Refusal to submit to chemical test
If someone is stopped or arrested and refuses to take a chemical test (like a breathalyzer), that refusal can be used against them in court. The officer must tell the person why the test is being requested and warn them that refusing can be used against them. If the person was driving, they must also be told their license will be taken away right away if they refuse. If the person asks to talk to a lawyer first, they get 20 minutes to try to reach one. If they still refuse after those 20 minutes, it counts as a refusal.
577.041. Refusal to submit to — — request to include reasons and effect of refusal. — 1. If a person under , or who has been (2) of 1 of section 577.020, or stopped pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection 1 of section 577.020, refuses upon the request of the officer to submit to any test allowed pursuant to section 577.020, then evidence of the refusal shall be in any related to the acts resulting in such , stop, or arrest.
2. The request of the officer to submit to any chemical test shall include the reasons of the officer for requesting the person to submit to a test and also shall inform the person that evidence of refusal to take the test may be used against such person. If such person was operating a vehicle prior to such detention, stop, or arrest, he or she shall further be informed that his or her shall be immediately upon refusal to take the test.
3. If a person when requested to submit to any test allowed pursuant to section 577.020 requests to speak to an attorney, the person shall be granted twenty minutes in which to attempt to contact an attorney. If, upon the completion of the twenty-minute period the person continues to refuse to submit to any test, it shall be a refusal.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1982 S.B. 513, A.L. 1987 S.B. 230, A.L. 1991 S.B. 125 & 341, A.L. 1993 S.B. 167 merged with S.B. 180, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1169 & 1271 merged with S.B. 722, A.L. 1998 S.B. 634, A.L. 2001 H.B. 302 & 38, A.L. 2002 H.B. 2062, A.L. 2003 H.B. 600, A.L. 2005 H.B. 353 merged with H.B. 487, A.L. 2008 S.B. 930 & 947, A.L. 2010 H.B. 1695, et al., A.L. 2013 S.B. 23, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1371) Effective 1-01-17 (1988) Person may have limited right to consult with counsel prior to taking test, but there is no right to have an attorney present during test or to condition taking of test on presence of attorney. Kilpatrick v. Director of Revenue, 756 S.W.2d 214 (Mo.App.E.D.). (1989) It is not a denial of equal protection when statute requires director of revenue to revoke driver's license for refusing to take chemical tests and then revoke driver's license for accumulation of points without a showing that all similarly situated drivers were not treated equally. (Mo.App.W.D.) Brown v. Director of Revenue, 772 S.W.2d 398) (2010) Twenty-minute waiting period begins running immediately after the officer has informed the driver of the implied consent law, regardless of whether the driver requested an attorney before or after the information was provided. Norris v. Director of Revenue, 304 S.W.3d 724 (Mo. en banc). (2019) Motorist's refusal to consent to chemical test was not voluntary and unequivocal under section, where law enforcement officer deprived him of the right to confer privately with his attorney and where the Director of Revenue failed to show that he was not prejudiced by the action. Roesing v. Director of Revenue, 573 S.W.3d 634 (Mo.).
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.