MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned a lower court ruling and reinstated a fourth drunken driving conviction against a Madison area man.
Dean Blatterman, of the Madison suburb Oregon, argued that his blood alcohol level test results should not be admitted because Dane County sheriff’s deputies transported him to a hospital 10 miles away from where he was pulled over.
A state appeals court determined that taking Blatterman so far away from the scene amounted to a “de facto” arrest and violated his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure.
But the Supreme Court said Tuesday that officers had a reasonable suspicion to stop Blatterman based on statements his wife made about his condition. The court also ruled that taking him to the hospital was within their legal authority.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.