In any criminal prosecution for a violation of Section 331.01 relating to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, the court may admit evidence on the concentration of alcohol in the defendant's blood, breath or urine at the time of the alleged violation as shown by chemical analysis of the defendant's blood, urine, breath or other bodily substance withdrawn within two hours of the time of such alleged violation.
When a person submits to a blood test at the request of a police officer under Ohio R.C. 4511.191, only a physician, a registered nurse or a qualified technician or chemist shall withdraw blood for the purpose of determining its alcoholic content. This limitation does not apply to the taking of breath or urine specimens. A physician, a registered nurse or a qualified technician or chemist may refuse to withdraw blood for the purpose of determining the alcohol content of the blood, if in his opinion the physical welfare of the person would be endangered by the withdrawing of blood.
Such bodily substance shall be analyzed in accordance with methods approved by the Ohio Director of Health by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the Director of Health pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3701.143.
If there was at the time bodily substance was withdrawn a concentration of less than ten-hundredths of one percent (0.10%) by weight of alcohol in the defendant's blood, less than ten-hundredths of one gram by weight of alcohol per 210 liters of his breath or less than fourteen-hundredths of one gram by weight of alcohol per 100 milliliters of his urine, such fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant.
Upon the request of the person who was tested, the results of such test shall be made available to him, his attorney or agent, immediately upon the completion of the test analysis.
The person tested may have a physician, a registered nurse or a qualified technician or chemist of his own choosing administer a chemical test or tests in addition to any administered at the direction of a police officer, and shall be so advised. The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person shall not preclude the admission of evidence relating to the test or tests taken at the direction of a police officer.
Any physician, registered nurse or qualified technician or chemist who withdraws blood from a person pursuant to this section, and any hospital, first-aid station or clinic at which blood is withdrawn from a person pursuant to this section, is immune from criminal liability, and from civil liability that is based upon a claim of assault and battery or based upon any other claim that is not in the nature of a claim of malpractice, for any act performed in withdrawing blood from the person.
(ORC 4511.19; Ord. 7-83. Passed 3-21-83.)
(ORC 4511.19; Ord. 7-83. Passed 3-21-83.)