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Rayburn v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 27, 1976
231 S.E.2d 383 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976)

Opinion

52863.

SUBMITTED OCTOBER 6, 1976.

DECIDED OCTOBER 27, 1976. REHEARING DENIED DECEMBER 8, 1976.

D.U.I. Fulton Criminal Court. Before Judge Duke.

Mull Sweet, Gale W. Mull, for appellant.

Hinson McAuliffe, Solicitor, James L. Webb, Frank A. Bowers, Assistant Solicitors, for appellee.


This appeal involves a single trial and judgment of conviction upon two separate offenses on different dates for driving under the influence of intoxicants.

1. As to the offense committed July 13, 1976, appellant contends the court erred in refusing to suppress the results of the intoximeter test. The basis of this contention is defendant's statement that he had not been informed of the alternatives available to him under Code Ann. § 68A-902.1. See Nelson v. State, 135 Ga. App. 212 ( 217 S.E.2d 450). The evidence of the police officer was to the contrary, he testifying that he read to accused a statement posted on the wall of the police station which explained the rights of the motorist under the statute. The trial court's ruling resolved the question of credibility adverse to appellant. No error. See Martin v. State, 139 Ga. App. 8 ( 228 S.E.2d 15).

2. As to the other offense appellant asserts the state erred in failing to provide him with the blood test he requested. This assertion stems from the events which occurred at the hospital to which he was taken for this purpose. There appellant was presented with a waiver or consent form which the institution required for its protection. After reading this document several times, appellant stated that he did not understand its contents. After some discussion during which the policeman sought unsuccessfully to obtain a "yes or no" answer, the officer reasonably concluded that the accused was stalling to obtain time for his blood system to absorb the alcohol.

As we noted in Pfeffer v. State, 136 Ga. App. 448, 450 ( 221 S.E.2d 658): "The Implied Consent Law requires a meaningful submission to the test as otherwise the purpose of the law would be frustrated." Appellant's actions here were properly treated as being a refusal of the blood test.

Judgment affirmed. Bell, C. J., and Stolz, J., concur.

SUBMITTED OCTOBER 6, 1976 — DECIDED OCTOBER 27, 1976 — REHEARING DENIED DECEMBER 8, 1976.


Summaries of

Rayburn v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 27, 1976
231 S.E.2d 383 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976)
Case details for

Rayburn v. State

Case Details

Full title:RAYBURN v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Oct 27, 1976

Citations

231 S.E.2d 383 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976)
231 S.E.2d 383

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