement for the cost from the defendant?

Well sure we could attach the reimbursement to the judgment just like we do for DPS Crime Lab testing for drugs etc. - in reality we know we are likely to not see a dime of that money before, during or after a 20 year vacation to Huntsville - what does the hospital do in the meantime? Are you all paying whoever is doing the testing and hoping for a conviction/payment of restitution?

Our LEO's provide the blood kit and the hospital simply draws the blood and returns it to the LEO for submission to the DPS lab.

I'm back after a nearly two month time off for knee replacement surgery (not a vacation!!). Anyway, I have been getting calls from our HP sergeants about who pays the hospitals for doing a blood draw, whether under a warrant or under 724.012(b). My agency has no money funded for this; what do your agencies do?

Janette A

Well, for now we have chosen to go to a hospital that does not charge us, even though it is 40 miles out of the way.