If you are suspected of driving under the influence, police will likely take you into custody and try to find ways to strengthen their case against you. One way they do this is with a breathalyzer, which measures the alcohol concentration in a person’s system by analyzing their breath. However, these aren’t always that reliable, and police may ask you to submit to a urine or blood test. Below, we take a closer look at these two tests, what they can detect, and whether or not you should take them.
Blood and Urine Tests
Although blood and urine tests involve an analysis of bodily fluids, they don’t have the same capabilities. Here’s a look at some of the key differences:
- Urine tests do not reveal the quantity of a substance in your system, it only shows whether or not it is present.
- Urine tests work by measuring the percentage of ethylene glycol present in the sample, and they aren’t super reliable in court.
- Blood tests reveal what controlled substances are in your system as well and the quantity. They are seen as the most reliable chemical testing option.
Both of these tests require a warrant, because collecting a sample of your blood or urine is seen as an action that would be a violation of your Fourth Amendment rights unless a warrant is obtained. However, this doesn’t mean that police won’t try to get you to submit to one of these tests without a warrant. Blood or urine tests are valid if you give police permission to conduct the test and you are a willing participant, so you are within your rights to say no. With that said, if police have a warrant, you will need to submit to a test of your choice, or you can be charged with refusal.
After you’ve been taken to the station but before the tests are administered, you will be given an opportunity to talk to lawyer. Use this time to contact a criminal defense lawyer like Avery Appelman and his team at Appelman Law Firm. They can advise you about whether or not a test is in your best interest, which test you should take, and the next steps in the process.
We answer our phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so no matter what time of day you end up in trouble, we’ll be standing by, ready to assist. If you are being held on DUI charges, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can, because the police are going to try everything in their power to build a case against you. We can help you put yourself in a good position to beat the charges or get them greatly reduced. For more information or to talk to one of our lawyers, reach out to Appelman Law Firm today.
