People v. Fonner

898 N.E.2d 646, 385 Ill. App. 3d 531, 325 Ill. Dec. 599, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 1075
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedOctober 17, 2008
Docket4-08-0027
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 898 N.E.2d 646 (People v. Fonner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Fonner, 898 N.E.2d 646, 385 Ill. App. 3d 531, 325 Ill. Dec. 599, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 1075 (Ill. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

JUSTICE TURNER

delivered the opinion of the court:

In November 2006, defendant, Vernon J. Fonner, was arrested for and charged by citation with driving under the influence (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11 — 501(a)(2) (West 2006) (as amended by Pub. Acts 94 — 329, §5, eff. January 1, 2006 (2005 Ill. Legis. Serv. 2181, 2181 (West)), and 94 — 963, §5, eff. June 28, 2006 (2006 Ill. Legis. Serv. 2172, 2199-2200 (West)))). After he was taken to jail, defendant refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test. In December 2006, the Secretary of State’s office sent defendant a notice, indicating the summary suspension of defendant’s driving privileges for three years, effective January 4, 2007. That same month, defendant filed a petition to rescind the statutory summary suspension. After a hearing, the trial court denied defendant’s petition in December 2007.

Defendant appeals pro se, contending the trial court erred by denying his petition to rescind his statutory summary suspension because (1) the arresting officer lacked reasonable grounds to believe defendant was driving or in actual physical control of his motor vehicle on the morning in question and (2) defendant did not refuse chemical testing. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

The November 19, 2006, DUI citation stated defendant unlawfully operated a 1995 Green Cadillac Eldorado on County Fair Road and Springfield Avenue in Champaign, Illinois. Police officer Eric Hart issued the citation and, after defendant refused the breath test, prepared a sworn report indicating defendant’s refusal to submit to a chemical test as required by section 11 — 501.1(d) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11 — 501.1(d) (West 2006)). In December 2006, the Secretary of State’s office notified defendant of his three-year summary suspension.

On December 29, 2006, defendant filed a petition to rescind his statutory summary suspension based on the following grounds: (1) the arresting officer did not have reasonable grounds to believe he was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, (2) he was not properly warned by the arresting officer as required by section 11— 501.1(c) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11 — 501.1(c) (West 2006)), and (3) he did not refuse to submit to and/or complete the required chemical test requested by the arresting officer.

On May 11, 2007, the State made a motion to dismiss the DUI charge in the criminal matter, which the trial court granted. The court also commenced the hearing on defendant’s petition to rescind. Defendant testified on his own behalf and presented the testimony of Rick Boley, defendant’s friend; and Vernon Bruce Fonner, defendant’s father. The State presented the testimony of Officer Hart and Officer Christina Benton.

Officer Hart testified that, in the early morning hours of November 19, 2006, he was on patrol with Officer Benton, who was his field training officer. At approximately 2:58 a.m., he was driving eastbound on Springfield Avenue and approached the stoplight at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and County Fair Road. Officer Hart turned right onto southbound County Fair Road to follow a dark green Cadillac that had proceeded through the intersection without an operable rear registration light, which is a violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code (see 625 ILCS 5/12 — 201(c) (West 2006)). The vehicle stopped halfway down the block across from D.R. Diggers, a bar. When the vehicle pulled over to stop, it did not use its right turn signal. Officer Hart drove past the vehicle, went down the rest of the block, and made a U-turn.

When he first passed the vehicle heading southbound, he only observed one occupant. Officer Hart acknowledged he had told defense counsel he did not know whether the vehicle had one or two occupants but at that time he had not reviewed his reports. The squad car’s headlights were sufficient to illuminate the Cadillac as he drove by it. Further, as he drove by the vehicle, Officer Benton pointed out she knew defendant. Officer Hart then drove back and parked on the north side of D.R. Diggers. Officer Hart did not lose sight of the vehicle from the time he first observed it until he made the U-turn. After the turn, he observed defendant, who was wearing an unusual hat, walking across County Fair. However, Officer Hart did not see defendant drive or exit the vehicle. Additionally, Officer Hart acknowledged he could have pulled up behind the Cadillac, approached the vehicle, and pointed out the violations to the driver.

After he parked the squad car, Officer Hart headed to D.R. Diggers because his reasons for turning around were (1) to investigate whether D.R. Diggers was serving alcohol after 2 a.m. and (2) to find the location of the driver of the Cadillac. As he approached the bar, Officer Benton informed him of defendant’s location. When he and Officer Benton approached defendant, defendant was talking on a cellular telephone. When defendant saw the officers, he threw his keys behind him and stated he was not driving a vehicle. Defendant repeatedly stated he was not driving a vehicle and was trying to call a cab. Officer Hart did not know to whom defendant was talking on the cellular telephone. No sobriety tests were performed on defendant because he would not allow them. Based on his prior law-enforcement experience, Officer Hart noted defendant appeared in “an extreme and obvious manner” to be impaired by something. Officer Benton made the decision to arrest defendant for DUI, and Officer Hart put him in custody. While en route to the jail, defendant continued to state he was not driving the vehicle. Defendant indicated a friend was driving his vehicle, dropped defendant off, left the vehicle, and headed southbound. Officer Hart did not make any effort to determine the friend’s identity because Officer Benton had seen defendant driving. Officer Hart was unaware of Officer Benton’s history with defendant’s family. Further, Officer Hart did not believe defendant’s statement he was not driving due to the manner in which defendant reacted to seeing the officers and the fact he did not see anyone else around the area besides defendant.

Officer Hart further testified he was probably in the squad car when he read verbatim to defendant the warning-to-motorist form. The form indicated Officer Hart read the warning at 3:36 a.m., and Officer Hart indicated that time was accurate. Later, either he or Officer Benton asked defendant to submit to a breath test, and defendant replied, “f — k no.” Officer Hart did not recall what time the request was made. Officer Hart also explained a 20-minute observation period must take place before the breath test can be administered, and if the person being observed regurgitates or vomits, the person must be allowed to rinse his or her oral cavity and the 20-minute period starts anew. Officer Hart was not present during the entire observation period but did recall defendant belching and making noises. Officer Hart did not personally offer to let defendant rinse out his mouth.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
898 N.E.2d 646, 385 Ill. App. 3d 531, 325 Ill. Dec. 599, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 1075, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-fonner-illappct-2008.