Department of Licensing v. Sheeks

734 P.2d 24, 47 Wash. App. 65
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMarch 3, 1987
Docket7465-0-III
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 734 P.2d 24 (Department of Licensing v. Sheeks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Department of Licensing v. Sheeks, 734 P.2d 24, 47 Wash. App. 65 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinions

Thompson, J.

Russell Sheeks' driver's license was revoked for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test after his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. The trial court reinstated his license, finding he was suffering from hypothermia rather than the effects of alcohol when he refused the Breathalyzer test, which caused him to be confused so that he did not understand the implied consent warning. The Department of Licensing appeals the reinstatement of Mr. Sheeks' driver's license. We reverse.

On December 23, 1983, at about 11:30 p.m., Russell Sheeks was stopped by Washington State Trooper Curtis Miller after Trooper Miller observed Mr. Sheeks driving erratically. Trooper Miller testified Mr. Sheeks staggered, leaned against his vehicle, had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred his speech, and smelled of alcohol. Trooper Miller had Mr. Sheeks perform four sobriety tests and, based on his performance and the other indicators, concluded Mr. Sheeks had been driving under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Sheeks was placed under arrest at that time and transported to the Washington State Patrol office. At the patrol office, Trooper Miller advised Mr. Sheeks of his constitutional rights, at which time Mr. Sheeks was allowed to call [67]*67his attorney. Thereafter, Trooper Miller read Mr. Sheeks the implied consent warning and asked him to submit to a chemical test of his breath. Mr. Sheeks, according to the trooper, then stated he was refusing the test on the advice of his attorney. Mr. Sheeks testified he remembered the trooper warning him: "This is it or you go to jail", in the context of discussing the machine's accuracy. The trooper further testified that Mr. Sheeks did not indicate he lacked understanding of the warning given to him that his driver's license would be revoked if he refused to take the test. Mr. Sheeks was released and left the patrol office, waiting outside in the cold until his ride arrived. Weather that night was extremely cold, being approximately 41 degrees below zero, taking into account the wind chill factor. Mr. Sheeks was wearing a sport coat but no overcoat, and he testified the heater in his car had not been working prior to his being stopped.

Trooper Miller sent his sworn report to the Department of Licensing attesting to Mr. Sheeks' refusal to submit to the Breathalyzer test. The Department revoked Mr. Sheeks' driver's license for 1 year pursuant to RCW 46.20-.308. The Department's action was affirmed at an administrative hearing. Mr. Sheeks appealed to superior court, which reversed the Department's decision and reinstated Mr. Sheeks' driving privileges.

The issues are whether the trial court erred in finding that Mr. Sheeks was suffering from hypothermia rather than the effects of alcohol on the night in question; whether Mr. Sheeks was confused at the time he was given the implied consent warnings; and whether the trooper knew or should have known Mr. Sheeks was confused at the time the implied consent warnings were given. The Department of Licensing contends the evidence does not support the court's findings nor does it support the conclusions that Mr. Sheeks' license revocation should be set aside and his driving privileges reinstated. The Department assigns error to the findings that:

[68]*68VIII
Based on the expert testimony of Richard Elston, M.D., more likely than not, Russell K. Sheeks was suffering from hypothermia rather than the [e] fleets of alcohol.
XIII
At the time Russell K. Sheeks was given the implied consent warning he was confused and did not understand that warning.
XIV
Trooper Miller knew or should have known that Russell K. Sheeks was confused at the time the implied consent warning was given because of the length of time Petitioner was out in the -40 degree weather and because Petiti[o]ner was skimp[i]ly clad at that time.

RCW 46.20.308 directs the Department to revoke a person's license or permit to drive if it receives a sworn report from a law enforcement officer that an arrested DWI suspect has refused to submit to a chemical test of his breath after being informed his refusal will result in revocation of his privilege to drive. RCW 46.20.308 also provides that any person who operates a motor vehicle within this state is deemed to have given consent to a chemical test to determine the alcohol content of his blood. The statute will allow a person to withdraw his preimposed consent by refusing to take the test after being fully advised of the consequences. Strand v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 8 Wn. App. 877, 881, 509 P.2d 999 (1973). The statute contemplates that drivers will be given an opportunity to make a knowing and intelligent decision whether to take the test. Schoultz v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 89 Wn.2d 664, 669, 574 P.2d 1167 (1978). If a driver explicitly exhibits his lack of understanding or confusion regarding the information given, the officer must clarify that information. A driver has the burden of showing his confusion was apparent to the officer and that he was thereafter denied clarification. Strand, at 883.

Our review is limited to whether substantial evidence supports the trial court's findings and whether those find[69]*69ings support the conclusions of law and judgment. Group Health Coop. of Puget Sound, Inc. v. Department of Rev., 106 Wn.2d 391, 397, 722 P.2d 787 (1986). Substantial evidence is evidence in sufficient quantum to persuade a fair-minded person of the truth of the declared premise. Nichols Hills Bank v. McCool, 104 Wn.2d 78, 82, 701 P.2d 1114 (1985).

The controlling issue is whether Mr. Sheeks met his burden of showing he was confused. We have examined the record and conclude there is not sufficient evidence to support the trial court's findings. In conducting this review, we have been careful to do no more than search for the presence of evidence and not to weigh it or evaluate credibility. We recognize determinations of credibility and weight are within the province of the trier of fact, which this court is not.

Dr. Elston was called by defendant as an expert witness. He was asked to describe the symptoms a person would exhibit if, for 10 to 20 minutes, he was out in 41 degrees below zero weather, clothed in a light sport coat rather than an overcoat. The doctor then described cold injury as classified into two categories. One would be the effect of the cold on hands and feet, numbness, peripheral vascular insufficiency progressing possibly to misuse of the limbs, and possibly even gangrene. The second category would be effects resulting in the dropping of central body temperature with symptoms of shivering or tremors of the body, including hands, feet, mouth and lips.

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Department of Licensing v. Sheeks
734 P.2d 24 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1987)

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734 P.2d 24, 47 Wash. App. 65, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/department-of-licensing-v-sheeks-washctapp-1987.