Another Ruling on Minnesota’s DUI Tests

St. Paul, MN (Learfield Wire Services) - The Minnesota Court of Appeals says warrant-less blood and urine tests are unconstitutional.

In an opinion published Monday, the court reversed the conviction of an Owatonna driver who refused to take a blood or urine test after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in 2012. Ryan Thompson was charged with second-degree test-refusal, third-degree driving while under the influence, obstructing legal process, and driving over the center line after an officer stopped him outside a bar. Thompson was eventually convicted of second-degree test refusal. The other charges were dropped.

Thompson argued the state's test-refusal law violated his Fourth Amendment rights, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.The statute makes it a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test of blood, breath or urine under certain circumstances, such as when an officer has probable cause to believe a person was driving or operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.