Hi <<Goes By Name>>,
We want to inform you of a significant change in DWI enforcement in St. Louis County that may affect individuals stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office recently announced that St. Louis County will now be a "no refusal" county. If this policy ends up being implemented by the police departments and judges, it is critical for everyone to understand the risks.
What the New Policy Says
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office announced that they will make a prosecutor available 24/7 to receive warrant applications from police departments to obtain a blood sample for any individual who refuses to submit to a breathalyzer test during a DWI investigation.
Previously, police departments typically only sought a warrant for a blood draw in felony DWI cases or incidents involving an accident. This proposed policy, though, would extend to all suspected DWI cases, even for people without a criminal record.
Essentially, people would no longer be able to lawfully refuse a chemical test without consequences in St. Louis County.
