If you are charged with a DUI in the District of Columbia, you will likely be required to undergo a blood test. These tests are often conducted at a hospital and not at a police station.
The results of these blood tests can be used as evidence in court. However, the accuracy of this type of test depends on a number of factors.
What is a DUI blood test?
A DUI blood test is a medical procedure that takes a sample of your blood to determine how much alcohol you’ve had in your system. You may have to undergo this procedure if you’ve been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DUI).
The process involves a medical professional using a needle to draw a small amount of blood from your vein. The blood will then be placed into a tube or vial and sent to a lab. This is a report mandatory for DUI first court appearance to fight your case.
Usually, the blood sample will be sent to the crime lab within a few hours of being drawn from you. However, this is not always the case.
The reason for this is that a hospital blood test is not conducted with the same forensic protocols as a county crime lab test. This is because the hospital is trying to get results as quickly as possible so they can start treating you.
Why is a DUI blood test at a hospital required?
If you have been involved in a car accident and the police suspect that you are driving under the influence, they may ask you to take a DUI blood test at a hospital. They must do so under California’s “implied consent” law, which states that a person who is lawfully arrested for driving under the influence agrees to chemical testing.
If a person’s blood test results indicate that they are under the legal BAC limit, they will be charged with a DUI. This can result in severe fines, jail time, and other penalties.
Fortunately, the courts have established that medical records that contain a notation about the results of the hospital’s BAC test can be admitted into evidence in DUI cases. This allows criminal defense attorneys to challenge the accuracy and reliability of a hospital’s blood test.
How does a DUI blood test at a hospital impact my case?
If you have been arrested for DUI, you may have questions about how a DUI blood test at a hospital might impact your case. This type of evidence is often used to prove impairment, which can have a significant impact on the outcome of your criminal charges.
Most states have an implied consent law that requires drivers to submit to chemical testing after a DUI arrest. If you refuse to take a DUI blood test, you could face harsh consequences, including fines and jail time.
While most people agree to submit to a breath or blood test after a DUI arrest, it is important for you to know your rights. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, contact an experienced attorney who can help protect your freedom and future.
How can a DUI blood test at a hospital impact my case?
A DUI blood test at a hospital can be helpful evidence in your case, but it can also be a problem. If a blood test shows that your BAC was high at the time of the incident, this can be used to show that you were impaired and therefore charged with a DUI.
However, there are a number of things that can throw off the results of this type of blood test. For example, if you were injected with IV fluids or if the blood sample was analyzed using only serum rather than whole blood, this could cause your blood alcohol level to be inaccurately interpreted.