Interview with a vampire

Early warning radar indicates that vampires may be descending on New Orleans this Memorial Day Weekend. These vampires are thought to be driving patrol cars and wearing uniforms with shiny badges. Motorists are warned to be on the lookout for vampires while driving the streets of Jefferson Parish.

Jefferson Parish prosecutors aren't even making an attempt to pretend their plan is anything less than another assault on civil liberties.

When suspected DWI offenders are brought into the lockup over Memorial Day weekend, if they refuse to take the breath test, a judge will be ready to review evidence and sign off on a search warrant, giving officials the authority to draw blood from the suspect regardless of whether they agree.

Although no one is credited with making that statement, it is pretty clear from the article that Norma Broussard of the DA's Office is the source. Note that the judge isn't there to review the evidence to determine if there was reasonable suspicion to stop or probable cause to arrest, the judge is there to sign off on a warrant so that police can draw blood forcibly from motorists accused of committing a misdemeanor one step up from a traffic ticket.

And why do Jefferson Parish prosecutors want blood? Because they want to make it easier to infringe upon the freedom and liberty of their fellow citizens. If judges and juries want blood or breath tests, then by golly, we're going to give it to them -- civil liberties be damned.