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Las Vegas Police Cut DUI Blood-Test Delays to 29 Days, Speeding Up Court Appearances

A local investigation spurred leaders to fix bottlenecks that kept DUI defendants waiting months.

Overview

  • LVMPD now averages 29 days to process DUI blood and toxicology after hiring an additional toxicologist and overhauling lab workflows, with two more specialists in training.
  • The lab is prioritizing throughput by stopping further toxicology when blood alcohol results register at or above 0.12, which is well over the 0.08 legal limit.
  • Las Vegas Justice Court is setting first appearances at roughly two months from arrest, and the municipal court says it is moving from four months toward the same benchmark.
  • Officials acknowledge the 8 News Now investigation brought the delays to light, and prosecutors retain the option to rush testing in fatal or high‑priority cases.
  • High‑profile cases reflect the changes: Alfredo Jauregui was sentenced in September to 3–10 years under a plea in a fatal DUI, and CJCC director Linsey LaMontagne pleaded not guilty in August with her case pending.