Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O 522.04
Page 1 of 3
GO 522.04
CHEMICAL TESTING OF ARRESTEES
12-02-14
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to outline the procedures and circumstances in which officers should obtain a
chemical test sample from a subject who has been arrested.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to obtain chemical test samples from suspects
arrested for crimes where the chemical test may result in evidence that is likely to be relevant in subsequent
administrative or judicial proceedings. Chemical tests shall be conducted in accordance with applicable legal
requirements and in a manner that preserves the integrity and admissibility of the evidence.
PROCEDURE
A. WHEN TESTING SHOULD BE CONDUCTED
1. An officer should obtain chemical test samples from arrestees in all cases where the evidence is
likely to be relevant in administrative or judicial proceedings and the arrest takes place within a
reasonable time period after the commission of the related crime.
a. A reasonable time period includes any period of time where it is likely that evidence of drugs
and/or alcohol remains present in the arrestee’s chemical sample.
b. In DUI cases, an officer shall make every reasonable attempt to complete the chemical test
within three hours of the time the arrestee was driving.
2. An officer must have legal search authority to conduct a chemical test. To conduct a chemical test,
officers shall have consent, searchable probation/parole status, exigent circumstances or a search warrant.
B. SELECTION OF A TEST
1. Alcohol only DUI Cases
a. An arrestee shall have the choice of completing a breath test or a blood test.
2. Drug Only DUI Cases and Drug-Alcohol Combination DUI Cases
a. A blood test shall be completed.
b. Blood tests shall not be obtained from an arrestee who is afflicted with hemophilia or who is
using an anticoagulant medication. A urine test shall be obtained from these arrestees.
c. Procedurally, the arrestee shall have the choice of completing a breath test or a blood test.
However, if an arrestee selects a breath test, the arrestee shall be allowed to complete the breath test but shall be notified that a blood test is also required.
3. Non-DUI Cases
a. The arresting officer shall determine the appropriate test to conduct. Generally the test should
be a blood test.
C. BREATH TEST
1. Breath tests only detect alcohol. 2. Breath tests shall be completed on equipment selec ted and maintained by the Sacramento District
Attorney’s Crime Laboratory.
3. Breath tests shall be completed by trained office rs, following protocols determined by the crime
lab.
4. In DUI cases, a driver who completes a breat h test shall be given the Trombetta Advisement as
contained on the back of DUI Intoxication Form (SPD 170).
D. BLOOD TESTS
1. Blood draws shall only be completed by trained medical personnel.
2. Blood draws should be conducted at the Main Jail by the assigned jail phlebotomist. When it is
necessary to conduct a blood draw at a location other than the Main Jail (including blood draws
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
G.O 522.04
Page 2 of 3
conducted at hospitals), the on-call phlebotomist shall be requested to respond and conduct the
blood draw.
3. When an officer is unable to wait for the on call phlebotomist, an officer may request the hospital
medical staff to collect an evidentiary sample.
a. All officers should follow the hospital’s procedure for obtaining the sample.
b. An officer cannot require the hospital staff to complete the blood draw.
4. Officers collecting blood specimens from suspects for a blood test shall:
a. Label the blood evidence box.
b. Request the phlebotomist or other appropriate medical personnel to conduct the blood draw.
c. Witness the blood draw.
d. Sign the label for the blood vial and ensure it has been signed by the medical personnel
conducting the blood draw.
e. Label and seal the evidence box or witness the medical personnel label and seal the evidence
box.
f. Place the blood evidence box in the locked evide nce containers (drop boxes) maintained at the
Main Jail.
5. An officer shall document in the report:
a. The time of the blood draw. b. Where the blood draw was conducted (e.g jail).
c. The location on the arrestee where the blood was drawn from (e.g. arrestee’s left arm).
d. The name of the medical personnel who conducted the blood draw.
e. The authority for obtaining the blood draw.
E. URINE TEST
1. Except as outlined in Section B2, an arrestee does not have the right to select a urine test.
2. An officer collecting a urine sample shall:
a. Accompany the subject to the restroom to witness the collection of the urine sample and to
prevent destruction or contamination of the evidence. NOTE: The witnessing officer shall
be the same sex as the subject giving the sample.
b. Give the specimen container to the suspect and request the necessary sample.
c. Process the urine evidence box the same as a blood evidence box described in blood test
procedures above.
F. NON-CONSENSUAL CHEMICAL TESTING
1. The arrestee shall be given the opportunity to voluntarily submit to a chemical test. 2. DUI Cases:
a. If the arrestee refuses to take a test, refuses to select a test, or fails to complete a selected
test, the arresting officer shall