Court Opinion

ID: 9761991
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:05:17.899926+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:28.910843
License: Public Domain

Concubmng Opinion by
Packel, J.:
I agree that the suppression order should be affirmed because the blood test for intoxication was not incident to a lawful arrest. It is to be regretted that a police officer may not make a warrantless arrest for driving while under the influence of liquor or drugs if the misdemeanor is not committed in his presence. Act of April 29, 1959, P. L. 58, §1204(a), 75 P.S. §1204(a); Pa. R. Crim. P. 102(3).
President Judge Campbell, in the court below, very foreeably expressed his great concern as follows: “We sincerely regret the present status of the law as it pertains to arrests for driving under the influence, especially in one car accidents. We implore the legislature to act promptly to correct this situation by statute.” I join in that exhortation for a change by the legislature, with an appropriate revision of the criminal rules by our Supreme Court.