Nathan Adams

Issue: Which states consider DUI testing to be a "critical stage" of criminal proceedings for purposes of the 6th Amendment's (or a state constitution's) right to counsel?

Date: June 9, 1997

I found that the vast majority of states (41) do not allow drivers to consult counsel before deciding whether or not to take a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test. The nine remaining states allow consultation, but usually condition access to counsel on the request being reasonable and the consultation taking place quickly so that results of the tests will not be compromised.

No right to counsel: AL (592 So.2d 1066), AZ (147 Ariz. 463), AR (285 Ark. 9), CA (189 Cal.Rptr. 249), CO (674 P.2d 359), CT(523 A.2d 503), DE (528 A.2d 1185), FL (500 So. 2d 597), GA (128 Ga.App. 791), HI (815 P.2d 24), ID (869 P.2d 1384), IL (240 N.E.2d 633), IN (441 N.E.2d 708), IA (140 N.W.2d 866), KS (691 P.2d 1), KY (796 S.W.2d 591), LA (525 So.2d 119), ME (457 A.2d 1116), MA (537 N.E.2d 142), MI (421 N.W.2d 285), MS (300 So.2d 916), MO (940 S.W.2d 540), MT (711 P.2d 815), NE (217 N.W.2d 177), NV (673 P.2d 488), NH (113 N.H. 194), NJ (239 A.2d 249), NM (1997 WL 242296), OK (848 P.2d 35), OR (477 P.2d 237), PA (536 A.2d 447), RI (388 A.2d 809), SC (409 S.E.2d 346), SD (276 N.W.2d 139), TN (914 S.W.2d 467), TX (778 S.W.2d 70), UT (U.C.A. 1953  41-6-44.10), VA (187 S.E.2d 197), WV (271 S.E.2d 776), WI (289 N.W.2d 828), WY (705 P.2d 861).

(9)- Right to contact attorney within a reasonable time: AK (813 P.2d 312), MD (568 A.2d 1150), MN (494 N.W.2d 268), NY (569 N.Y.S.2d 877), NC (NC ST 20-16.2), ND (405 N.W.2d 285), OH (580 N.E.2d 864), VT (23 V.S.A. 1202(1995)), WA (903 P.2d 447).