Court Ruling Could Cost Oklahoma DPS $11M

An Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling could cost the state Department of Public Safety $11 million in refunds to drivers in alcohol-related cases.

The court upheld a lower court ruling that said affidavits used in DUI breath tests did not comply with state law. The affidavits have since been changed, but more than 37,000 drivers arrested for alcohol-related offenses from June 2008 until October could receive refunds of fees related to the revocation and reinstatement of their driver’s licenses.

DPS spokesman and Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. George Brown told the Tulsa World there is little he can say because a lawsuit is pending, but said DPS will comply with the court’s orders.

The case involves six people – but DPS says the decision could apply to thousands of drivers statewide.