When you are arrested and taken back to the police department after being pulled over for a DWI, you may be asked to submit to a blood or urine test. Both types of test require the officer to obtain a search warrant. However, there are a few key differences between the two. For one, urine tests do not reveal the quantity of controlled substances in a person’s system it only shows whether a substance is present. For alcohol, urine tests measure the percentage of ethylene glycol present but are generally the most unreliable test.
Blood tests on the other hand, reveal the quantity of controlled substances in your system as well as alcohol. Blood tests are seen as the most reliable of the chemical testing options out there.
Almost immediately after drinking alcohol it is absorbed into your blood stream while it takes longer for the body to metabolize it and for it to appear in a person’s urine. If you are at the police department and are given the choice between blood and urine the choice is yours. However, you cannot be charged with refusal unless both tests were offered to you. Minn. Stat. § 169A.51.
After being taken into custody and before you take the test, you are given time to consult with an attorney. It is easy to forget everything in stressful situations but don’t panic, simply use that time wisely and seek counsel.