People v. Gustafson

551 N.E.2d 826, 194 Ill. App. 3d 910, 141 Ill. Dec. 639, 1990 Ill. App. LEXIS 268
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMarch 6, 1990
Docket2-88-0994
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 551 N.E.2d 826 (People v. Gustafson) 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. Gustafson, 551 N.E.2d 826, 194 Ill. App. 3d 910, 141 Ill. Dec. 639, 1990 Ill. App. LEXIS 268 (Ill. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

JUSTICE INGLIS

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Michael Gustafson, appeals from his conviction of operating a motor vehicle with a breath-alcohol concentration in excess of .10 in violation of section 11 — 501(a)(1) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Code) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, par. 11 — 501(a)(1)). Defendant raises three issues on appeal. Defendant first argues that his second trial and ultimate conviction were barred by the double jeopardy clauses contained in both the United States and Illinois Constitutions (U.S. Const., amend. V; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, §10). Defendant also argues that sections 11 — 501.2(a)(5) and 11 — 501(a)(1) of the Code are unconstitutional because they are based on a faulty scientific premise and therefore are not rationally related to the legislative purpose underlying the drunk-driving statutes. With regard to the latter Code section, defendant further asserts its unconstitutionality, claiming that it violates constitutional guarantees of due process and proportionality of punishment because persons who are convicted of driving with a breath-alcohol concentration of .10 are subjected to the same punishment as persons who are convicted of “driving under the influence” in violation of section 11 — 501(a)(2) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, par. 11 — 501(a)(2)). Lastly, defendant argues that he was not proved guilty of driving with a breath-alcohol concentration in excess of .10 beyond a reasonable doubt. We reject defendant’s constitutional challenges and affirm his conviction.

Prior to trial, defendant made a motion in limine to preclude the State from presenting evidence and testimony about the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. The court granted defendant’s motion, and the trial commenced on May 11, 1988. The State’s first witness, Officer Kevin Sullivan, took the stand and testified to the events surrounding defendant’s arrest for drunk driving on February 14, 1987. He stated that the first test he administered to defendant was the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. Defendant immediately moved for a mistrial, which the court denied; however, in chambers the court admonished the prosecutor that such testimony had already been excluded pursuant to defendant’s motion in limine and that it was the prosecutor’s responsibility to prepare his witnesses properly so as to avoid any mention of the excluded evidence. Counsel returned to the courtroom, and the trial resumed in the jury’s presence as follows:

“[PROSECUTOR]: Officer, after that test was administered to the Defendant, what was the second test that you administered?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I will object, Judge, and again make the same motion [for a mistrial].”

Following additional discussion in chambers, the court announced that it would grant defendant’s motion for a mistrial, and the jury was discharged. Defendant’s new trial commenced July 26, 1988, and the testimony presented is summarized below.

On February 14, 1987, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Officer Kevin Sullivan of the Burr Ridge police department observed defendant operating a beige Cadillac southbound on 1-55. Officer Sullivan noted that the vehicle drifted from the right to the center lane and failed to signal its movement. He then pulled the car over and approached to observe defendant, who was exiting his automobile. Officer Sullivan testified that defendant stumbled and almost fell. He also observed that defendant’s eyes were bloodshot, he appeared sleepy and his speech was somewhat slurred. Officer Sullivan obtained defendant's driver’s license, asked him whether he had been drinking and requested him to take field sobriety tests. Defendant admitted he had had a couple beers. Officer Sullivan conducted field sobriety tests with defendant on the shoulder of the road. He testified that the area was well lit and the shoulder surface was straight and level. He stated that defendant was unable to complete the one-foot-balance test successfully and did not perform satisfactorily on the heel-to-toe walking test. Officer Sullivan admitted that defendant told him that he had metal rods in his legs. At this point, Officer Sullivan testified that he formed the opinion that defendant was under the influence of alcohol and proceeded to escort defendant to the Burr Ridge police department for a breath analysis.

Officer Sullivan testified to his training and qualification as a breath analysis machine operator and stated that he was certified to operate the Breathalyzer 1000, the breath analysis machine on which he conducted defendant’s breath test. Officer Sullivan explained each step of the testing procedure, including the operational checklist, the 20-minute observation period, the motorist’s warning, etc., and testified that he followed each step. He also testified to the testing and certification of the machine and stated that the machine had been certified as accurate approximately 10 days prior to defendant’s arrest. Officer Sullivan then described in minute detail the certification procedures, the prebreath analysis test warm-up procedures and the pre-parational steps he took to obtain an accurate test of defendant’s breath. He stated that defendant’s test result was .17. Sullivan charged defendant with driving under the influence of alcohol and with driving with a breath-alcohol concentration of .10 or more (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. pars. 11 — 501(a)(2), (a)(1)).

On cross-examination, Officer Sullivan admitted that, prior to conducting defendant’s breath analysis test, he had conducted only one previous test between November and February. He also testified to his knowledge that the Department of Public Health allowed a margin of error of .01 in its certification of breath analysis testing machines. He stated that the machine operates on the theory of photoelectric colorimetry. He testified that the test result indicates the equivalent amount of alcohol contained in defendant’s blood. He further stated that to his knowledge the machine relied upon a ratio of 2,100 cubic centimeters of deep lung air to one cubic centimeter of whole blood. The witness stated that his knowledge concerning the operation of the machine came from his 40-hour instruction course in its operation.

Sergeant Albert Zellers of the Burr Ridge police department also testified for the State. He said that he arrived upon the scene of defendant’s arrest and observed defendant’s performance of the field sobriety tests. He corroborated Officer Sullivan’s testimony in this regard and concurred in Sullivan’s opinion that defendant was under the influence of alcohol.

At the close of the State’s evidence, defendant presented his own testimony as well as that of Norman W. Scholes, who qualified as an expert in pharmacology. In his own behalf, defendant rebutted each of Officer Sullivan’s observations concerning his personal appearance and his performance of the field sobriety tests with alternative explanations. He testified that he was a builder and carpenter by trade, and on the date of his arrest, he had put in a long work day which commenced at 7 a.m. and ended at approximately 5 p.m. Thereafter, he had pizza and two beers with co-workers and then returned to his shop to load up a crane for the next work day. On his way home, he recalled changing lanes on 1-55 because he knew his exit ramp came up quickly. Defendant testified that he was pulled over by Officer Sullivan and was asked to perform roadside tests.

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Bluebook (online)
551 N.E.2d 826, 194 Ill. App. 3d 910, 141 Ill. Dec. 639, 1990 Ill. App. LEXIS 268, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-gustafson-illappct-1990.