Seymore v. Dunlap, Sec. of State

• Court: Superior Court of Maine
• Decided: March 24, 2015
• Docket: CUMap-14-53
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT CUMBERLAND, ss CMLACTION Docket No. AP-14-53

JOHN SEYMORE,

Petitioner ORDER ON SOC APPEAL v.

MATTHEW DUNL.Al?-,._ ,. SECRETARY OF STAITB;

Respondent MAR 25 2015 i-

Motor Vehicles ("BMV") upholding his license suspension for failure to submit to a

breathalyzer test under 29-A M.R.S. § 2521. For the following reasons, the decision is

affirmed.

FACTS

The following facts are taken from the testimony and exhibits offered at the

administrative hearing on October 21, 2014. On August 15, 2014, Scarborough Police

Sergeant Timothy Barker responded to a call from an officer Michael Thurlow, who 1 suspected he had pulled over an impaired driver. (Tab 5, at 6; Tab 6, at 2.) Officer

Thurlow stopped Mr. Seymore's car for going through a red light and called for

assistance when Mr. Seymore failed to come to a timely stop. (Tab 6, ·at 5.) Officer

Thurlow turned over the scene to Sergeant Barker when he arrived for further

investigation. (Id.) At that point, Mr. Seymore admitted that he had been drinking. (Tab

6, at 2.) Sergeant Barker then administered three field sobriety tests to Mr. Seymore,

1 The court's citations refer to the numbered tabs in the administrative record submitted to the court. including the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus ("HGN"), Walk and Turn, and One-Leg

Stand tests. (Tab 5, at 6.) Sergeant Barker observed six out of six clues for impairment on

the HGN test, six out of eight clues on the Walk and Turn test, and three out of four

clues on the One-Leg Stand test. (Tab 6, at 3-4.) Sergeant Barker placed Mr. Seymore

under arrest for operating under the influence. (Tab 6, at 4.)

Sergeant Barker transported Mr. Seymore to the Scarborough Police Department.

(Id.) At the station, Sergeant Barker took Mr. Seymore to the intoxilyzer area. (Id.)

Sergeant Barker asked Mr. Seymore whether he would submit to a breath test, but Mr.

Seymore responded that he had been advised by a lawyer not to take the test. (Id.) Mr.

Seymore testified that he was advised by a prepaid legal service in the past never to

take a breathalyzer test. (Tab 5, at 21.) Sergeant Barker advised Mr. Seymore of the

consequences for failing to submit to a breath test under Maine law, and Mr. Seymore

signed a form explaining his rights and acknowledging that he did not wish to submit

to a test. (Tab 6, at 1.) Mr. Seymore testified that he had no memory of signing the form.

(Tab 5, at 16.) The hearing officer denied Mr. Seymore's petition because Mr. Seymore

signed the form acknowledging that he understood the consequences of a failure to

submit to a breath test. (Tab 5, at 23.)

Under 29-A M.R.S. § 2521, "[i]f there is probable cause to believe a person has

operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, that person shall

submit to and complete a test to determine an alcohol level and the presence of a drug

or drug metabolite by analysis of blood, breath or urine." 29-A M.R.S. § 2521(1) (2014).

"The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the license of a person who fails to

submit to and complete a test." Id. § 2521(5). The period of suspension is 275 days for

the first refusal. Id. § 6. Under this statute, Mr. Seymore's license was suspended for 275 days with the opportunity for Mr. Seymore to get a work-restricted license after 180

days. (Tab 7, at 1.) The hearing officer upheld this suspension.

DISCUSSION

Standard of Review

The court reviews decisions of an administrative agency "for errors of law, abuse

of discretion, or findings of fact not supported by the record." Save Our Sebasticook, Inc.

v. Bd. of Envtl. Prot., 2007 ME 102, err 13, 928 A.2d 736. "That the evidence supports two

inconsistent conclusions does not prevent an administrative agency's finding from

being supported by substantial evidence." Jones v. Town ofWarren, 1997 ME 200, 13, 704

A.2d 1210. The party seeking review of the administrative agency's decision bears the

burden of demonstrating that error to the court. Kelley v. Me. Pub. Employees Ret. Sys.,

2009 ME 27, err 16, 967 A.2d 676.

Probable Cause

Mr. Seymore first argues that Sergeant Barker lacked probable cause to believe

he had been operating under the influence. Mr. Thurlow stopped Mr. Seymore because

he went through a red light and then failed to come to a timely stop. Mr. Thurlow's

report was admitted as evidence at the hearing. (Tab 6, at 5.) After Sergeant Barker

arrived at the scene, Mr. Seymore admitted that he had been drinking. (Tab 6, at 2.)

Based on these facts, the officers had probable cause to make the stop and administer

the field sobriety tests.

Erroneous Legal Advice

Mr. Seymore next argues that he should not be punished for relying in good faith

on erroneous legal advice. Althou:gh erroneous advice from the state could constitute a due process violation, see State v. Stade, 683 A.2d 164, 166 (Me. 1996), Mr. Seymore fails

to cite any authority excusing an individual for relying on erroneous private legal

advice. Mr. Seymore does not argue that Sergeant Barker, or any other state actor gave

him inaccurate information. In the absence of any state action, Mr. Seymore's argument

fails.

Informed Refusal

Finally, Mr. Seymore contends that he has no memory of signing the form

acknowledging that he understood the consequences of refusing to submit to a breath

test. Sergeant Barker's report states that Mr. Seymore signed the form and indicated that

he understood the consequences of refusing to submit to the intoxilyzer test. The

hearing officer's findings on this point will not be disturbed.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Seymore understood the consequences of failing to submit to a breath test.

Although he may have relied on bad legal advice, that does not excuse him from the

consequences of his informed decisions.

The entry is:

The decision of the BMV suspending John Seymore's license is AFFIRMED.

Dated: ~ 0{\ 1'7 ~A. Wheeler Justice, Superior Court

Petitioner-Sarah Churchill Esq Respondent-Donald Macomber AAG