Lytle v. State Dept. of Licensing

971 P.2d 969, 94 Wash. App. 357
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 25, 1999
Docket16910-3-III
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 971 P.2d 969 (Lytle v. State Dept. of Licensing) 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
Lytle v. State Dept. of Licensing, 971 P.2d 969, 94 Wash. App. 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinions

Schultheis, C.J.

— Howard Lytle appeals the Department of Licensing’s (DOL) revocation of his driver’s license under RCW 46.20.308 (the implied consent law) for his refusal to take a breath analysis test to determine his blood alcohol content. Mr. Lytle contends the DOL revocation hearing violated his due process rights because he was denied a meaningful opportunity to be heard. We agree.

The majority of the underlying facts are undisputed by [359]*359the parties. Late in the evening of June 28, 1996, off-duty Spokane County Deputy Sheriff T. Greenfield heard a vehicle skid and observed the vehicle resting across both lanes of traffic on Hastings Road. The driver repositioned the vehicle and continued driving. Deputy Greenfield then observed Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper J.F. Love stop the vehicle. Allegedly, Trooper Love questioned the driver, who did not answer the questions. Trooper Love observed the driver’s eyes to be watery and bloodshot, that the driver had poor hand-eye coordination and that a strong odor of intoxicants was evident.

Another WSP officer, Trooper Robert Bohling, arrived at the scene to assist at the request of Trooper Love. Upon his arrival, Trooper Bohling saw Trooper Love talking to the driver who was the only occupant of the stopped vehicle. Trooper Bohling placed Mr. Lytle under arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) of intoxicating liquor based on his failure to pass field sobriety tests.

Trooper Bohling transported Mr. Lytle to the station where a breath testing machine was located. Mr. Lytle was read his constitutional rights; he stated he understood them but refused to sign his acknowledgment on the form. Next, Trooper Bohling read Mr. Lytle the implied consent warning informing him of his right to refuse to submit to the test and the consequences of such a refusal. Again Mr. Lytle stated he understood but refused to sign his acknowledgment. Mr. Lytle was asked on two occasions to submit to the breath test, refusing both times. Trooper Bohling submitted to the DOL a Report of Refusal to Submit to Breath/Blood Test by Mr. Lytle. The DOL issued Mr. Lytle a marked license.

Mr. Lytle timely requested an administrative hearing to challenge his license suspension. Additionally, he requested that the DOL issue subpoenas for officers Love, Bohling and Greenfield. The DOL complied with these requests.

Two of the three subpoenaed officers did not appear at the first scheduled hearing. Only Trooper Bohling appeared at the hearing as ordered. Trooper Love was not served [360]*360because he had retired from the force and the WSP was unable/unwilling to provide information on how to locate him. The hearing officer found Mr. Lytle had used due diligence in trying to serve the subpoena on Trooper Love. Deputy Greenfield was properly served but did not appear. Mr. Lytle requested a dismissal, which was denied. A continuance was granted and the subpoenas were reissued.

Deputy Greenfield was properly served a second subpoena. However, prior to the second hearing, he called to advise the parties he could not appear due to another court conflict. Mr. Lytle was unable to serve new subpoenas on Troopers Love and Bohling and they did not appear at the second hearing. Trooper Love remained unavailable due to his retirement. The WSP refused to serve the second subpoena on Trooper Bohling because it did not reach them until five days prior to the hearing.1 As a result, Mr. Lytle was unable to cross-examine the officers.

Mr. Lytle again moved for a dismissal due to the unavailability of witnesses, which was again denied as improper. Based solely on the certified written reports of Troopers Bohling and Love and RCW 46.20.308(8),2 the hearing officer sustained the DOL’s decision to revoke Mr. Lytle’s driving privileges for one year.

Mr. Lytle timely appealed the revocation to the Spokane County Superior Court, properly serving notice on the DOL. The revocation was affirmed. This appeal followed.

The implied consent law provides that a person who drives in this state is deemed to have consented to a test to [361]*361determine the alcohol content of his/her blood or breath if arrested for suspicion of DUI.3 If the arrested driver refuses to submit to the testing procedure, his or her driver’s license will be revoked by the DOL.4

If a license is revoked based on a person’s refusal to submit to a testing procedure, that person has the right to request an administrative hearing regarding the revocation. The scope of this hearing includes: (1) whether a law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor; (2) whether the person was placed under arrest; and (3) whether the person refused to submit to the tests on the arresting officer’s request after being informed that such refusal would result in the revocation of the person’s privilege to drive.5 The result of this administrative hearing is reviewable in superior court, based on the administrative record.6

Mr. Lytle contends his due process rights were violated when, at his license revocation hearing, he was unable to cross-examine the officers who had stopped and arrested him on suspicion of DUI. Revocation of a driver’s license for a statutorily defined cause implicates a protectible property interest that must comply with due process. Bell v. Burson, 402 U.S. 535, 539, 91 S. Ct. 1586, 29 L. Ed. 2d 90 (1971); Gibson v. Department of Licensing, 54 Wn. App. 188, 194, 773 P.2d 110, review denied, 113 Wn.2d 1020 (1989). The State has the burden of proving the revocation of a person’s license complied with due process. State v. Storhoff, 133 Wn.2d 523, 527, 946 P.2d 783 (1997).

In Flory v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 84 Wn.2d 568, 571, 527 P.2d 1318 (1974), our Supreme Court held that a license to drive may not be revoked without a hearing that [362]*362satisfies the requirements of due process, including the right to confront witnesses. See also State v. Whitney, 78 Wn. App. 506, 510, 897 P.2d 374, review denied, 128 Wn.2d 1003 (1995), which held that procedural due process is required before suspension of a driver’s license is effective.

Mr. Lytle timely and properly requested a hearing regarding his license revocation. He maintains he was not given a fair hearing because he was not allowed to cross-examine the officers who submitted evidence against him. We agree.

Due process requires notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. Whitney, 78 Wn. App. at 510.

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Lytle v. State Dept. of Licensing
971 P.2d 969 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1999)

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971 P.2d 969, 94 Wash. App. 357, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lytle-v-state-dept-of-licensing-washctapp-1999.