Republican Senator Tim Grendell from the 18th District in Ohio wants to change the state law so that emergency medical technicians can draw blood samples from DUI suspects at the traffic stop and have the results hold up in court. He believes that this is necessary to increase convictions. Opponents say that the proposed law is not needed and would only tie up EMTs in court as witnesses. This would reduce the time that they would have out serving the people of the state with emergency medical care.

It is this web site’s position that the proposed law is not needed and could cause harm to the people of Ohio. Fortunately, the Ohio Emergency Medical Services Board “has determined that an EMT does not appear to be a ‘qualified technician’ for the purpose of withdrawing blood pursuant to a law enforcement matter.” You can read their determination here: Withdrawing Blood for OVI Evidence Collection.