NEW YORK, NY November 03, 2009 —Top brass within the city's police department are looking into ways to shorten the time it takes to get blood alcohol tests after a suspected drunk driver refuses a breath test.

The panel's formation comes after two recent fatal drunk driving accidents involving off-duty cops. Both refused to take Breathalyzers. In the latest incident last Friday, nearly five hours passed, before a court-ordered blood test was taken. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says it can take even longer:

KELLY: Actually, the average time for all DWI cases when people are taken, they refuse the Breathalyzer and they're taken to a hospital for blood withdrawal, is about seven hours.

REPORTER: Critics say the lag time allows suspects to sober up. Commissioner Kelly says the committee will decide in a week on any changes to the process.