In an article by the Austin-American Statesman,
"According to court records in the Tarrant County case, Johnston, a waitress, was arrested and charged with drunken driving Dec. 9, 2005. She was not offered a breath test and refused to voluntarily provide a blood sample. Officers obtained a warrant for her blood, court records said.
"The defendant offered some resistance and was unruly," court records said. "She kicked her feet and moved around, and they secured the defendant's legs to the legs of the chair and secured one arm to the arm of the chair. After the defendant had been restrained, she calmed down and offered no further resistance."
To the Tarrant County judge, McDaniel argued that state law says that only a "physician, qualified technician, chemist, registered professional nurse or a licensed vocational nurse" may draw the blood of suspects. He said that the two police officers who drew Johnston's blood were not "qualified technicians" under the law.
"The defendant offered some resistance and was unruly," court records said. "She kicked her feet and moved around, and they secured the defendant's legs to the legs of the chair and secured one arm to the arm of the chair. After the defendant had been restrained, she calmed down and offered no further resistance."
To the Tarrant County judge, McDaniel argued that state law says that only a "physician, qualified technician, chemist, registered professional nurse or a licensed vocational nurse" may draw the blood of suspects. He said that the two police officers who drew Johnston's blood were not "qualified technicians" under the law.
Travis County wants to certify officers to take your blood, How do you feel about this, what about your rights??
This is a total infringment of our rights. While I believe that drunk driving is definitely not safe and we should do everything we can to stop people from driving drunk - but this is not the way to do it. It is completely ridiculous that cops think they can bend the rules to do this.
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