Knight v. State

16 Fla. Supp. 2d 121
CourtCircuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida
DecidedMarch 17, 1986
DocketCase No. 84-1114 CA
StatusPublished

This text of 16 Fla. Supp. 2d 121 (Knight v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Knight v. State, 16 Fla. Supp. 2d 121 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1986).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

RICHARD O. WATSON, Circuit Judge.

When Deputy Sheriff Naughton and rescue arrived at the one car accident, they discovered a 1980 Datsun on its roof in the median of I-95. Rescue, the first on the scene, found Defendant Knight, sitting on [122]*122the running board of a fire truck which had responded to the incident. The accident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. or after.

Deputy Naughton observed Defendant’s eyes were a little bloodshot, smelled alcohol on Defendant’s breath and noticed Defendant weáving a little when he stood, but not much.

When FHP Trooper Tayloe arrived, after conducting his accident investigation, Trooper Tayloe advised Defendant he was conducting a criminal investigation. He advised Defendant of his constitutional rights and Defendant acknowledged he understood them. Trooper Tayloe then asked Defendant who owned the car and who was driving the car. Defendant replied he owned the car and he was driving it. Defendant had the keys to the car in his possession.

Trooper Tayloe noticed a strong smell of alcoholic beverages on Defendant’s breath, noticed his eyes were watery and his face flushed. Defendant was talkative and “on the carefree side”. He had difficulty standing and had to place his hand on objects for support. The trooper testified he showed the customary disorientation that accident victims show. The trooper denied that Defendant was confused at the scene, but appeared disorientated at the time of the breathalyzer test.

Defendant was transported to the hospital, treated and released. While there a blood test was taken at 3:41 a.m. at the request of the trooper. The test showed Defendant had a blood alcohol level of .21 percent. Defendant was then transported to jail where he was given a field sobriety test at 4:35 a.m. and a breathalyzer test at 4:42 a.m. He failed to satisfactorily perform the field test and the breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol level was .19 percent. Defendant told the trooper he had been drinking and when asked how many he answered, “four in the last hour”. Defendant also told the trooper that he had started drinking at 8:30 p.m. and stopped drinking at 10:30 p.m. The booking report indicates Defendant was 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 165 pounds.

Paramedic Herring testified that Defendant was shook up from the accident, but could ambulate once he was assisted across the ditch. He appeared to be aware of what happened and was able to respond to questions regarding possible injuries. During the trip to the hospital Defendant took off a cervical collar telling rescue he did not need it. At the hospital he refused to sign himself in and started to leave, but Herring was able to talk him in to staying.

Defendant was charged with driving while under the influence of intoxicating beverages, F.S. 316.193, and driving with unlawful blood alcohol, F.S. 316.193(l)(b) and no valid driver’s license. Judgment of [123]*123acquittal was granted in the charge of driving without a valid driver’s license. Defendant was convicted on Count III of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having an unlawful blood alcohol level. His driver’s license was revoked for 5 years (this being his second DUI conviction within 3 years), a fine of $500.00 was imposed plus Court costs and he was placed on probation for 6 months.

Defendant raises five points on appeal. Point I: Whether Defendant’s statements were improperly admitted in violation of the corpus delicti rule.

Defendant admitted to the trooper that he was the owner and driver of the vehicle. That statement is only admissible if the State presents some independent proof, direct or circumstantial, of the corpus delicti. Corpus delicti need not be proved beyond reasonable doubt. It is sufficient if the evidence tends to show a crime was committed. The issue is whether the evidence of corpus delicti is prima facie sufficient to admit the statements of Defendant.

Defendant was found at the scene of the accident, appearing to be under the influence, appearing to have been in the accident and in possession of the keys to the only vehicle involved in the accident. No other person at the scene was an occupant of the vehicle and no evidence of any other occupant was found. The blood test and breathalyzer results were greater than .10 percent. That evidence tends to prove that Defendant did drive or was in actual physical control of a vehicle in Florida and had a blood alcohol level of .10 percent or above. County of Dade v. Pedigo, 181 So.2d 720 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966); State v. Allen, 335 So.2d 823 (Fla. 1976).

Point II: Whether Defendant’s statements were shown to have been voluntarily given.

Defendant was read his Miranda rights and stated he understood them. Defendant was able to converse with rescue regarding his injuries, was able to walk, was able to identify himself as the owner and driver and to relate where he had been and how much he had to drink. He was treated at the hospital and released.

Except for some disorientation which apparently is commonly seen in accident victims there is no indication that Defendant’s degree of intoxication was such as to render him incapable of understanding his rights and intelligently waiving those rights. As argued in the State’s brief — Defendant was too intoxicated to legally operate a motor vehicle, but not too intoxicated to knowingly and intelligently waive his constitutional rights. See Stevens v. State, 419 So.2d 1058 (Fla. 1982).

[124]*124Point III: Whether Defendant’s statements were privileged pursuant to Section 316.066(4), F.S. (1984).

Point III is without merit. The testimony is undisputed that upon completion of the accident investigation the trooper informed the Defendant he was conducting a criminal investigation and advised him of his constitutional rights. The filing of the supplemental accident report 15 days later did not affect the criminal investigation. The trooper is not barred from continuing his accident investigation after his criminal investigation is completed. In addition there was no showing as to what was contained in the supplemental report. The only purpose of the statute is to clothe with statutory immunity only such statements and communications as the driver, owner or occupant of a vehicle is compelled to make in order to comply with Section 316.066(1) and (2), F.S. Much evidence appearing on an accident report is admissible at trial. See Brackin v. Boles, 452 So.2d 540 (Fla. 1984).

Point IV: The breathalyzer, blood test and field sobriety test results were inadmissible because of their irrelevance, remoteness and prejudicial effect.

The blood test was taken 2 hours and 41 minutes after the approximately time of the accident, 1:00 a.m. The breathalyzer was taken at 4:42 a.m. The tests reveal Defendant’s blood alcohol content at the time of the tests, but not at the time of the accident. What evidence is there to support the charge that Defendant had a blood alcohol content of .10 percent as of the time of the accident? The amount of the blood alcohol content at the time of the accident could have been proven by extrapolation by expert testimony or perhaps the Court could have taken judicial notice of a recognized formula for determining the rate of absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream and the rate of its elimination, thus proving the blood alcohol content of Defendant at 1:00 a.m.

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Related

Brackin v. Boles
452 So. 2d 540 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1984)
County of Dade v. Pedigo
181 So. 2d 720 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1966)
State v. Allen
335 So. 2d 823 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1976)
Stevens v. State
419 So. 2d 1058 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1982)
Fuller v. State
31 So. 2d 259 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1947)
State v. Murphy
453 N.E.2d 1304 (Girard Municipal Court, 1983)

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Bluebook (online)
16 Fla. Supp. 2d 121, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/knight-v-state-flacirct-1986.