Bill ends parental notification of a child's DUI test

CARSON CITY - A bill to end police responsibility in alerting parents that their child is getting a DUI blood test is drawing fire in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

"We're encouraging parents to always know where their kids are and now you're saying 'You should always know where your kids are except when they are with the police,"' said Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, who in 1997 helped write the current law requiring parental notification.

The new proposal, written by Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, absolves police officers of the responsibility to try informing parents about DUI tests.

The blood test takes an hour at most and police can't legally hold anyone for longer that that without either releasing or arresting them, Deputy Washoe County District Attorney Sue Edmonson said at a hearing Friday.

Rural lawmakers weren't convinced.

"In rural areas it may be a two-hour drive before you can get to someone who can take the blood," said Assemblyman John Carpenter, R-Elko. "They could at least make an effort to notify the parents or guardians."

The Nevada Parent-Teacher Association also thinks the current law should be left intact to give parents the ability to help their children during such family emergencies.

"As parents we are financially and legally responsible for our children and we are our children's primary advocates," said Lorrette Evenson of the PTA. "This eliminates the ability of parents to advise their children as to what is in the child's and family's best interest."

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