Summary
In Wilson v. Commonwealth, 53 Pa. Commw. 342, 417 A.2d 867 (1980), this court concluded that a police officer had reasonable grounds to believe a motorist was driving where the officer observed the motorist leaving a vehicle, which was parked on a private lawn.
Summary of this case from Lewis v. CommonwealthOpinion
Argued April 11, 1980
August 4, 1980.
Motor vehicles — Suspension of motor vehicle operator's license — Refusal of breath test — The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P.L. 58 — Reasonable grounds for belief by officer — Unequivocal assent — Request for attorney.
1. A motor vehicle operator's license is properly suspended when the Commonwealth proves that an arresting officer had reasonable grounds to believe the licensee had been driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, that the licensee was arrested and so charged, that the licensee was requested to submit to a breath test and that he refused to submit to such test. [345]
2. A response by a driver to a properly requested breath test that he would do nothing until he talked to his attorney does not constitute an unequivocal assent to a breath test and is thus a refusal of such a test subjecting the driver to action suspending his motor vehicle operator's license under provisions of The Vehicle Code, Act 1959, April 29, P.L. 58. [345-6]
Argued April 11, 1980, before President Judge CRUMLISH, and Judges BLATT and CRAIG, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 996 C.D. 1977, from the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County in case of Hugh W. Wilson v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, No. 77-05196.
Suspension of motor vehicle operator's license by Secretary of Transportation. Licensee appealed to the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County. Suspension sustained. Licensee appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
J. Scott Maxwell, with him Marc D. Jonas, Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin Maxwell, for appellant.
Harold H. Cramer, Assistant Attorney General, with him Maurice Levin and Francis P. Bach, Assistant Attorneys General, Ward T. Williams, Chief Counsel, and Edward G. Biester, Jr., Attorney General, for appellee.
This is another appeal based on an erroneous test of the breathalyzer issue. The Montgomery County Common Pleas Court sustained the license suspension of Hugh W. Wilson for six months under Section 624.1(a) of the Vehicle Code. We affirm.
Act of April 29, 1959, P.L. 58, as amended. Section 624.1 was added by Section 1 of the Act of July 28, 1961, P.L. 918, as amended, formerly 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 624.1, repealed by the Act of July 17, 1976, P.L. 162. A similar provision is now found in the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C. S. § 1547
On November 18, 1976, Wilson was observed leaving a vehicle stopped on a private lawn in Whitpain Township. The administration of a field sobriety test was unsatisfactory and the arresting officer summoned the township's breathalyzer expert to the scene. Wilson was informed of his rights and advised that refusal to submit to the breathalyzer test would result in license suspension. Wilson wanted to speak with his attorney prior to submitting to the test. Affirming the license suspension, the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court found there were reasonable grounds for the breathalyzer test as well as a definite refusal to its administration.
We must determine whether the lower court erred in finding that (1) the police officer had reasonable grounds to believe Wilson was driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and (2) Wilson's refusal of the chemical test warranted license suspension.
The lower court's decision on both issues, if supported by the record, free from legal error, and untouched by an abuse of discretion, is final and not to be disturbed on appeal. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety v. Drugotch, 9 Pa. Commw. 460, 308 A.2d 183 (1973).
Our caselaw is clearly and finally dispositive of both issues. In McMahon v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 39 Pa. Commw. 260, 263, 395 A.2d 318, 320 (1975), we enumerated the Commonwealth's burden:
For the proper suspension of an operator's license pursuant to Section 624.1(a) of the Code the arresting officer must initially have 'reasonable grounds' to believe that the person has been driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Commonwealth v. Miles, 8 Pa. Commw. 544, 304 A.2d 704 (1973). In addition the Commonwealth must show (1) that the defendant was placed under arrest (2) that he was charged with the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor (3) that he was requested to submit to a breathalyzer test and (4) that he refused to comply with the test.
See also Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety v. Shultz, 25 Pa. Commw. 598, 360 A.2d 754 (1976).
We may determine whether "reasonable grounds" existed only on a case-by-case basis by asking if "a reasonable person in the position of the police officer could have concluded that the motorist was operating the vehicle and under the influence of intoxicating liquor." Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety v. Dreisbach, 26 Pa. Commw. 201, 363 A.2d 870 (1976). When coupled with the circumstances surrounding the incident, record testimony on Wilson's appearance and behavior convinces us that "reasonable grounds" existed to support the lower court's decision.
On the second issue, we have consistently held that "anything substantially short of an unqualified unequivocal assent to an officer's request to an arrested motorist" is a refusal. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety v. Herman, 49 Pa. Commw. 201, 203, 410 A.2d 1296, 1297 (1980). The record reveals the following exchange with Wilson:
Q At all times that you were questioned, with regard to whether or not you would take a breathalyzer test, what was your response?
A That I wanted to talk to my lawyer first,
with corroborating testimony from the breathalyzer officer:
He at that time was asked to submit to a breathalyzer test, at which time Mr. Wilson replied, 'I want to talk to my attorney first before I do anything.'
. . . .
The fourth time I explained to Mr. Wilson that I was looking for either a yes, or no, answer, and that if he gave me the same reply I would have to consider it as a refusal.
I then directed the same question . . . at which time he gave me the same reply, 'I want to talk to my attorney first before I do anything.' He also put at the end, 'It's a refusal then.'
In Herman, supra, where the arresting officer's request met with a similar response, we concluded that such testimony clearly established a refusal to submit to the test. We see nothing to distinguish the case before us.
Accordingly, we
ORDER
NOW, August 4, 1980, the order of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, dated June 29, 1977, is affirmed.