Arizona High Court: Police Can't Take DUI Blood Sample Without Consent Or Warrant

By Holliday Moore
Published: Thursday, February 2, 2017 - 5:39pm

Whether it’s alcohol, methamphetamine or marijuana, officers are not allowed to run a driver’s blood sample unless they have legal permission.  

Unless the driver agrees to a blood test — or an officer has a warrant — the Arizona Supreme Court says police cannot run a DUI blood sample, even if they suspect the driver is high or the blood is easy to collect.

An officer can take a sample if the driver is passed out and incapable of providing consent. Wednesday's ruling came after multiple appeals in a 2010 DUI case.

Patrick Nissley was convicted on reckless manslaughter. A blood sample taken while medics attended to Nissley’s injuries, showed he had methamphetamine and heroin in his system.  The court ordered a follow up hearing to determine whether his blood was taken without his consent.