In some circumstances, criminal suspects may have a right to counsel before they have been arrested. This is generally when the suspect is about to make a decision that will could impair their defense in a critical stage of the case. Is deciding whether to submit to a DUI blood test such a situation? What if the police have a warrant?
Do you have a right to talk to a lawyer before a DUI blood test?
Asbestos-related deaths reaching their peak in the UK
According to the Guardian, the death toll from asbestos-related diseases in the United Kingdom has reached crisis levels. After decisions to allow the use of asbestos between the 1950s and 1970s, the U.K. is experiencing record numbers of deaths from the diseases it causes. Along with Australia, the U.K. has the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world. Mesothelioma is a rare and fatal cancer that is exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
Don't buy these three bike helmets; they've failed safety tests
When you or your child is riding a bike, it's crucial to wear a helmet. Riding without one risks a serious head injury. Consumer Reports' product safety experts say you should replace the helmets listed below immediately if you have one. However, it's better to ride with a poorly performing helmet than to ride with no helmet.
Peñafiel bottled water recalled for violative arsenic levels
In April, Consumer Reports published an investigation into Peñafiel bottled water, which is produced by Keurig Dr. Pepper. CR's tests discovered, on average, 18.1 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in Peñafiel, which was tested three times. CR notified Keurig Dr. Pepper, which admitted that its own tests had found similar levels -- 17 ppb. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's standard for arsenic in bottled water is 10 ppb.
SCOTUS: Warrant not needed for blood draw on unconscious driver
In the 2013 case of Missouri v. McNeely, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that subjecting someone to a blood test, which involves a needle stick, is much more intrusive than subjecting them to a breath or urine test. Therefore, it is a more serious intrusion into the person's Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Could you pass a field sobriety test?
Scholars and analysts who study the criminal justice system have long had concerns about the validity of commonly used field sobriety tests.
Potentially faulty blood test vials could jeopardize DUI cases
At least 7,800 DUI and other cases involving blood tests could be in jeopardy in Houston alone after a recall of blood testing vials. The Houston Forensic Science Center announced recently that a small portion of a lot of 240,000 vials were manufactured without a required preservative that keeps blood from clotting in the vials.
