People v. DeRojas

176 Misc. 2d 887, 673 N.Y.S.2d 889, 1998 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 200
CourtNassau County District Court
DecidedApril 30, 1998
StatusPublished

This text of 176 Misc. 2d 887 (People v. DeRojas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nassau County District Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. DeRojas, 176 Misc. 2d 887, 673 N.Y.S.2d 889, 1998 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 200 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1998).

Opinion

[888]*888OPINION OF THE COURT

Samuel M. Levine, J.

Defendant moved orally at a hearing on his driving privileges before this court on January 26, 1998 and in writing by notice of motion dated and served February 9, 1998 for the following relief: dismiss the accusatory instrument (a simplified traffic information dated and served on defendant December 9, 1997) pursuant to CPL 100.25, or in the alternative, that defendant’s driving privileges be immediately restored; or such other and further relief as this court may deem just and proper.

CASE HISTORY

On December 9, 1997, the defendant was charged by a New York State Trooper with violating Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192 (2) and (3) (driving while intoxicated [DWI]), as well as Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1128 (a) (unsafe lane change). Defendant was operating his 1996 Buick car on the Meadowbrook State Parkway near Old Country Road, Town of North Hemp-stead, County of Nassau, at about 1:00 a.m. The State Trooper administered an intoxilyzer test. A blood alcohol content (BAG) reading of .15 is alleged.

The defendant was then issued two simplified traffic informations (STI) (LA984566, LA984567) for the DWI and unsafe lane change offenses.

The simplified traffic informations were returnable in the District Court of Nassau County, Criminal Part, on January 22, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. (The Arraignment A Part was not designated on the STIs.) The return date arid defendant’s appearance in court was 44 days after the STIs were issued.

On December 16, 1997 (seven days after the STIs were served) the defendant’s attorney (the Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti, Esq.) served a notice to produce and demand for a bill of particulars together with a covering letter entering a plea of not guilty and demanding “a copy of all supporting depositions”. The omnibus notice and demand included requests for documents, reports, police forms, witness information, etc., and “provide all written laboratory reports related to any and all urine and/or blood tests of the defendant”.

On January 22, 1998 the defendant was arraigned on the two STI charges before the Honorable George Peck. (The minutes of the arraignment are attached to defendant’s moving papers.) The arraignment minutes and court file indicate that there was no certified copy of the BAG (breathalyzer) test [889]*889report produced or attached to the accusatory instruments (consisting of the two STIs and a supporting deposition signed by Trooper Parris). The supporting deposition did contain “Chemical Test Information” about the breath test at BAG .15. (The defendant’s attorney did not receive a copy of the supporting deposition until the arraignment — 37 days after the demand for same.) The defendant’s attorney pointed out that the certified copy of the BAG was not attached or part of the accusatory instrument. He objected to any suspension of defendant’s driver’s license.

The court, however, did in fact suspend defendant’s driver’s license, presumably on the authority of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1193 (2) (e) (7) (c). No other findings or decisions on any legal or factual issues were made at the arraignment. The defendant was released on his own recognizance. The court did however grant the defendant’s request for a “hardship hearing” for Monday, January 26, 1998.

On January 26,1998 the defendant and his counsel appeared before this Judge for a hearing on his driving privileges. (The case was assigned to me from our Trial Assignment Part 19.) The certified copy of the BAG report still was not submitted to the court or attached to the accusatory instrument at this hearing.

The oral motion to dismiss was made at the January 26, 1998 hearing. The court directed that the motion be submitted in writing pursuant to GPL 210.45.

Defendant further requested a Pringle hearing in addition to the hardship hearing. Defendant claimed that the Court of Appeals ruling in Pringle v Wolfe (88 NY2d 426) applies to this case. In the “Pringle Rule”, the New York State Court of Appeals held that a court may not order suspension of the license unless it has in its possession the results of the chemical test, and these results must be presented to the court in certified, documented form (see, CPLR 4518 [c]).

The defendant, at this hearing on January 26, 1998, sought to challenge the facial sufficiency of the accusatory instrument pursuant to GPL 100.40. He claimed that the certified copy of the BAG report was absolutely essential to the validity of the accusatory instrument.

The court reserved decision on the motion to dismiss and proceeded with a hardship hearing under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1193 (2) (e) (7) (e). This court granted the application for a conditional driver’s license on the strength of the proven facts that supported a finding of “extreme hardship”.

[890]*890The credible evidence proven at the hearing adduced the following facts. Defendant was a high-ranking officer of an international banking corporation. As a senior vice-president he oversees over 60 people, including several vice-presidents and manages a function and operations that are important to the public. His driving privileges are necessary to get to work (in the New York City and Long Island offices) and to get to his medical treatment providers. This court made findings of fact on the record as to the lack of others on the job or in the household to provide optional transportation, the inability or extreme difficulty to obtain alternative means of public or private transportation, and other requirements and factors set forth in People v Bridgman (163 Misc 2d 818 [the minutes of the hearing of January 26, 1998 are attached to the moving papers]).

On March 2, March 10 and March 25, 1998, this court held further oral arguments on the issues presented in defendant’s motion to dismiss or restore driver’s privileges.

On March 10, 1998, at one of the aforesaid oral arguments, the District Attorney’s office filed with the court clerk (for the first time) a copy of the BAG report, certified pursuant to CPLR 4518 (c).

QUESTIONS OF LAW

Was the accusatory instrument facially and legally insufficient pursuant to GPL 100.15, 100.25 and 100.40? This court answers in the affirmative.

GPL 100.40 states:

“1. An information, or a count thereof, is sufficient on its face when:
“(a) It substantially conforms to the requirements prescribed in section 100.15; and
“(b) The allegations of the factual part of the information, together with those of any supporting depositions which may accompany it, provide reasonable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense charged in the accusatory part of the information; and
“(c) Non-hearsay allegations of the factual part of the information and/or of any supporting depositions establish, if true, every element of the offense charged and the defendant’s commission thereof.
“2. A simplified information is sufficient on its face when, as provided by subdivision one of section 100.25, it substantially [891]

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Related

Pringle v. Wolfe
668 N.E.2d 1376 (New York Court of Appeals, 1996)
People v. Mertz
497 N.E.2d 657 (New York Court of Appeals, 1986)
People v. Alejandro
511 N.E.2d 71 (New York Court of Appeals, 1987)
In re David T.
554 N.E.2d 1263 (New York Court of Appeals, 1990)
People v. Nuccio
575 N.E.2d 111 (New York Court of Appeals, 1991)
People v. Thumser
148 Misc. 2d 472 (Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York, 1990)
People v. Bridgman
163 Misc. 2d 818 (Canandaigua City Court, 1995)
People v. Malone
166 Misc. 2d 54 (Suffolk County District Court, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
176 Misc. 2d 887, 673 N.Y.S.2d 889, 1998 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 200, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-derojas-nydistctnassau-1998.