Commonwealth v. Kiess

46 Pa. D. & C.5th 157
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lycoming County
DecidedApril 1, 2015
DocketNo. CR-1790-2014
StatusPublished

This text of 46 Pa. D. & C.5th 157 (Commonwealth v. Kiess) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lycoming County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Kiess, 46 Pa. D. & C.5th 157 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

LOVECCHIO, J.,

Defendant is charged by information filed on November 21,2014 with operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol, endangering the welfare of children, and related counts.

On July 4,2014 at approximately 10:15 p.m., defendant is alleged to have been operating a motor boat on the [159]*159West Branch of the Susquehanna River. It is alleged that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time, thus endangering the welfare of two minor children who also were occupants of the boat. Defendant’s BAG is alleged to have been .145%.

Defendant filed an extensive omnibus pretrial motion on January 15,2015. Defendant’s omnibus pretrial motion raises five separate issues. First, defendant contends that there was insufficient probable cause to arrest him. Second, defendant asserts that the HGN results cannot be utilized to establish probable cause. Third, defendant alleges that the portable breath test (PBT) results cannot be utilized to establish probable cause. Fourth and fifth, defendant contends that the Commonwealth cannot utilize either the HGN or PBT results at trial.

In an order dated February 9, 2015, following a conference, the court denied defendant’s second claim with respect to utilizing the HGN results with respect to the probable cause determination. Pursuant to Commonwealth v. Weaver, 76 A.3d 562 (Pa. Super. 2013), aff’d mem., 105 A.3d 656 (Pa. 2014), the court specifically rejected the assertion that law enforcement cannot rely upon the results of an HGN test when assessing probable cause to an arrest.

Defendant’s fourth and fifth claims regarding the admissibility of the HGN and PBT results were also disposed of in the February 9, 2015 order. Defendant’s claims were conceded by the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth will not reference or utilize the HGN or PBT results at trial.

A hearing and argument on defendant’s remaining two claims, consideration of the PBT results for probable [160]*160cause and the existence of probable cause, was held before the court on March 18, 2015.

Water Conversation Officer (WCO) Anthony Beers of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission testified on behalf of the Commonwealth. On July 4, 2014, he and WCO Kyler were patrolling the West Branch of the Susquehanna River near the Hiawatha boat dock.

At approximately 10:15 p.m., they were located in the middle of the channel observing boating traffic. It was the Fourth of July. The local fireworks were ending, the boating traffic was abnormally high, there was a high volume of boats, many boats were traveling upstream from the fireworks toward river lots, and the water conditions were choppy with varying size and number of wakes.

WCO Beers observed a small white vessel traveling upstream without the required 360 degree visibility stem light. He approached the boat to further investigate and noticed that there was a “weak stem light.” A flashlight had been fashioned on a pole at the back of the boat. The light contraption, however, did not meet the 360 degree visibility requirement. Accordingly, he initiated a stop of the boat.

WCO Beers identified defendant as the operator. WCO Beers came in close proximity to defendant. WCO Beers noticed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from defendant. Defendant’s eyes were also red, glassy and bloodshot. Near the stem of the boat, he observed what appeared to be more than one empty aluminum beer can. As well, defendant indicated that he last drank “an hour before.”

Because the water conditions were worsening (very [161]*161choppy, a lot of wakes, inconsistent wakes, fairly turbulent) and because of the instability of boats in general on the water as well as the presence of passengers on defendant’s boat, WCO Beers decided only to administer an HGN standard field sobriety test.

WCO Beers has extensive training and experience in DUI investigations and the administering of standard field sobriety tests including but not limited to HGN’s and PBT’s. Based upon this extensive training and experience, he is of the opinion that HGN tests are the “most reliable.”

WCO Beers brought defendant aboard his boat to administer the HGN. WCO Beers described the procedure in detail and how the test was administered to defendant. Pre-test questions were asked and answered, general instructions were provided to defendant and the test was administered while both WCO Beers and defendant were seated. According to the results, there were six clues, three on each eye including a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at the maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees.

On cross-examination, WCO Beers agreed that the conditions for administering the HGN were not ideal in light of the water conditions but maintained that the results were nonetheless indicative of impairment.

WCO Beers opined, following the HGN test, that defendant was operating the boat under the influence of alcohol to the extent defendant was incapable of safe operation. He decided then to administer the PBT.

The PBT device was an Aleo-sensor III. This device is an approved pre-arrest breath-testing device as required under 28 Pa. Code §§5.101-5.104 (relating to equipment [162]*162to determine blood alcohol content under, among others, the Fish and Boat Code). 44 Pa. Bull. 100 (January 4, 2014). The PBT result, .145, verified alcohol consumption. On cross-examination, WCO Beers testified that the PBT device was last calibrated in the spring of 2014. He also testified that the traceability time period as recommended was 20 minutes from the last drink. He testified that he complied with such because defendant indicated that he last drank over an hour ago. He further testified that he utilized the PBT results to determine the presence of alcohol, not necessarily the amount, and he maintained that for these purposes it was quite accurate.

Following the PBT and based upon all of the other observations as testified to by WCO Beers including the HGN results, he placed defendant under arrest for suspicion of DUI.

Defendant argues that, considering all of the circumstances, there was insufficient probable cause to arrest him. He contends that none of the factors relied upon by WCO Beers were reasonably trustworthy. He asserts that there was no evidence of poor operation of the boat or “bad boating”; no evidence of him stumbling, swaying or being unable to walk normally; and no evidence of him slurring his speech or not responding properly to questions. Defendant argues as well that WCO Beers failed to inquire into innocent explanations with respect to his allegedly bloodshot or glassy eyes. Defendant argues that WCO Beers failed to determine how much defendant drank or exactly how long ago. WCO Beers also failed to determine the exact number of empty cans or how much beer, if any, was in each can.

With respect to the HGN, defendant argues that it was not [163]*163reasonably trustworthy because of the water conditions and the circumstances under which it was administered. With respect to the PBT, defendant argues that it was not reasonably trustworthy, because it was not recently calibrated.

The Commonwealth contends, on the contrary, that the facts as presented were entirely sufficient to establish probable cause.

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Bluebook (online)
46 Pa. D. & C.5th 157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-kiess-pactcompllycomi-2015.