Commonwealth v. Barud

27 Pa. D. & C.4th 399, 1994 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 39
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Alleghany County
DecidedSeptember 19, 1994
Docketno. CC9402512
StatusPublished

This text of 27 Pa. D. & C.4th 399 (Commonwealth v. Barud) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Alleghany County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Barud, 27 Pa. D. & C.4th 399, 1994 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 39 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994).

Opinion

LITTLE, J,

BACKGROUND

The defendant, David M. Barud, was charged at criminal information no. 9402512 with three violations of [400]*400Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code: (1) driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, in violation of 75 Pa.C.S. §3731(a)(1); (2) driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, in violation of 75 Pa.C.S. §3731(a)(5); and (3) stop signs and yield signs (a summary offense) in violation of 75 Pa.C.S. §3323.

A pre-trial conference, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure was held on May 20, 1994 at which time a trial date was set for July 6, 1994. The defendant, also on May 20, 1994, filed omnibus pre-trial motions: (1) two motions to suppress evidence; (2) motion to quash summary offense; (3) motion to dismiss summary offense; (4) motion to suppress statements; (5) motion in limine; and (6) motion to dismiss (unconstitutionality). On June 3, 1994 the defendant filed a brief in support of omnibus pre-trial motions. On June 22, 1994 the Commonwealth filed a brief in reply to the defendant’s omnibus pre-trial motions. On August 1, 1994 the Commonwealth filed a petition to amend criminal information. On August 3, 1994 the Commonwealth filed a supplemental brief in opposition to defendant’s omnibus pre-trial motions. On August 19, 1994 the Commonwealth filed a brief in support of petition to amend criminal information. On August 29, 1994 the defendant filed a brief in opposition to Commonwealth’s petition to amend criminal information. On July 6, 1994, a hearing was held on the defendant’s omnibus pre-trial motions and the following facts were revealed.

FACTS

Officer Richard Alfred Szurlej, who was employed as a part-time police officer with Reserve Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, testified that while [401]*401on routine patrol on December 15, 1993 he observed the defendant, David M. Barud, operating his Chevrolet station wagon in Reserve Township on Spring Garden Avenue. A stop sign on Spring Garden Avenue controls the intersection of Spring Garden Avenue and Mount Troy Road. Officer Szurlej testified that he observed the defendant drive past the stop sign prior to stopping in the intersection of Spring Garden Avenue and Mount Troy Road prior to making a left hand turn onto Mount Troy Road. Office Szurlej followed the defendant for about one quarter of a mile and then activated his lights in an attempt to stop the defendant. The defendant did pull his vehicle to a stop. Officer Szurlej testified that defendant exited his vehicle and stumbled as he got out and walked towards the police vehicle. Officer Szurlej ordered the defendant to return to his vehicle. Officer Szurlej approached the defendant’s vehicle and observed that the defendant’s vehicle registration and inspection sticker were expired. The officer also noticed and observed that the defendant had a strong odor of alcohol, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and that his speech was slurred. Officer Szurlej administered three field sobriety tests which he indicated that the defendant failed. It was testified to that the defendant was actually stopped at 2:20 a.m. and that he was placed under arrest at 2:34 a.m. The defendant was asked to take a blood test, which he consented to, and blood was drawn at 2:55 a.m. with the result being 0.15 percent blood alcohol content. At 3:25 a.m. Officer Szurlej informed the defendant of his constitutional rights (Miranda warnings) and after waiver of his Miranda rights the defendant admitted to having consumed seven beers between the hours of 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. prior to his arrest.

Sergeant Fred Boory Jr., of the Reserve Township Police Department, testified that Mount Troy Road and Spring Garden Road were Allegheny County maintained roads and that Reserve Township was not responsible [402]*402for the traffic control devices and maintenance of the roadways. The defense at the July 6, 1994 hearing did not present any testimony.

ANALYSIS

I. Was the Defendant Lawfully Stopped for Violation of Stop Signs and Yield Signs, 75 Pa.C.S §3323(b)?

The defendant initially contends that he did not violate any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code, specifically that he did not run the stop sign at the intersection of Spring Garden Avenue and Mount Troy Road, and thus no probable cause existed upon which a traffic stop could be effectuated. By review of the facts the trial court is of the opinion that the defendant did not properly stop at the aforementioned stop sign which constituted a violation of 75 Pa.C.S. §3323(b). (See Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1960); and Commonwealth v. Kloch, 230 Pa. Super 563, 327 A.2d 375 (1974).)

The section of the Motor Vehicle Code in question, 75 Pa.C.S. §3323(b), stop signs and yield signs reads as follows:

“b. Duties at stop signs — Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or appropriately attired persons authorized to direct, control, or regulate traffic, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if none before entering a crosswalk of the near side of the intersection or, if none, then the point nearest the intersection, roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering.”

The trial court is of the opinion after a review , of the facts that the defendant violated section 3323(b) [403]*403of the Motor Vehicle Code by entering the intersection without first stopping as is mandated by the statute. The facts show that the defendant stopped his vehicle into the roadway of Mount Troy Road and not at the intersection or the stop sign. Thus, due to the fact that the defendant failed to stop prior to entering the intersection the officer had probable cause to stop and detain the defendant.

II. Whether the Summary Offense Should Be Quashed Because the Commonwealth May Not Combine Several Criminal Offenses Into a Single Count in a Criminal Information?

The summary count of the instant information charges the defendant with violation of section 3323 of the Motor Vehicle Code and reads as follows:

“1 Count; Stop Signs and Yield Signs; Summary: The actor drove a vehicle approaching a stop sign and failed to stop at a point described in this section; or having stopped, failed to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian or another vehicle described in this section; or drove a vehicle approaching a yield sign and failed to follow the instructions described in this section, in violation of section 3323 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, in violation of section 3323 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Act of June 17,1976, 75 Pa.C.S. §3323.” (emphasis added)

The defendant contends that the criminal information does not set forth which alleged subsection was violated. Rule 225(5), Pa.R.Crim.P. states that the Information shall contain: “a plain and concise statement of the essential elements of the offense substantially the same as or cognate to the offense alleged in the complaint. ” A review of the record reveals that the original complaint [404]

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Bluebook (online)
27 Pa. D. & C.4th 399, 1994 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 39, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-barud-pactcomplallegh-1994.