Blood warrants increase DUI convictions in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A relatively new DUI enforcement program in Douglas County focuses on getting impaired drivers the toughest penalties.

If a driver is suspected of driving under the influence in Douglas County, deputies can get blood warrants on the spot. Colorado State Patrol troopers are also participating in the blood warrant program.

“This helps in being able to prosecute offenders that are alleged to be driving under the influence by getting a chemical test of their blood,” said Sgt. Jeffery Burke, with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Traffic Division.

Officers can call attorneys with the 18th Judicial District 24 hours a day and get a search warrant while the traffic stop is underway.

DUI convictions shoot up with blood warrant program

FOX31 was told the warrant can take 15-45 minutes to be completed and served. The driver is then taken to have blood drawn and checked for alcohol levels.

“With the way that refusals were being prosecuted in courts, I think jurors are more skeptical than ever of law enforcement,” 18th Judicial District Chief Deputy Garrik Storgaard said. “They want to see those scientific tests, which is why our conviction rates for refusal cases when we didn’t have the tests were slowly ticking down.”

But the new system sparked a huge turnaround. Since 2021, the conviction rates went from 82% to 97% in 2023.

The program received an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado.

“You know, Colorado sees around an average of around 45% to 50% of tox refusals happening on site, and so we know that one chemical test and results are the most helpful evidence,” said Rebecca Green, MADD Colorado’s state executive director.

The 18th Judicial District said a Colorado Supreme Court decision at the end of 2022 upheld the use of blood warrants.

From January 2023 to May of this year, 162 DUI blood warrants have been issued in Douglas County, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

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