Munoz, Vicente

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: September 30, 2015
• Docket: PD-1276-15
• Status: Published

Opinion

PD-1276-15 PD-1276-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 9/25/2015 2:39:05 PM Accepted 9/30/2015 11:56:42 AM ABEL ACOSTA NO.PD-_ _ CLERK

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS

THE STATE OF TEXAS APPELLANT

v. VICENTE MUNOZ APPELLEE

THE STATE'S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CAUSE NUMBER 08-13-00164-CR

JAIME ESPARZA DISTRICT ATTORNEY 34th JUDICIAL DISTRICT

DOUGLAS K. FLETCHER ASST. DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE 500 E. SAN ANTONIO, ROOM 201 EL PASO, TEXAS 79901 (915) 546-2059 ext. 4402 FAX: (915) 533-5520 SBN: 24006412 September 30, 2015 ATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

APPELLANT: The State of Texas, 34th Judicial District Attorney's Office, represented in the trial court by: Jaime Esparza, District Attorney Ghalib A. Serang, Assistant District Attorney Dolores Reyes, Assistant District Attorney

On appeal by: Jaime Esparza, District Attorney Douglas K. Fletcher, Assistant District Attorney

and on petition for discretionary review by: Jaime Esparza, District Attorney Douglas K. Fletcher, Assistant District Attorney 500 E. San Antonio, Room 201 El Paso, Texas 79901 (915) 546-2059

APPELLEE: Vicente Munoz, represented in the trial court by: Cary Antwine 8732 Alameda St. El Paso, Texas 79901 (915) 85 8-0665

and on appeal by: Matthew DeKoatz P.O. Box 1886 El Paso, Texas 79950

TRIAL COURT: 171 st District Court, Honorable Judge Bonnie Rangel, presiding

COURT OF APPEALS: Eighth Court of Appeals, Honorable Chief Justice Ann Crawford McClure, Honorable Justice Yvonne T. Rodriguez, and Honorable Justice Steven Hughes

11 TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL 11

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES v

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT Vl

STATEMENT OF THE CASE Vll

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY Vlll

GROUNDS FOR REVIEW 1

FACTUAL SUMMARY 1-2

GROUND FOR REVIEW ONE: 3 The Eighth Court of Appeals erred in holding that a nonconsensual blood draw pursuant to the mandatory-blood-draw and implied-consent provisions set forth in Chapter 724 of the Texas Transportation Code violated the Fourth Amendment.

GROUND FOR REVIEW TWO: 4-6 The Eighth Court of Appeals erred in holding that the pre-McNeely warrantless blood draw in this case violated the Fourth Amendment where the officer obtained the blood-draw evidence based upon an objectively reasonable, but ultimately mistaken belief that the mandatory blood-draw provisions fell under a constitutionally valid exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement.

PRAYER 7

SIGNATURES 7

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 8

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 8

APPENDIX A 9

iii APPENDIXB 10

iv INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

FEDERAL CASES

Heien v. North Carolina, _U.S._, 135 S.Ct. 530, 190 L.Ed.2d. 475 (2014) .................................................................................. 4-6

McNeely v. Missouri, _U.S._, 133 S.Ct. 1552, 185 L.Ed.2d 696 (2014) ...................................................................................... 3

Michigan v. DeFillippo, 443 U.S. 31, 99 S.Ct. 2627, 61L.Ed.2d343 (1979) ........................................................................................ 5

STATE CASES

Burcie v. State, No. 08-13-00212-CR, 2015 WL 2342876 (Tex. App.-El Paso 14 May 2015, pet. filed) (not designated for publication) .......................................................................... 6

Munoz v. State, No. 08-13-00164-CR, 2015 WL 4719559 (Tex. App.-El Paso 31July2015, pet. filed) (not released for publication) ........................................................................ viii, 3

State v. Villarreal, No. PD-0306-14, 2014 WL 6734178 (Tex. Crim. App. 26 November 2014, reh'g granted)...................................... 3, 6

STATUTES AND RULES

TEX PENAL CODE §38.23(a) ............................................................................ 4

TEX. R. APP. P. 68.2(a) .................................................................................... v111

TEX. TRANSP. CODE §724.012(b)(3)(B) ..................................................... 2, 5

v STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

The State does not believe that oral argument is necessary in this case, as the

State's arguments are and will be set out fully in this petition and brief, should this

Court grant review. However, should this Court determine that oral argument

would be helpful in resolving the issue raised in this petition, the State would

certainly welcome the opportunity to appear before the Court.

Vl STATEMENT OF THE CASE

On 5 September 2009, Vicente Munoz (hereinafter referred to as Munoz)

was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). (SX 15-16). 1 Munoz refused to

perform any standardized field-sobriety tests (SFSTs) or submit a sample of his

breath. (SX 1 at 15-16). As Munoz had seven prior convictions for DWI, the

arresting officer took Munoz to a local hospital for a blood draw as mandated by

Texas law. (SX 1 at 16-17, 22). Munoz' blood-alcohol level was .25. (Supp. RR at

12, 31 ). On 26 June 2012, Munoz was indicted for the felony offense of DWI, third

or more. (CR at 3). The trial court denied Munoz' motion to suppress the evidence

from his warrantless blood draw. (SX 1 of RR 4 at 30, RR 2 at 23). A jury trial

began on 13 May 2013. (Supp. RR at 1). On 14 May 2013, the trial court, sua

sponte, set aside its prior order denying Munoz' motion to suppress the blood-draw

evidence and reopened the motion-to-suppress hearing. (RR 3 at 5, 10). After

receiving testimony from the arresting officer, the trial court granted Munoz'

motion to suppress, declared a mistrial, and dismissed the jury. (RR 3 at 6-17, 27).

1 Throughout this brief, references to the record will be made as follows: references to the clerk's record will be made as "CR" and page number; references to the reporter's record will be made as "RR" and volume and page number; references to the supplemental reporter's record will be made as "Supp. RR" and page number; and references to exhibits will be made as either "SX" or "DX" and exhibit number. Vll STATEMENT OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On 16 May 2013, the State requested that the trial court reconsider its order

granting Munoz' motion to suppress. (RR 4 at 4). The trial court denied the State's

motion to reconsider on 20 May 2013. (CR at 115). On 22 May 2013, the trial

court issued findings of fact and conclusions oflaw. (CR at 116-118). The State

timely filed notice of appeal on 6 June 2013. (CR at 120).

On 31July2015, the Eighth Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's

granting of Munoz' motion to suppress the results of his mandatory blood draw.

See Munoz v. State, No. 08-13-00164-CR, 2015 WL 4719559 at *7 (Tex. App.-El

Paso 31 July 2015, no pet. h.) (not yet released for publication). See (Appendix A).

On 14 August 2015, the State timely filed a request for rehearing. The

Eighth Court of Appeals denied, without written opinion, the State's motion for

rehearing on 26 August 2015.

The State now timely files this petition for discretionary review (PDR)

pursuant to rule 68.2(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R.

APP. P. 68.2(a).

Vlll GROUNDS FOR REVIEW

GROUND FOR REVIEW ONE: The Eighth Court of Appeals erred in holding that a nonconsensual blood draw pursuant to the mandatory-blood- draw and implied-consent provisions set forth in Chapter 724 of the Texas Transportation Code violated the Fourth Amendment.

GROUND FOR REVIEW TWO: The Eighth Court of Appeals erred in holding that pre-McNeely warrantless blood draw in this case violated the Fourth Amendment where the officer obtained the blood-draw evidence based upon an objectively reasonable, but ultimately mistaken belief that the mandatory blood-draw provisions fell under a constitutionally valid exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement.

FACTUAL SUMMARY

On 5 September 2009, El Paso Police Department Officer Jordan was

dispatched to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle that had stopped and

remained parked for a lengthy time with its engine off and its lights on. (SX 1 at

10). No one had entered or exited the vehicle. (SX 1 at 19). Officer Jordan

observed Munoz asleep in the driver's seat with a large can of beer between his

thighs. (SX 1 at 14). Officer Jordan detected a very strong odor of an unknown

alcoholic beverage emanating from Munoz and the vehicle. (SX 1 at 14 ). Officer

Jordan woke up Munoz. (SX 1 at 15). As Officer Jordan was talking with Munoz,

she noted that he had slurred speech and red, bloodshot eyes. (SX 1 at 15). When

Munoz exited the vehicle, Officer Jordan observed that he had an unsteady balance

and that he looked disheveled. (SX 1 at 15). Munoz refused Officer Jordan's

request that he perform some standardized field-sobriety tests (SFSTs) and provide

1 a sample of his breath. (SX 1 at 15-16). After being advised of his statutory rights,

Munoz again refused to submit to a breath test. (SX 1 at 16). Munoz was taken into

custody and transported to the police station. (SX 1 at 16). Officer Jordan learned

that Munoz had seven prior convictions for DWI. (SX 1 at 16-17, 22). As required

by section 724.012(b)(3)(B) of the Texas Transportation Code, Munoz was taken

to a local hospital where a blood sample was drawn. (SX 1 at 17). TEX. TRANSP.

CODE §724.012 (b)(3). Officer Jordan did not seek a warrant for the blood draw

due to the Texas mandatory blood-draw statute. (RR 3 at 14-15, 17). Munoz'

blood-alcohol level was .25. (Supp. RR at 12, 31 ).

2 GROUND FOR REVIEW ONE:The Eighth Court of Appeals erred in holding that a nonconsensual blood draw pursuant to the mandatory-blood- draw and implied-consent provisions set forth in Chapter 724 of the Texas Transportation Code violated the Fourth Amendment.

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

On 31 July 2015, the Eighth Court of Appeals rendered its decision

affirming the trial court's granting of Munoz' motion to suppress the results of his

mandatory blood draw. See Munoz, 2015 WL 4719559 at *7. See (Appendix A).

The Eighth Court of Appeals rejected the State's arguments that the United States

Supreme Court's decision in McNeely v. Missouri, _U.S._, 133 S.Ct. 1552, 185

L.Ed.2d 696 (2014), did not overrule the implied-consent provisions in the Texas

Transportation Code. See Munoz, 2015 WL 4719559 at *5. This Court has granted

the State's motion for rehearing in Villarreal2 regarding some of the same issues

presented by State in the present case. See (State's Motion for Rehearing and

Amended Motion for Rehearing in Villarreal). (Appendix B). In light of the

"uncertain precedential value" of Villarreal and the reasons set forth in the State's

brief on original appeal, this Court should grant the State's Petition for

Discretionary Review. See Munoz, 2015 WL 4719559 at *4 n.4, *5.

2 State v. Villarreal, No. PD-0306-14, 2014 WL 6734178 (Tex. Crim. App. 26 November 2014, reh' g granted). 3 GROUND FOR REVIEW TWO: The Eighth Court of Appeals erred in holding that the pre-McNeely warrantless blood draw in this case violated the Fourth Amendment where the officer obtained the blood-draw evidence based upon an objectively reasonable, but ultimately mistaken belief that the mandatory blood-draw provisions fell under a constitutionally valid exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement.

I. Munoz' pre-McNeely warrantless blood draw did not violate the Fourth Amendment.

The Texas exclusionary rule, as set forth in article 38.23 of the Texas Code

of Criminal Procedure, provides that "no evidence obtained by an officer or other

person in violation of any provision of the Constitution or laws of the State of

Texas or of the Constitution or laws of the United States of America, shall be

admitted in evidence against an accused on trial of any criminal case." TEX.

CODE CRIM PROC. art. 38.23(a). In the present case, the arresting officer acted

in objectively reasonable compliance with a presumptively valid statute, and thus,

there was no violation of the Fourth Amendment, and the exclusionary rule of

article 38.23 is not applicable.

On 15 December 2014, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion

in Heien v. North Carolina, _U.S._, 135 S.Ct. 530, 190 L.Ed.2d. 475 (2014). In

Heien, a North Carolina deputy sheriff conducted a traffic stop ofHeien after

observing that his vehicle had only one operable brake light. Id. at 534. The deputy

became suspicious when Heien and his passenger acted nervously and gave

4 inconsistent stories about their itinerary. Id. After Heien consented to a search of

his vehicle, the deputy found a plastic baggie containing cocaine. Id. Heien's

motion to suppress was denied by the trial court. Id. The North Carolina Court of

Appeals reversed, however, after determining that the traffic stop was illegal

because North Carolina law only required one working brake light. Id. at 535. The

case eventually reached the United States Supreme Court. Id. Declaring that "the

ultimate touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is reasonableness" and that "to be

reasonable is not to be perfect," the Court held that a reasonable, mistaken belief as

to the law does not violate the Fourth Amendment. Id. at 536.

At the time of Munoz' arrest for driving while intoxicated, Texas

Transportation Code section 724.012(b)(3)(B) clearly mandated that, due to his

prior DWI convictions, a sample of his blood be obtained. TEX. TRANSP. CODE

§724.012(b)(3)(B). Officer Jordan acted under an objectively reasonable belief that

the blood-draw statute was lawful. See Michigan v. DeFillippo, 443 U.S. 31, 38, 99

S.Ct. 2627, 61 L.Ed.2d343 (1979) (finding that the enactment of a law forecloses

speculation by law-enforcement officers concerning its constitutionality). As

recently stated in Heien, when "the law turns out not to be what was thought, the

result is the same," there is no violation of the Fourth Amendment. See Heien, 135

S.Ct. at 536. And because Munoz' blood draw was conducted in compliance with a

5 presumptively valid statute, the officers did not violate the law, and thus, there

was no Fourth Amendment violation. See Heien, 135 S.Ct. at 536. 3

3 Nothing in the record indicates that Officer Jordan's badge came with a crystal ball attached, and thus, she would have had no reason to believe her actions on 5 September 2009, were unlawful based on court decisions five years in the future, See, e.g., Villarreal, 2014 WL 6734178 at *1, decided on 26 November 2014; Burcie v. State, No. 08-13-00212-CR, 2015 WL 2342876at*1 (Tex. App.-El Paso 14 May 2015, pet. filed) (not designated for publication). 6 PRAYER

WHEREFORE, the State prays that this petition for discretionary review be

granted, and that upon hearing, the Court reverse the judgment of the Court of

Appeals and remand the case to the trial court for such proceedings as may be

appropriate.

Respectfully submitted,

Isl Douglas Fletcher DOUGLAS K. FLETCHER ASST. DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE 500 E. SAN ANTONIO, ROOM 201 EL PASO, TEXAS 79901 (915) 546-2059 ext. 4402 FAX: (915) 533-5520 EMAIL: dfletcher@epcounty.com SBN: 24006412

ATTORNEYS FOR THE STATE

7 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

The undersigned does hereby certify that the foregoing petition for discretionary

review contains 1192 words.

Isl Douglas Fletcher DOUGLAS K. FLETCHER

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned does hereby certify that on 25 September 2015:

( 1) a copy of the foregoing petition for discretionary review was electronically served upon appellee's attorney, Matthew DeKoatz at mateodekoatz@yahoo.com,

(2) a copy of the foregoing petition for discretionary review was electronically served upon the State's Prosecuting Attorney at Lisa.McMinn@spa.texas.gov

8 APPENDIX A

9 State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

2015 WL 4719559 Affirmed. Only the Westlaw citation is currently available.

NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT West Headnotes (4) BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PERMANENT LAW REPORTS. [1] Criminal Law UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT ~ Theory and Grounds of Decision TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL. in Lower Court Court of Appeals of Texas, Appellate court must uphold the trial El Paso. court's ruling if it is supported by the record and correct under any theory The State of Texas, Appellant, oflaw applicable to the case, and this v. principal holds true even when the Vicente Munoz, Appellee. trial judge gives the wrong reason for his decision, and is especially true No. 08-13-00164- with regard to admission of evidence. CR I July 31, 2015 Cases that cite this headnote Synopsis Background: State appealed from decision of the 171 st District Court, El Paso County, [2] Automobiles granting defendant's suppression motion. """" Right to take sample or conduct test; initiating procedure Automobiles ~ Grounds or cause; necessity for Holdings: The Court of Appeals, Yvonne T. arrest Rodriguez, J., held that: Nonconsensual search of intoxicated driving suspect's blood conducted [ 1] nonconsensual search of defendant's pursuant to the rnandatory-blood- blood conducted pursuant to the mandatory- draw and implied-consent provisions blood-draw and implied-consent provisions in the Transportation Code, when in Transportation Code violated the Fourth undertaken in the absence of a Amendment, and warrant or any applicable exception to the warrant requirement, violated [2] statute, providing that evidence may not the Fourth Amendment; there were be admitted unless evidence was obtained by no exigent circumstances, and officer acting upon a warrant, did not apply Transportation Code's mandatory- since no warrant was issued. blood-draw was not a valid exception State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

to the Fourth Amendment. U.S. Const. Amend. 4; Tex. Transp. Code Cases that cite this headnote Ann.§ 724.012(b).

Cases that cite this headnote Appeal from the 171 st District Court of El Paso [3] Courts County, Texas, (TC# 20120D03021) ~ In general; retroactive or prospective operation Attorneys and Law Firms Supreme Court's holding m Jaime E. Esparza, District Attorney, El Paso, McNeely, 133 S.Ct. 1552, that TX, for State. natural metabolization of alcohol in the bloodstream does not Matthew DeKoatz, Attorney at Law, for present a per se exigency that Appellee. justifies an exception to the Fourth Amendment's search warrant Before McClure, C. J., Rivera, and Rodriguez, requirement for nonconsensual JJ. blood testing in all drunk-driving cases, applied to case on direct appeal since case was not yet final OPINION when McNeely was decided. U.S. Const. Amend. 4. YVONNE T. RODRIGUEZ, Justice

Cases that cite this headnote *1 Vicente Munoz was charged by indictment of Felony driving while intoxicated. The State of Texas appeals the trial court's order granting [4] Criminal Law Vicente Munoz's motion to suppress his blood ~ Applicability when no warrant test result that was obtained as a result of his sought or yet obtained arrest for DWI. The trial court's findings of fact Exception to statute excluding and conclusions of law reflect the sole basis unconstitutionally obtained for suppression of the blood test result was the evidence, when the evidence was State's failure to show exigent circumstances to obtained by a law enforcement support the warrantless, non-consensual blood officer acting in objective good faith draw. Finding the State failed to establish a reliance upon a warrant, did not valid exception to the warrant requirement, we apply to case in which no warrant affirm the trial court's suppression order. was issued. U.S. Const. Amend. 4; Tex. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. art. 38.23(b). FACTUAL SUMMARY State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

On September 5, 2009, about 8: 17 p.m., El Paso After Munoz was placed in custody, it was Police Officer Jordan was on patrol when she determined he had seven prior convictions for was dispatched to a call involving a suspicious DWI. Based on Munoz's prior convictions, he vehicle. The reporter had observed a red pickup was immediately taken to the hospital for a truck sitting in the street, with the engine off mandatory blood draw. and the headlights on. Officer Jordan arrived at approximately 8:20 p.m. and spoke with the reporter. Officer Jordan approached the truck PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND on the driver's side. The officer discovered Munoz asleep in the front seat with a can of On December 14, 2012, the trial court, after beer between his legs, the keys in the ignition, a hearing on a motion to suppress statements, the engine off, and the headlights on. Officer evidence, and the blood test result, orally Jordan woke Munoz up and smelled a strong denied the motion. On May 2, 2013, Munoz odor of an alcoholic beverage. When Munoz filed a second motion to suppress the blood test exited the truck, the officer observed him to result relying on Missouri v. McNeely, - U.S. have an unsteady balance, red blood-shot eyes, - , 133 S.Ct. 1552, 185 L.Ed.2d 696 (2013). and exhibit slurred speech. Munoz refused to On May 6, 2013, the trial court heard argument submit to a breath test. Munoz was transported of counsel regarding Munoz's second motion to the station at 9: 13 p.m. The station is about to suppress and denied it again. On the day five to six blocks away and it takes a couple of of Munoz's jury trial, May 14, 2013, the trial minutes from Munoz's vehicle to arrive there. court heard additional testimony from Officer Jordan and suppressed the blood test result. 1 On the way to the station, Officer Jordan passed Munoz argued that no exigent circumstances the Municipal Court building which houses a were shown and a warrantless blood draw magistrate on duty from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. could not be permitted under McNeely. The every night. Officer Jordan stated that to get State argued McNeely did not apply in states a warrant, she would have to go before the which had legislatively-mandated blood draws magistrate, "get it signed and get the warrant." for repeat offenders such as Texas. Next, the She acknowledged she did not attempt to get State contended the blood test result should not a warrant nor was she prevented from getting be excluded because the officers were acting in one. Officer Jordan testified that she was aware good-faith reliance upon the law. that she could have obtained a warrant had she wanted. Officer Jordan explained to the The trial court heard the initial motion to suppress in court that she did not get a warrant because at December 2014. McNeeZv was decided in April 2013, that time the law allowed a mandatory blood and the trial court's suppression order was rendered a draw if an individual had two prior convictions. month later. She stated the only reason she failed to obtain *2 The trial court entered thirty-six findings the warrant was because she relied on the of fact and six conclusions of law. The relevant mandatory blood draw statute. Findings of Fact are as follows: State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

5. At 8:22 p.m., Detective Jordan arrived at 34. At 10:25 p.m., Officer Art Senclair 2 followed Texas Transportation Code the scene. section 724.012(b )(3)(B), and transported Defendant to Las Palmas hospital for a blood draw. 18. Defendant declined to submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) 35. Registered nurse Michael Windham and the breath test. drew Defendant's blood at Las Palmas hospital.

36. The lab result revealed that Defendant's 26. Approximately 10 minutes elapsed from blood alcohol level was 0.23. the time Detective arrived at the scene to the time Detective arrested the Defendant. The relevant Conclusions of Law are as follows:

1. Missouri v. McNeely, 133 S.Ct. 1552 28. At 9: 15 p.m., Defendant arrived at the requires exigent circumstances in order to station. conduct a warrantless blood draw. 29. At the station, EPPD Officer Art Senclair discovered that the Defendant had at least two prior Driving While Intoxicated 3. The State did not present any evidence that convictions. constituted exigent circumstances.

30. EPPD did not acquire a warrant to draw blood from the Defendant. 5. Texas Transportation Code, section 31. On September 5, 2009, Detective Jordan 724.012(b)(3)(B) allows for a warrantless could have acquired a warrant for a blood blood draw on an individual with two or draw, if she wanted to get one on that date. more previous DWI convictions.

32. On September 5, 2009, nothing 6. Pursuant to McNeely, this governmental prevented Detective Jordan from acquiring a interest does not justify a departure from warrant for a blood draw. obtaining a warrant, unless there are exigent circumstances present. 33. There is a magistrate on duty every night from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. at the 2 In 2013, at the time of the hearing, Officer Jordan had Municipal Court building which was closer been promoted to Detective. to the location where Defendant was arrested than the Police station where Defendant was transported.

Works. State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

Section 724.012(b), so therefore, the blood test result are not subject to the Fourth DISCUSSION Amendment's exclusionary rule. The State further argues Munoz's 2009 blood test result The State in a single point of error raises was not obtained in violation of the law, two sub-issues. First, the State contends that because the blood draw occurred prior to the the trial court erred by relying on Missouri issuance of McNeely in April 2013. The State v. McNeely in suppressing the warrantless asserts that in 2009, the officers acted in blood test result obtained pursuant to the "objective reasonable reliance" under existing implied-consent and mandatory-blood-draw precedent and Munoz's warrantless blood draw provisions in the Texas Transportation Code § was proper and therefore, not subject to 724.012(b). 3 SeeTEX.TRANSP.CODE ANN. exclusion under the Fourth Amendment. § 724.012(b)(West 2011). According to the State, McNeely decided the narrow issue of Munoz responds that under McNeely, a whether the dissipation of alcohol constituted a warrantless blood draw is reasonable only per se exigency that allowed for a warrantless if it falls within a recognized exception to blood draw in DWI cases. Therefore, the State the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement. concludes McNeely is inapplicable here given Munoz contends, under these facts, the State that the State relied on the Texas Transportation has failed to secure a warrant or prove any Code for implied consent of a warrantless permissible constitutional exception applies. blood-draw in DWI cases involving an accident or prior convictions. TEX.TRANSP.CODE ANN.§§ 724.011, 724.012(b). STANDARD OF REVIEW 3 TEX.TRANSP.CODE ANN.§ 724.012(b) provides: (b) a peace officer shall require the taking of a When reviewing a motion to suppress, specimen of the person's breath or blood under any we apply a bifurcated standard of review. of the following circumstances if the officer arrests SeeCrain v. State, 315 S.W.3d 43, 48 the person for an offense under Chapter 49, Penal Code, involving the operation of a motor vehicle ... (Tex.Crim.App.2010); State v. Terrazas, 406 and the person refuses the officer's request to submit S.W.3d 689, 692 (Tex.App.-El Paso 2013, to the taking of a specimen voluntarily: no pet.). We afford almost total deference (3) at the time of the arrest, the officer possesses or to the trial court's findings of historical receives reliable information from a credible source fact that are supported by the record, and that the person: to mixed questions of law and fact that (B) on two or more occasions, has been previously tum on an assessment of a witnesses' convicted of or placed on community supervision credibility or demeanor. Valtierra v. State, for an offense under Section 49.04 [misdemeanor 310 S.W.3d 442, 447 (Tex.Crim.App.2010); DWI] .... Amador v. State, 221 S.W.3d 666, 673 *3 Second, even if McNeely applies, the State (Tex.Crim.App.2007); Guzman v. State, 955 posits, the officers acted in objective reasonable S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex.Crim.App.1997). The trial reliance upon then-binding precedent and court's determination of legal questions and its State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

application of the law to facts that do not tum In Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, upon a determination of witness credibility and 86 S.Ct. 1826, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966), the demeanor are reviewed de nova. See Valtierra, United States Supreme Court held that an 310 S.W.3d at 447; Amador, 221 S.W.3d at involuntary blood draw is permissible under 673; Kothe v. State, 152 S.W.3d 54, 62-63 a Fourth Amendment analysis. Initially, the (Tex.Crim.App.2004); Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at Court noted that the taking of a blood specimen 89. from a person is a search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. Id. at 767, 86 S.Ct. at [1] When, as here, the trial judge makes 1834. The Court outlined "special facts" under express findings of fact, we must first which an involuntary blood draw is reasonable. determine whether the evidence, when viewed Id. at 770-771, 86 S.Ct. at 1835-36. The in the light most favorable to the trial court's Court's analysis concluded that, in light of the ruling, supports those findings. Valtierra, potential for the destruction of alcohol evidence 310 S.W.3d at 447; State v. Kelly, 204 in a person's body, and involuntary blood S.W.3d 808, 818 (Tex.Crim.App.2006). We draw is permitted under the Fourth Amendment review a trial court's legal ruling de nova. where there is a delay by law enforcement in State v. Iduarte, 268 S.W.3d 544, 548-49 investigating an accident; and there is no time (Tex.Crim.App.2008). Furthermore, we must to apply for a warrant and locate a magistrate. uphold the trial court's ruling if it is supported Id. by the record and correct under any theory of law applicable to the case. State v. White, 306 *4 In Missouri v. McNeely, the Court S.W.3d 753, 757 n. 10 (Tex.Crim.App.2010). expounded further, explicitly stating that a "This principal holds true even when the warrantless blood draw must fall under one trial judge gives the wrong reason for his of the recognized exceptions to the Fourth decision, and is especially true with regard to Amendment. 133 S.Ct. at 1558. The Court admission of evidence." State v. Esparza, 353 held that the dissipation of alcohol from the S.W.3d 276, 282 (Tex.App.-El Paso 2011, pet. body per se is insufficient to create an exigent granted), ajj'dState v. Esparza, 413 S.W.3d 81 circumstance to justify a warrantless seizure (Tex.Crim.App.2013), quotingRomero v. State, of a defendant's blood. McNeely, 133 S.Ct. at 800 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Tex.Crim.App.1990). 1560-61. The Court instructed us that whether "The evident purpose of this rule is to ensure the exigent circumstances exception is satisfied that a trial court ruling will be upheld if the must be viewed case by case in light of the appellate court has assurance that the ruling totality of the circumstances. Id. was just and lawful." Esparza, 353 S.W.3d at 282, quotingWhite, 306 S.W.3d at 757 n. 10. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals finally addressed the tension between our statutory implied consent, Texas Transportation Code section 724.012(b)(3)(B) and McNeely in State SUPPRESSION OF BLOOD TEST RESULT v. Villarreal. 4 State v. Villarreal, No. PD- 0306-14, - S.W.3d - - , - - , 2014 WL State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

6734178, at *1 (Tex.Crim.App. Nov. 26, consent or a warrant. Id. Villarreal argued 2014)(reh'g granted). In Villarreal, the facts are McNeely applied and thus the blood draw was almost identical to the case at hand. unconstitutional. Id. The State contended that McNeely did not apply to mandatory blood 4 We note the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has draws because of our implied consent statutes. granted the State's motion for rehearing in this case Id. on February 25, 2015, but has not withdrawn its opinion on original submission. While Villarreal's future precedential value is not certain, we believe the opinion The Court, after extensive analysis, held is persuasive and absent any other guidance from the "that a nonconsensual search of a DWI Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, we will continue to suspect's blood conducted pursuant to the apply its reasoning. See Perez v. State, No. 01- l 2- 0 I OO l--CR, - S.W .2d - , - , 2015 WL 1245469, mandatory-blood-draw and implied-consent at *6 (Tex.App.-Houston [!st Dist.] Mar. 17, 2015, pet. provisions in the Transportation Code, when filed) (applying the Villarreal holding after the Texas undertaken in the absence of a warrant Court of Criminal Appeals granted rehearing). or any applicable exception to the warrant In 2012, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic requirement, violates the Fourth Amendment." violation and observed to be swaying back Id., at - - , 2014 WL 6734178, at *21. Our and forth, had red, watery eyes, and slurred sister courts in applying Villarreal have joined speech, in addition to a strong odor of alcohol. the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in soundly Id. Villarreal was placed under arrest for rejecting the State's argument that McNeely DWI. Id. After the discovery of Villarreal's has limited applicability when construed in several previous convictions of DWI, the conjunction with the Texas Transportation officer took Villarreal to a hospital for a blood Code§ 724.012(b)(3)(B). SeeState v. Tercero, draw. Id., at - - , 2014 WL 6734178, at -S.W.3d-, No. 01-14-00120-CR, 2015 *2. Villarreal's blood test result indicated "a WL 1544519 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist] blood-alcohol concentration of. 16 grams of April 2, 2015, pet. filed); Chidyausiku v. alcohol per hundred milliliters of blood." Id. State, 457 S.W.3d 627 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth Due to Villarreal's prior convictions, he was 2015, pet. filed); State v. Garcia, 457 S.W.3d subsequently indicted for a felony DWI. Id. 546 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2015, pet. filed); Lloyd v. State, 453 S.W.3d 544 (Tex.App.- At the evidentiary hearing on Villarreal's Dallas 2014, pet. ref d); Cole v. State, 454 motion to suppress, the State's sole witness S.W.3d 89 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2014, pet. testified he "could have" obtained a warrant granted); Clement v. State, 461 S.W.3d 274 but did not and relied on "the mandatory- (Tex.App.-Eastland 2015, pet. filed); State v. blooddraw provision in the Code."Id.; TEX. Martinez, No. 13-14-00117-CR, 2015 WL TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 724.012(b). Further, 1957087 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi April 30, the officer stated his decision to conduct the 2015, no pet. h.)(mem. op., not designated blood draw was based only on the statutory for publication); Evans v. State, No. 14- authority and not on any emergency or exigent 13-00642-CR, 2015 WL 545702 (Tex.App.- circumstances. Villarreal, - S.W.3d at--, Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 10, 2015, pet. filed) 2014 WL 6734178, at *2. The parties stipulated (mem. op., not designated for publication). Villarreal's blood draw was taken without his State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

(West 2005). That statute provides evidence *5 [2] Likewise, our prev10us approach may not be used or admitted in the criminal trial has followed Villarreal. SeeBurcie v. State, against the defendant if the evidence is obtained No. 08-13-00212-CR, 2015 WL 2342876 by "an officer or other person in violation of (Tex.App.-El Paso May 14, 2015, pet. any provisions of the Constitution or laws of the filed)(not designated for publication). In State of Texas, or of the Constitution or laws of Burcie, like the case before us, the facts the United States of America[.]" TEX.CODE were not in dispute and the State had failed CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 38.23(a). Moreover, to raise any recognizable exception to the the State contends, in 2009, at the time of Fourth Amendment. The record here shows Munoz's blood draw, the officers acted in the officer relied on the implied consent under objective reasonable reliance of the existing the Texas Transportation Code and could have law. obtained a warrant but chose not to. Like Villarreal and Burcie, the State relies on the First, the State argues that Munoz's blood test implied consent and mandatory-blood-draw was not obtained in contravention of then provisions of the Texas Transportation Code existing federal precedent and therefore, even to support the admission of the blood test if McNeely applies, the blood test should result. The trial court concluded as a matter of not be excluded. The State cites Davis v. law the State failed to present "any evidence United States, for the proposition that the that constituted exigent circumstances." The "exclusionary rule is limited to situations in record supports that conclusion. Given that which deterrence is 'thought most efficaciously the Texas Transportation Code's mandatory- served.' " Davis v. United States, - U.S. blood-draw is not a valid exception to the - , 131 S.Ct. 2419, 2426, 180 L.Ed.2d Fourth Amendment, the trial court did not err 285 (2011), citingU.S. v. Calandra, 414 U.S. in suppressing the blood test result. 338, 348, 94 S.Ct. 613, 620, 38 L.Ed.2d 561 (1974). As the State correctly points out, We find under Missouri v. McNeely and Davis made clear a constitutional violation State v. Villarreal the State's first sub-issue is does not always mandate the applicability of overruled. exclusionary rule. The Davis court explained the exclusionary rule never applies to the suppression of evidence when it was obtained "as a result of nonculpable, innocent police GOOD-FAITH RELIANCE conduct." 131 S.Ct. at 2429. The State also The State, in their second sub-issue, urges us pointed to the holdings in Krull, Leon, and to find the trial court erred because in 2009 the Peltier to illustrate that the United States blood draw was not obtained in violation of Supreme Court has prohibited the application federal Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule of the Fourth Amendment's exclusionary rule nor Texas' exclusionary rule found in Article when an officer has in good-faith, objectively 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. and reasonably relied on a then constitutional TEX.CODE CRIM.PROC.ANN. art. 38.23 statute or valid search warrant. Illinois v. Krull, State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015)

480 U.S. 340, 347, 350, 107 S.Ct. 1160, 1165- that the exclusionary rule does not apply in 66, 94 L.Ed.2d 364 (1987); United States v. this case." Elias, 2012 WL 4392245, at *7. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 922, 104 S.Ct. 3405, 3420, SeeArizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332, 129 S.Ct. 82 L.Ed.2d 677 (1984); United States v. Peltier, 1710, 173 L.Ed.2d 485 (2009). Thus, Swink 422 U.S. 531, 537, 95 S.Ct. 2313, 2317-18, 45 refused to apply Mincey retroactively. Swink, L.Ed.2d 374 (1975). 617 S.W.2d at 210. Likewise, Elias did not apply Gant retroactively, relying on the federal Relying on Swink v. State and Elias v. doctrine of the officers' good faith reliance State, the State contends that McNeely under Davis. Elias, 2012 WL 4392245, at should not be applied retroactively. Swink *7. Neither case alludes to or discusses the v. State, 617 S.W.2d 203, 209-210 Texas exclusionary rule under Article 38.23 (Tex.Crim.App.l98l)(overruled on other and its application to an officer's good faith grounds byGriffin v. State, 765 S.W.2d 422 reliance on then-constitutional statutes and (Tex.Crim.App.1989)); State v. Elias, No. former binding precedent. TEX.CODE CRIM. 08-08-00085-CR, 2012 WL 4392245, at *7 PROC. ANN.ODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. (Tex.App.-El Paso Sept. 26, 2012, pet. refd) 38.23. We note that Swink and Elias are (not designated for publication). In Swink, the specifically limited to the application of Mincey Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held "that the and Gant. Our research has failed to uncover warrantless search and seizure of the premises any Texas case, under these facts, declining to by the officers was permissible at the time of retroactively apply McNeely and the State has their actions and that the holding of Mincey not cited to any. will not be applied retroactively to this case." Swink, 617 S. W.2d at 210. The Court explained [3] The United States Supreme Court in the "search was conducted some six months Griffith explained that "failure to apply a before the decision in Mincey while the trial newly declared constitutional rule to criminal was held six months after the decision .... Thus, cases pending on direct review violates basic at the time officers conducted the warrantless norms of constitutional adjudication." Gr(ffith search of the murder scene, their actions did not v. Kentucky, 479 U.S. 314, 322, 107 S.Ct. 708, run afoul of the holding in Mincey." Id. at 209. 713, 93 L.Ed.2d 649 (1987). The Griffith Court SeeMincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 98 S.Ct. held that a newly announced constitutional 2408, 57 L.Ed.2d 290 ( 1978). rule for conducting criminal prosecutions must be applied retroactively to all cases, state or *6 In Elias, relying on Davis v. United federal, pending on direct review or not yet States, - U.S. - - , 131 S.Ct. 2419, 180 final when the rule was announced regardless L.Ed.2d 285 (2011 ), we held that "the search whether they constitute a clear break from of Elias's van was unconstitutional under the past. Griffith, 479 U.S. at 328, 107 S.Ct. Gant, [however] the police conducted the at 716. SeeMcClintock v. State, 444 S.W.3d search in 2007 in good faith reliance on 15 (Tex.Crim.App.2014). The Supreme Court's appellate precedent authorizing the search retroactivity analysis for federal constitutional incident to arrest. Accordingly, we conclude errors is binding upon the states when federal constitutional errors are involved. James B. which only applies when a warrant issued by Beam Distilling Co. v. Georgia, 501 U.S. 529, a neutral magistrate, based on probable cause, 535, 111 S.Ct. 2439, 2443, 115 L.Ed.2d 481 and is relied upon by the officer in good- (1991 ). This case was not yet final when faith. TEX.CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. McNeely was decided in April 2013 and it 38.23(b). As a result of the lack of a warrant applies here on direct appeal. being issued, the statutory exception in Article 38.23(b) does not apply here. Douds, 434 The court in Douds v. State, held the good- S.W.3d at 861; Anderson, 445 S.W.3d at 912; faith reliance exception does not apply in Tercero, - S.W.3d at - - - - - , 2015 WL Texas. Douds v. State, 434 S.W.3d 842, 1544519, at *6-7; Burks v. State, 454 S.W.3d 861 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, 705, 709 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2015, pet. pet. granted)(en bane). The Texas Supreme filed); Martinez v. State, No. 04-13-00764- Court has resisted efforts to expand the CR, 2014 WL 5837162, at *2 (Tex.App.- good-faith exception using federal precedent, San Antonio Nov. 12, 2014, pet. filed)(mem. especially in those instances when the op., not designated for publication); Weems federal exceptions conflict with our statutory v. State, 434 S.W.3d 655, 666 (Tex.App.- exclusionary rule. Howard v. State, 617 S.W.2d San Antonio 2014, pet. granted); State v. 191, 193 (Tex.Crim.App.1979)(op. on reh'g) Stewart, No. 09-13-00421-CR, 2014 WL (rejecting the federal good-faith doctrine of 5855905, at *4 (Tex.App.-Beaumont Nov. 12, Michigan v. DeFillippo, 443 U.S. 31, 99 2014, pet. ref d)(mem. op., not designated for S.Ct. 2627, 61 L.Ed.2d 343 (1979)); also publication). seeState v. Daugherty, 931 S.W.2d 268 (Tex.Crim.App.1996). Other Texas Courts of *7 We overrule the State's second sub-issue. Appeals have come to that same conclusion ' specifically when evaluating the admissibility of blood test results under McNeely. Doud~, CONCLUSION 434 S.W.3d at 862; see alsoState v. Anderson, 445 S.W.3d 895, 912 (Tex.App.-Beaumont We conclude the trial court did not abuse her 2014, no pet.); Tercero, - S.W.3d at--, discretion in determining there were no exigent 2015 WL 1544519, at *6. We decline the circumstances that justified a warrantless blood State's invitation to create a good-faith reliance draw from Munoz. We affirm the trial court's exception to the application of McNeely. order granting the motion to suppress.

[4] Lastly we consider whether Texas's exclusionary rule as codified in the Code Rivera, J., Not Participating of Criminal Procedure article 38.23 allows for the admission of the blood test result. All Citations The exception to Texas's exclusionary rule is legislative and found in Article 38.23(b) --- S.W.3d----, 2015 WL 4719559

10 State v. Munoz, --- S.W.3d ---- (2015) 2015wC4119559 - - - - - - - - - - ----------- ------~-----·----~--~·-----·-----·-

End of Document @2015 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

11 APPENDIXB

10 SHARO'll Kt:l.l.ER ABEL ACOSTA PKl·S\Dlt-;(i JLIXi~ COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS CLERK (512)46.'-15:'1 P.O. BOX 12308, CAPITOL STATION LAWREl\CI!: E. MF.YF.RS CtlERYLJOllNSOI' AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 SIAN SCHILHAB

Wednesday. February 25, 2015

Jacqueline Rae District Attorney Nueces County Assistant District Attorney Mark Skurka 901 Leopard, Room 206 90 I Leopard Room 206 Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Corpus Christi, TX 7840 I * DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL * * DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL *

Fred Jimenez Douglas K. Nonnan ATTORNEY AT LAW Assistant District Attorney 509 Lawrence St., Suite 30 I 901 Leopard, Room 206 Corpus Christi. TX 7840 I Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL* *DELIVERED VIA E-MAIL*

Re: STATE OF TEXAS VS. DAVID VILLARREAL CCA No. PD-0306-14 Trial Court Case No. 12-CR-l 000-H

Dear Counselors:

The Court has this day granted the State's motion for rehearing.

The case will be submitted to the Court on Wednesday, March 18, 2015.

Sinmely, ~

A~Ierk_,-......==----=---- SLPR~ME COURT BUll.1)11\Ci. 201 \VfSI 14HI STRHT. ROOM 106. Al;STIN. TFXAS 78701 WrnSITI· WWW.TXl"lllJRTS.CiOVICCA.ASPX FILED IN PD-0306-14 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS December)(°2014 Transmitted 12/17/2014 2:52:50 PM 'Cl\ Accepted 12/18/2014 8:54:31 AM ABELACOSTA,CLERK ABEL ACOSTA NO. PD-0306-14 CLERK (Appellate Court Cause No. 13-13-253-CR)

THE STATE OF TEXAS, § IN THE Petitioner, § § v. § COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS § DAVID VILLARREAL, § Respondent. § OF TEXAS

PETITIONER'S AMENDED MOTION FOR REHEARING

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

Comes now the State of Texas, by and through the District Attorney

for the I 05th Judicial District of Texas, and submits this amended motion for

rehearing, pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 79. l & 79.3, and requests that the

Court reconsider its November 26, 2014, opinion in this case, grant this

motion, and resubmit this case.

For the reasons set forth in the State's briefs, as well as those set forth

in the dissenting opinions, the State believes that rehearing and

reconsideration are appropriate in the present case.

I. WAIVER.

Specifically, the State contends that the majority opinion too quickly

dismissed the State's argument that Texas drivers have validly waived their

right to object to a warrantless blood draw under the limited circumstances

set out in the implied consent I mandatory draw statute. This Court's majority opinion stated, "we are aware of no Supreme

Court cases approving of [the waiver] doctrine's applicability in a context

similar to the one with which we are confronted today," distinguishing the

present case from Supreme Court waiver cases based on federal regulations.

(Slip. Op. at 25) Yet, the majority opinion made no persuasive argument

why waiver in the context of state regulation of a highly regulated activity

like driving should be treated differently from the federally regulated

activities in Zap and Biswell.

In Zap, the Supreme Court relied upon both federal statutory authority

and a government contract with the defendant to establish a waiver of that

defendant's right to insist on a warrant before his records could be inspected

by government officials with whom he chose to do business as a Navy

contractor. See Zap v. United States, 328 U.S. 624, 626-27, 66 S. Ct. 1277

(1946), vacated on other grounds, 330 U.S. 800 (1947).

In Biswell, the Supreme Court relied upon statutory authority for the

warrantless inspection of a gun dealer's records, firearms and ammunition.

See United States v. Biswell, 406 U.S. 311, 316, 92 S. Ct. 1593 ( 1972).

In the present case, the mere fact that the state, and not the federal

government, regulates driving offers no principled reason for disallowing

waiver. Nor should it matter that driving is engaged in for both personal and

2 business reasons. Moreover, a Texas driver is clearly on notice of the

waiver in question. In addition to the statute and presumed knowledge of

the law, the Texas Driver's Handbook clearly puts present and prospective

drivers on notice of the implied consent law. See Texas Driver's Handbook,

p. 60 (rev. July 2012).

Finally, this Court should not reject the waiver exception simply

because it has never before been applied to the particular circumstances in

the present case. Waiver remains a "well recognized exception" to the

warrant requirement, even though waiver of the specific right of an impaired

driver to object to a warrantless blood draw may not be a "well recognized

application" of that exception.

II. SPECIAL NEEDS.

Alternatively, with regard to "special needs," the majority opinion too

quickly dismissed that exception on the ground that the primary purpose of

such a blood draw was supposedly to collect evidence for a criminal trial. In

doing so, the Court neglected the equally valid and compelling purpose of

revoking the driving privilege of those who have shown themselves to be too

irresponsible to continue to hold that privilege.

Under the mandatory draw provisions of the Texas Transportation

Code, in addition to providing evidence for a criminal prosecution, the results

3 of the blood draw may be used in the administrative removal of drunken

drivers from the public roadways. The Department of Public Safety must

suspend the person's license if analysis of the blood reveals an alcohol

concentration of 0.08 or greater. TEX. TRANSP. CoDE § 524.012(b)(l); TEX.

PENAL CODE § 49.01(2)(B). The suspension is for a period of 90 days or

one year, depending on whether the person has had any prior DWI arrests in

the ten years preceding the current date of arrest. TEX. TRANSP. CODE §

524.022(a).

This Court has noted that the "primary purpose of the administrative

license suspension statute is not to deter the licensee or to seek retribution,

but is to protect the public from the carnage on the public roads of

Texas caused by drunk drivers." Ex parte Tharpe, 935 S.W.2d 157, 159

(Tex. Crim. App. 1996); see also Tex. Dept. Pub. Safety v. Richardson, 384

S.W.2d 128, 132 (1964) ("But, it should be made abundantly clear that in

this case [of driver's license revocation] we are not concerned with criminal

penalties but rather with an administrative and regulative power vested in

the Texas Department of Public Safety which power has for its purpose

the protection of the lives and property of those using the highways.").

Accordingly, the mandatory draw statute may be justified under

the special needs exception, as applied to the closely regulated

4 activity of driving on public roads, and as a tool not only of criminal

enforcement but also for administrative measures designed to protect

the public from drunk drivers by removing their driving privileges.

III. GENERAL FOURTH AMENDMENT REASONABLENESS.

In addition, both Presiding Judge Keller's Dissenting Opinion, and

Judge Meyers' Dissenting Opinion appear to rely on a generalized

reasonableness approach that looks to the totality of the circumstances, the

needs of the public and law enforcement, and the lowered expectation of

privacy that repeat offenders have in the minor inconvenience of a

compelled blood draw. The State suggests that these considerations are

entitled to more weight than was given to them in the majority opinion.

IV. MISTAKE OF LAW.

Finally, the State believes that the very recent opinion by the United

States Supreme Court in Heien v. North Carolina, --- U.S. ---, No. 13-604

(December 15, 2014), should be considered by this Court on rehearing.

In Heien, the Supreme Court, arguably for the first time, recognized that

an officer's reasonable mistake of law, like a reasonable mistake of fact, may

render legal conduct that would otherwise amount to a Fourth Amendment

violation. Specifically, in Heien, the Court held that it was "objectively

reasonable for an officer in Sergeant Darisse's position to think that Heien's

5 faulty right brake light was a violation of North Carolina law. And because

the mistake of law was reasonable, there was reasonable suspicion justifying

the stop." Slip op. at 13.

On a broader level, the Supreme Court reasoned that, "[t]o be

reasonable is not to be perfect, and so the Fourth Amendment allows for

some mistakes on the part of government officials, giving them 'fair leeway

for enforcing the law in the community's protection."' Slip op. at 5 (quoting

Brinegarv. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 176 (1949)).

In the present case, Officer Williams clearly relied on what he

reasonably believed to be a valid statutory mandate for him to require the

blood draw in question. To that extent that he reasonably relied upon the

implied consent I mandatory draw statute, he, like Sergeant Darisse, did not

violate the Fourth Amendment by conduct that would later be shown to be a

mistake of law.

Since this Court did not have the benefit of the Heien opinion at the

time it handed down its November 26 1h opinion, the State believes that

rehearing and reconsideration would be especially appropriate.

6 PRAYER

For the foregoing reasons, the State requests that the Court reconsider

its November 26, 2014, opinion in this case; grant this motion for rehearing;

resubmit this case in order to address the State's contentions as set out in this

motion; and, after doing so, reverse the judgment of the Thirteenth Court of

Appeals and vacate the trial court's suppression order.

Respectfully submitted, 1s1V~~.~ Douglas K. Norman State Bar No. 15078900

1s1~L~ Jacqueline Lamerson State Bar No. 24074923 Assistant District Attorneys 105th Judicial District of Texas 901 Leopard, Room 206 Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 (361) 888-0410 (361) 888-0399 (fax)

7 ...

RULE 9.4 (i) CERTIFICATION In compliance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(3), I

certify that the number of words in this motion, excluding those matters

listed in Rule 9.4(i)(1), is 1,271.

/sl1J~~.~

Douglas K. Norman

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that, pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 6.3 (a), copies of

this motion were e-mailed on December 17, 2014, to Respondent's attorney,

Mr. Fred Jimenez, and to the State Prosecuting Attorney.

g FILED IN PD-0306-14 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN. TEXAS December 10. 2014 Transmitted 12/10/2014 92507 AM Accepted 12110/2014 9:35:22 AM ABELACOSTA. CLERK ABEL ACOSTA NO. PD-0306-14 CLERK (Appellate Court Cause No. 13-13-253-CR)

THE STATE OF TEXAS, § IN THE Petitioner, § § V. § COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS § DA YID VILLARREAL, § Respondent. § OF TEXAS

PETITIONER'S MOTION FOR REHEARING

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

Comes now the State of Texas, by and through the District Attorney

for the l 05th Judicial District of Texas, and submits this motion for

rehearing, pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 79.1, and requests that the Court

reconsider its November 26, 2014, opinion in this case, grant this motion,

and resubmit this case.

For the reasons set forth in the State's briefs, as well as those set forth

m the dissenting opinions, the State believes that rehearing and

Specifically, the State contends that the majority opinion too quickly

dismissed the State's argument that Texas drivers have validly waived their

right to object to a warrantless blood draw under the limited circumstances

set out in the implied consent I mandatory draw statute. This Court's majority opinion stated. ·'we are aware of no Supreme

Court cases approving of [the waiver] doctrine's applicability in a context

similar to the one with which we are confronted today,'' distinguishing the

present case from Supreme Court waiver cases based on federal regulations.

(Slip. Op. at 25) Yet, the majority opinion made no persuasive argument

why waiver in the context of state regulation of a highly regulated activity

like driving should be treated differently from the federally regulated

In Zap, the Supreme Court relied upon both federal statutory authority

and a government contract with the defendant to establish a waiver of that

defendant's right to insist on a warrant before his records could be inspected

by government officials with whom he chose to do business as a Navy

contractor. See Zap v. United States, 328 U.S. 624, 626-27, 66 S. Ct. 1277

In Biswell, the Supreme Court relied upon statutory authority for the

warrantless inspection of a gun dealer's records, firearms and ammunition.

See United States v. Biswell, 406 U.S. 31 l, 316, 92 S. Ct. 1593 ( 1972).

In the present case, the mere fact that the state, and not the federal

government, regulates driving offers no principled reason for disallowing

waiver. Nor should it matter that driving is engaged in for both personal and

2 business reasons. Moreover, a Texas driver is clearly on notice of the

waiver in question. In addition to the statute and presumed knowledge of

the law, the Texas Driver's Handbook clearly puts present and prospective

drivers on notice of the implied consent law. See Texas Driver's Handbook.

Finally, this Court should not reject the waiver exception simply

because it has never before been applied to the particular circumstances in

the present case. Waiver remains a "well recognized exception" to the

warrant requirement, even though waiver of the specific right of an impaired

driver to object to a warrantless blood draw may not be a "well recognized

Alternatively, with regard to "special needs.'' the majority opinion too

quickly dismissed that exception on the ground that the primary purpose of

such a blood draw was supposedly to collect evidence for a criminal trial. In

doing so, the Court neglected the equally valid and compelling purpose of

revoking the driving privilege of those who have shown themselves to be too

Under the mandatory draw provisions of the Texas Transportation

Code, in addition to providing evidence for a criminal prosecution, the results

3 of the blood draw may be used in the administrative removal of drunken

drivers from the public roadways. The Department of Public Safety must

suspend the person's license if analysis of the blood reveals an alcohol

concentration of 0.08 or greater. Tex. TRANSP. Cooc § 524.0 l 2(b )( 1); Ti::x.

PENAL Com-: § 49.01(2)(8). The suspension is for a period of 90 days or

one year, depending on whether the person has had any prior DWI arrests in

the ten years preceding the current date of arrest. TEX. TRANSP. Com~ §

This Court has noted that the "primary purpose of the administrative

license suspension statute is not to deter the licensee or to seek retribution,

but is to protect the public from the carnage on the public roads of

Texas caused by drunk drivers." Ex parte Tharpe, 935 S.W.2d 157, 159

(Tex. Crim. App. 1996); see also Tex. Dept. Pub. Safety v. Richardson, 384

S. W.2d 128, 132 (1964) ("But, it should be made abundantly clear that in

this case [of driver's license revocation] we are not concerned with criminal

penalties but rather with an administrative and regulative power vested in

the Texas Department of Public Safety which power has for its purpose

the protection of the lives and property of those using the highways.").

Accordingly, the mandatory draw statute may be justified under

the special needs exception, as applied to the closely regulated

4 activity of driving on public roads, and as a tool not only of criminal

enforcement but also for administrative measures designed to protect

the public from drunk drivers by removing their driving privileges.

Finally, both Presiding Judge Keller's Dissenting Opinion, and Judge

Meyers' Dissenting Opinion appear to rely on a generalized reasonableness

approach that looks to the totality of the circumstances, the needs of the

public and law enforcement, and the lowered expectation of privacy that

repeat offenders have in the minor inconvenience of a compelled blood

draw. The State suggests that these considerations are entitled to more

weight than was given to them in the majority opinion.

5 PRAYER

For the foregoing reasons, the State requests that the Court reconsider

its November 26, 2014. opinion in this case; grant this motion for rehearing;

resubmit this case in order to address the State's contentions as set out in this

motion; and, after doing so, reverse the judgment of the Thirteenth Court of

Respectfully submitted, 1s1V~~-~ Douglas K. Norman State Bar No. 15078900

Isl~ .<'ae Jacqueline Lamerson State Bar No. 24074923 Assistant District Attorneys I 05th Judicial District of Texas 901 Leopard, Room 206 Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 (361) 888-0410 (361) 888-0399 (fax)

6 RULE 9.4 (i) CERTIFICATION

In compliance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(3), I

certity that the number of words in this motion, excluding those matters

listed in Rule 9.4(i)(l), is 972.

lsl'D~~.~

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that, pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 6.3 (a), copies of

this motion were e-mailed on December I 0, 2014, to Respondent's attorney,

/sl'D~~.~