blood alcohol test (Kentucky) · Go Syfert
← Kentucky issues

blood alcohol test in Kentucky

18 Kentucky opinions name it 3 courts 1971–2025 6 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Kentucky courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (4)

CaseFollowedCited
Commonwealth v. Lopezgreen
ky · 1999 · cited in 2 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2006–2023
2 sentences

2023Commonwealth v. Lopez, 3 S.W.3d 351, 353 (Ky. 1999), abrogated on procedural grounds by Commonwealth v. Carman, 455 S.W.3d 916 (Ky. 2015) (emphasis added) (“Combs is limited to those situations where a search warrant was necessary to obtain blood evidence in order to -10- prosecute a DUI case not involving injury or death . . . . [The Combs holding] does not control a situation where a defendant expressly consents to a blood alcohol test in compliance with KRS 189A.103.”).

2006The court further noted that its language in the Combs case “does not control a situation where a defendant expressly consents to a blood alcohol test in compliance with KRS 189A.103.” Id. 5 In Commonwealth v. Morriss, 70 S.W.3d 419 (Ky.2002), the court was again confronted with the application of KRS 189A.105(2)(b).

12
Commonwealth v. Hagergreen
ky · 1986 · cited in 2 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2013–2021
2 sentences

2021Id. at 432 (citing South Dakota v. Neville, 459 U.S. 553 (1983)).

2013While the fact of Appellant’s refusal is fully admissible at trial, see Commonwealth v. Hager, 702 S.W.2d 431, 432 (Ky.1986) (“[T]he admission into evidence of a defendant’s refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test does not offend his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination....”) (citing South Dakota v. Neville, 459 U.S. 553, 564 , 103 S.Ct. 916 , 74 L.Ed.2d 748 (1983)), the Commonwealth sought, and the trial court allowed, the introduction of Appellant’s entire statement.

12
Parson v. Commonwealthgreen
ky · 2004 · cited in 1 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2009–2009
2 sentences

2009Thus, when the Court stated, “[w]e believe that evidence that a person charged with vehicular homicide had intoxicating drugs in his system when the homicide occurred is relevant to the issue of wanton ness even without additional evidence of the degree of impairment caused by its presence,” Id. at 781 (emphasis added), it recognized the temporal link under the evidence at hand (cocaine disappears from urine within 24 hours) of such conduct as a quantifier of the degree of wanton conduct at issue. 4 Notably, extreme impairment during the criminal event (which would have taken time to achieve)

2009Thus, when the Court stated, "[w]e believe that evidence that a person charged with vehicular homicide had intoxicating drugs in his system when the homicide occurred is relevant to the issue of wantonness *135 even without additional evidence of the degree of impairment caused by its presence," Id. at 781 (emphasis added), it recognized the temporal link under the evidence at hand (cocaine disappears from urine within 24 hours) of such conduct as a quantifier of the degree of wanton conduct at issue. [4] Notably, extreme impairment during the criminal event (which would have taken time to ach

11
Beach v. Commonwealthgreen
ky · 1996 · cited in 1 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 1998–1998
1 sentence

1998See Beach v. Commonwealth, Ky., 927 S.W.2d 826 (1996) and Schmerber, supra. The ordinarily legitimate action of obtaining a search warrant when a suspect refuses cannot be used to avoid the standard set by the General Assembly which established the requirement of death or physical injury for a blood alcohol test.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Kentucky. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (13)

CaseCitedYears
South Dakota v. Neville green
scotus · 1983
2 sentences

2025As the United States Supreme Court explained, albeit with reference to the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, while the choice to submit to or refuse a blood-alcohol test “will not be an easy or pleasant one for a suspect to make,” the criminal process “often requires suspects and defendants to make difficult choices.” South Dakota v. Neville, 459 U.S. 553, 564 , 103 S. Ct. 916, 923 , 74 L.

2025As the United States Supreme Court explained, albeit with reference to the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, while the choice to submit to or refuse a blood-alcohol test “will not be an easy or pleasant one for a suspect to make,” the criminal process “often requires suspects and defendants to make difficult choices.” South Dakota v. Neville, 459 U.S. 553, 564 , 103 S. Ct. 916, 923 , 74 L.

62010–2025
Commonwealth v. Wirth green
ky · 1996
2 sentences

2005We held in Commonwealth v. Wirth, 936 S.W.2d 78 (Ky.1996), that the Commonwealth does not have to produce an expert witness to extrapolate the blood alcohol level back from the time of the blood alcohol test to the time the accused ceased operation of the motor vehicle.

2005Id. at 83-84 .

22000–2005
Combs v. Commonwealth green
ky · 1998
1 sentence

2024Combs, 965 S.W.2d at 165 . (“The ordinarily legitimate action of obtaining a search warrant when a suspect refuses cannot be used to avoid the standard set by the General Assembly which established the requirement of death or physical injury for a blood alcohol test.”).

12024–2024
Commonwealth v. Carman green
· 2015
1 sentence

2023Commonwealth v. Lopez, 3 S.W.3d 351, 353 (Ky. 1999), abrogated on procedural grounds by Commonwealth v. Carman, 455 S.W.3d 916 (Ky. 2015) (emphasis added) (“Combs is limited to those situations where a search warrant was necessary to obtain blood evidence in order to -10- prosecute a DUI case not involving injury or death . . . . [The Combs holding] does not control a situation where a defendant expressly consents to a blood alcohol test in compliance with KRS 189A.103.”).

12023–2023
Collins v. Commonwealth green
ky · 2004
2 sentences

2010Id. at 114-15 .

2010Id. at 114-15 .

12010–2010
Commonwealth v. Morriss green
ky · 2002
1 sentence

2006The court further noted that its language in the Combs case “does not control a situation where a defendant expressly consents to a blood alcohol test in compliance with KRS 189A.103.” Id. 5 In Commonwealth v. Morriss, 70 S.W.3d 419 (Ky.2002), the court was again confronted with the application of KRS 189A.105(2)(b).

12006–2006
Kuntz v. State Highway Commissioner green
nd · 1987
2 sentences

2004It was held in Kuntz v. State Highway Comm'r, 405 N.W.2d 285 (N.D.1987), that if an arrestee is denied the statutory right to counsel prior to submitting to a blood alcohol test, failure to take the test is not viewed as a refusal for purposes of revoking that person's driver's license.

2004It was held in Kuntz v. State Highway Comm’r, 405 N.W.2d 285 (N.D.1987), that if an arrestee is denied the statutory right to counsel prior to submitting to a blood alcohol test, failure to take the test is not viewed as a refusal for purposes of revoking that person’s driver’s license.

12004–2004
Miranda v. Arizona green
scotus · 1966
2 sentences

2000Additionally, Barker, analogizes the statutory “right” to refuse the blood alcohol test with the “rights” provided by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 , 86 S.Ct. 1602 , 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

2000Additionally, Barker, analogizes the statutory “right” to refuse the blood alcohol test with the “rights” provided by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 , 86 S.Ct. 1602 , 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

12000–2000
Division of Driver Licensing, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Transportation Cabinet v. Bergmann green
ky · 1987
1 sentence

1998Id.

11998–1998
State v. Jenkins green
wis · 1977
1 sentence

1985Although no Kentucky case is on point, a similar result was reached in State v. Jenkins, 80 Wis. 426 , 259 N.W.2d 109 (1977), where the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the results of a defendant’s blood alcohol test were admissible at trial where the test was conducted at the request of a physician for diagnostic purposes and where the defendant was not under arrest at the time.

11985–1985
Commonwealth, Department of Public Safety v. Powers green
kyctapp · 1970
1 sentence

1971In Com., Dept. of Public Safety v. Powers, Ky., 453 S.W.2d 260 (1970), and Timberlake v. Com., Dept. of Public Safety, Ky., 464 S.W.2d 283 (1971), we held that the requests did not comply with KRS 186.565(3).

11971–1971
Timberlake v. Commonwealth, Department of Public Safety neutral
kyctapp · 1971
1 sentence

1971In Com., Dept. of Public Safety v. Powers, Ky., 453 S.W.2d 260 (1970), and Timberlake v. Com., Dept. of Public Safety, Ky., 464 S.W.2d 283 (1971), we held that the requests did not comply with KRS 186.565(3).

11971–1971
Schmerber v. California green
scotus · 1966
2 sentences

1971In Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757 , 86 S.Ct. 1826 , 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966), the Supreme Court of the United States had this question before it, viz., the rights of one required to take a blood-alcohol test as measured by the fourth and fifth amendments to the United States Constitution.

1971In Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757 , 86 S.Ct. 1826 , 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966), the Supreme Court of the United States had this question before it, viz., the rights of one required to take a blood-alcohol test as measured by the fourth and fifth amendments to the United States Constitution.

11971–1971

Statutes the citing opinions construe

KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189A.010 (14) KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189A.103 (11) KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189A.105 (11) KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189A.005 (3) KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 418.075 (3) KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 500.080 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

PA 131 (1970–2026) TX 130 (1961–2026) FL 102 (1967–2023) GA 95 (1966–2025) IL 94 (1972–2024) CA 85 (1960–2024) MO 83 (1968–2024) OH 75 (1973–2025) NY 66 (1970–2023) WA 56 (1975–2024) ND 52 (1980–2020) TN 51 (1975–2025) LA 50 (1976–2021) CO 48 (1946–2024) ME 48 (1969–2025) KS 47 (1966–2024) ID 46 (1971–2025) MI 45 (1975–2025) MN 44 (1975–2015) OR 40 (1973–2026) AL 39 (1980–2015) NM 32 (1964–2025) AZ 31 (1967–2020) MA 28 (1984–2023) MS 28 (1984–2024) VA 25 (1966–2019) WI 25 (1977–2024) CT 23 (1988–2026) MT 21 (1971–2024) MD 20 (1984–2022) NJ 18 (1965–2021) KY 18 (1971–2025) NH 18 (1984–2020) NC 17 (1973–2026) IN 15 (1976–2016) IA 15 (1973–2021) WY 14 (1968–2022) OK 14 (1973–2014) HI 14 (1995–2020) SD 13 (1969–2022) NE 12 (1977–2020) AK 11 (1974–2001) SC 11 (1990–2014) VT 11 (1965–2024) AR 10 (1988–2015) UT 8 (1979–2009) NV 7 (1969–2013) WV 7 (1980–2021) DE 7 (1973–2019) RI 6 (1984–2004) DC 4 (1983–2001)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

← Caselaw search · G Cite Topics · Brief Check