Supreme Court of Ohio Rules State Law Does Not Require Warrantless Blood Draws for Unconscious DUI Suspects
Columbus, Ohio – The Supreme Court of Ohio has issued a landmark ruling today clarifying that state law does not mandate law enforcement to obtain a warrant for blood draws from unconscious drivers suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence. In a 5-2 decision, the court determined that, absent exigent circumstances, police must secure a search warrant before conducting a blood draw, even when a suspect is physically incapable of refusing consent due to unconsciousness. The ruling stems from a case involving a 2021 traffic stop in Franklin County, where a driver was found unconscious behind the wheel. The court held that the implied consent statute does not override Fourth Amendment protections requiring a judicial warrant. This decision is expected to impact DUI prosecutions statewide.