Commonwealth v. Tilburg

41 Pa. D. & C.5th 486

This text of 41 Pa. D. & C.5th 486 (Commonwealth v. Tilburg) 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. Tilburg, 41 Pa. D. & C.5th 486 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).

Opinion

BUTTS, /.,

On April 16, 2014, the defendant filed an omnibus pretrial motion. A hearing on [488]*488the motion was held on July 15,2014.

I. Background

On December 21, 2013, around 12:30 A.M., Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Adam Kirk (Kirk) was operating an unmarked police car on Market Street in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Kirk observed a red Ford car pull out of a parking spot on Market Street. Kirk did not see the car’s turn signal as it pulled out of the spot. The car began to travel in the opposite direction as Kirk, so Kirk made a U-tum and followed the car about a half of a mile to an entrance ramp of Interstate 180. While following the car, Kirk did not observe any erratic driving. The driver used a turn signal to get on the entrance ramp, where Kirk stopped the car. During the preliminary hearing, Kirk testified that he did not stop the car immediately because there was no shoulder on the section of Market Street.

Kirk observed a driver and a passenger in the car. He identified the driver as David Tilburg (defendant). Kirk noticed that the defendant had glassy blood shot eyes. He also noticed a strong odor of alcoholic emitting from the car. Kirk asked the defendant where he was coming from. The defendant said that he was at work. Kirk asked the defendant how much he had to drink that night, and the defendant responded that he had had one drink. Kirk then asked the defendant to get out of the car and preform field sobriety tests.

Before administering the tests, Kirk asked the defendant if he was taking any medication or had any medical [489]*489conditions. The defendant said that he took Tylenol with codeine but had not taken it since 5:00 P.M. on December 20, 2013. Kirk asked the defendant if he had any physical problems. The defendant did not mention any physical problems. While the defendant was walking to the front of Kirk’s car, Kirk noticed that he had “a stumbled stagger in his leg.” Kirk also noticed that the defendant put his hand on the car fender. Kirk believed the defendant did this to steady himself. Kirk explained the horizontal nystagmus test, and the defendant said he understood the test. Kirk administered the test and determined that the defendant did not complete it to satisfaction. Kirk explained the walk and turn test, and the defendant said that he understood it. Kirk administered the test and determined that the defendant did not complete it to satisfaction. Kirk explained the one-leg-stand test, but the defendant said he could not preform the test because he had arthritis in his feet. Kirk did not administer the one-leg-stand. Based on his training and experience, Kirk determined that the defendant was incapable of driving safely. He arrested the defendant and took him to the Lycoming County DUI Processing Center.

At the DUI Processing Center, the defendant was asked questions by Officer Kontz (Kontz) of the Williamsport Bureau of Police. The defendant was videotaped as he answered Kontz’s questions. The following is a recap of the videotape.

Kontz began by asking the defendant for the following information: (1) phone number, (2) height, (3) weight, (4) eye color, (5) whether he had any scars, marks, or tattoos, [490]*490(6) place of birth, (7) whether he was employed, (8) model, color, and owner of the car involved in the traffic stop. Kontz then read the implied consent warnings to the defendant. Kontz asked the defendant if he understood the warnings. The defendant responded that he did not understand them and asked Kontz questions about the content of warnings. Kontz again explained the implied consent warnings, and the defendant said that he understood them. Kontz then asked if the defendant was going to submit to a blood draw, and the defendant responded by asking if he could have his lawyer present. Kontz explained that he could not talk with his lawyer before deciding whether to submit to the draw. The defendant then told Kontz that he had a friend who refused a blood draw and was not convicted of DUI. Kontz again asked the defendant if he was going to submit to the blood draw. The defendant then asked whether he could speak to his lawyer. He also asked what would happen if he refused the blood draw. Kontz said that he could not speak with his lawyer and again explained the implied consent warnings. The defendant then asked why he was pulled over. Kontz responded that he did not know why he was pulled over and told the defendant that there were consequences if he refused the blood draw. The defendant asked if he could really go to jail for five years. Kontz told the defendant that he could go to jail for a maximum of five years if he refused the draw. Kontz then asked the defendant if he was going to submit to the blood draw. The defendant said he was not speeding or swerving. He also said he might not use his turn signal all the time. Kirk then told the defendant that he was pulled [491]*491over because he did not use a turn signal. The defendant asked Kirk where he did not use a turn signal. Kontz directed the defendant to answer whether he was going to submit to the blood draw. The defendant then told Kontz that he was refusing the blood draw and understood the consequences of the refusal.

The defendant asked Kontz what would happen if the person in the passenger seat was driving the car. Kontz responded that the passenger was not driving. The defendant asked whether the police could prove that he was driving the car. Kontz responded that he thought the police could prove it. The defendant then asked Kontz whether he could say something. After Kontz warned him that the camera was running, the defendant talked about witnessing police officers get pulled over while driving drunk but not get arrested. Kontz then advised the defendant of his Miranda rights. The following exchange took place:

Kontz: Sir, do you understand those rights?
Defendant: I understand everything.
Kontz: With those rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me now without having an attorney present?
Defendant: No.

Unprompted by Kontz, the defendant discussed his frustration about police officers not getting arrested for drunk driving. The defendant also discussed his medical problems. Kontz then asked the defendant to sign a form [492]*492stating that he had been advised of the implied consent warnings. The defendant said that he would not sign the form. The following exchange then took place:

Defendant: I disagree with this whole thing. This doesn’t make any sense to me.
Kontz: Well you’re drinking and driving. And you’ve been brought here because you were arrested for drinking a driving.
Defendant: You’re getting mad at me.
Kontz: Well no. I’m not sure what part you don’t understand.
Defendant: I don’t understand. I’ve got a serious problem with. It doesn’t even matter, you’re not going to understand that either. You used to know me when I was in good shape.
Kontz: I do remember you Mr. Tilburg, yes.
Defendant: I’m not in good shape anymore. I’m done for. I’m going down the hill.
Kontz: These are the Miranda rights I read to you. Asked if you understood the rights.

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Bluebook (online)
41 Pa. D. & C.5th 486, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-tilburg-pactcompllycomi-2014.