People v. Rakers

542 N.E.2d 1311, 187 Ill. App. 3d 27, 134 Ill. Dec. 804, 1989 Ill. App. LEXIS 1230
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedAugust 14, 1989
DocketNo. 5-88-0041
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 542 N.E.2d 1311 (People v. Rakers) 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. Rakers, 542 N.E.2d 1311, 187 Ill. App. 3d 27, 134 Ill. Dec. 804, 1989 Ill. App. LEXIS 1230 (Ill. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

PRESIDING JUSTICE WELCH

delivered the opinion of the court:

Respondent, Lester C. Rakers, appeals from an order of the circuit court of Madison County, entered December 10, 1987, which sustained the statutory summary suspension of his driving privileges for his refusal to submit to a chemical test of his breath following his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. We affirm.

At approximately 2:45 on the morning of November 8, 1987, respondent was arrested by City of Highland police officer, Tom Anglin, for driving under the influence of alcohol. Respondent was transported to the Highland police station, where he was asked by Officer Anglin to submit to a breathalyzer test. Respondent refused and, pursuant to section 11 — 501.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the Illinois Secretary of State summarily suspended his driving privileges. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, par. 11 — 501.1.

On November 16, 1987, respondent filed a petition for hearing pursuant to section 2 — 118.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code requesting a judicial hearing on the four issues permitted by that section. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95^2, par. 2 — 118.1.) Hearing was held on the petition on December 10, 1987. Immediately prior to the hearing, respondent waived hearing on the first two issues raised, leaving for determination only the issues of (1) whether respondent had been advised by the arresting officer that his driving privileges would be suspended if he refused to submit to and complete the test and whether he refused to submit to and complete the test, and (2) whether respondent was advised by the arresting officer that his driving privileges would be suspended if he submitted to a chemical test which showed an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more and whether the test disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more.

Officer Anglin testified that, after transporting respondent to the Highland police station, he asked respondent for his driver’s license. Respondent stated that he did not have his driver’s license, but produced an Illinois firearm owner’s identification card. Respondent was informed that he was being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Officer Anglin read to respondent a form entitled “Warning to Motorist,” which informs the motorist that refusal to submit to a chemical test will result in the statutory summary suspension of his driving privileges for a specified period of time, and that if the motorist submits to the test and it shows an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more, a statutory summary suspension of driving privileges for a specified period of time will be imposed. The warning further informs the motorist that if the arrest is for anything other than a first offense, the period of suspension will be longer. Officer Anglin inquired of respondent whether he understood the warning, and respondent stated that he did. Respondent then produced his driver’s license, but refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.

Officer Anglin further testified that since January 1, 1986, he had made approximately 9 or 10 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. In each of those arrests, he had given the same warnings he gave to respondent.

Respondent testified that after he was transported to the Highland police station, he was asked to sit in a chair. Officer Anglin sat at a desk and began writing. Shortly thereafter, Anglin asked respondent to “come over and blow in the Breathalyzer.” Respondent refused and Anglin said, “You know that’s automatic suspension of your license if you don’t blow it.” Respondent stated that he understood but still refused to submit to the test. Anglin sat down and started writing again. When respondent left the police station after paying bail, he was given a written “Warning to Motorist” form.

At the close of evidence and argument, the trial court found the testimony of Officer Anglin to be more credible than that of respondent. The trial court found that respondent had been properly informed that his refusal to submit to the test would result in the statutory summary suspension of his driving privileges and sustained the suspension.

On December 17, 1987, respondent filed a motion to reconsider and vacate the judgment sustaining the suspension of his driving privileges. The motion also sought an immediate stay of the summary suspension. The motion was denied on December 17,1987.

On December 28, 1987, respondent filed a notice of appeal and a motion to stay the suspension of his driving privileges pending appeal. The motion to stay pending appeal was granted by the circuit court of Madison County on January 21,1988.

Respondent raises three issues on appeal: (1) whether the failure to give him a written warning that refusal to submit to a chemical test would result in suspension of his driving privileges violates due process, or alternatively, violates section 11 — 501.1(c) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 951/2, par. 11 — 501.1(c)); (2) whether the provision in section 2 — 118.1(b) that the judicial hearing shall not stay the summary suspension violates the separation of powers doctrine (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, par. 2 — 118.1(b)); and (3) whether section 11 — 501.1 is self-contradictory and void for vagueness (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95½, par. 11 — 501.1). We will address the arguments in the order presented.

Section 11 — 501.1(c) of the Illinois Vehicle Code requires that a person requested to submit to a chemical test be warned by the law enforcement officer requesting the test that a refusal to submit to the test will result in the statutory summary suspension of such person’s driving privileges in accordance with section 6 — 208.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, par. 6 — 208.1). Section 6— 208.1 sets forth the periods of suspension. (Refusal to submit to the test results in a six-month suspension; test results showing an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more results in a three-month suspension; for any person other than a first offender a 12-month suspension is imposed. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95V2, par. 6 — 208.1).) Section 11— 501.1 does not set forth the form of the warning or require that it be in writing.

Respondent argues that, because of the complexity of the warning, including the various periods of suspension, due process requires that the warning be given in writing. This is especially so, respondent argues, because under the current statutory scheme, a prehearing suspension is permissible and possible.

It is now well settled that the due process clause applies to the suspension of driving privileges as a driver’s license is a protectable property interest. (People v. Honaker (1984), 127 Ill. App. 3d 1036, 1038, 469 N.E.2d 1120, 1122.) Thus, the statutory scheme for summary suspension of a driver’s license must pass muster under the due process provisions of both the Illinois and United States Constitutions. (People v. Farrell (1987), 158 Ill. App. 3d 690, 692, 511 N.E.2d 265, 267.) In Honaker, the court held that any warning, whether oral or written, that a person’s driving privileges will be suspended for failure to submit to a breathalyzer test is not constitutionally mandated, since under the Constitution, the person could be required to submit to the test without his consent.

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Bluebook (online)
542 N.E.2d 1311, 187 Ill. App. 3d 27, 134 Ill. Dec. 804, 1989 Ill. App. LEXIS 1230, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-rakers-illappct-1989.