County Now Using E-Warrants to Conduct Blood Draws in DUI and Negligent Homicide Cases

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that Hawai‘i County has recently implemented the use of electronic search warrants (“e-warrants”).  The electronic warrants are intended to expedite the process of securing a warrant to draw a suspect’s blood in order to obtain alcohol and drug analysis in operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (“DUI”), negligent homicide, and negligent injury cases.
In the past, police officers would draft a written search warrant, meet with a judge in person to review the warrant application, and then coordinate the suspect’s blood draw with medical staff.
In a press release Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said, “Electronic search warrants will streamline processes and provide law enforcement with critical and reliable evidence that may be lost if a warrant is not secured in a timely fashion.  Obtaining accurate blood alcohol concentration levels and evidence of drug use may be critical to successfully prosecute an impaired driving case. E-warrants are another valuable tool that law enforcement can use to address impaired driving, make our roadways safer, and save lives.”