State v. Arbon

909 P.2d 1270, 281 Utah Adv. Rep. 21, 1996 Utah App. LEXIS 4, 1996 WL 5591

• Court: Court of Appeals of Utah
• Decided: January 5, 1996
• Docket: No. 950277-CA
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

JACKSON, Judge:

Defendants Bret R. Arbon and Kimberly S. Milligan bring this interlocutory appeal to challenge the trial court’s denial of their motions to dismiss criminal prosecutions against them for driving under the influence (DUI) in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 41-6-44 (1993). We affirm.

FACTS

In separate instances, defendants were arrested for DUI. Both failed chemical tests given after arrest, triggering the application of Utah Code Ann. § 53-3-223 (1994), under which their driver’s licenses were suspended by the Driver License Division in administrative proceedings. Later, criminal charges for DUI were filed against each defendant. Defendants sought dismissal of their respective cases, arguing they had already been “punished” by having their licenses suspended. Thus, they asserted, the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment barred further proceedings that could result in additional punishment.

The trial court rejected defendants’ arguments and denied their respective motions to dismiss their cases. Defendants each brought an interlocutory appeal challenging the denial of their motions. This court consolidated their appeals.

ISSUE

The sole issue on appeal is whether, under the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, an administrative driver’s license suspension after a DUI arrest is “punishment” that precludes a second punishment in a criminal proceeding. This is a legal question of constitutional interpretation; thus, we review the trial court’s conclusion for correctness. See State v. Davis, 903 P.2d 940, 943 (Utah App.1995).

ANALYSIS

The Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” U.S. Const, amend. V. This mandate extends to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 794, 89 S.Ct. 2056, 2062, 23 L.Ed.2d 707 (1969), and forbids, among other things, multiple punishments imposed in separate proceedings for the same offense, State v. Davis, 903 P.2d 940, 943 (Utah App.1995). We do not address the “separate proceedings” and “same offense” criteria, but consider whether the administrative suspension is “punishment” under the Double Jeopardy Clause.¹ If it is not punishment, the Double Jeopardy Clause is not implicated and our inquiry ends.

In City of Orem v. Crandall, 760 P.2d 920 (Utah App.1988), we held the administrative license suspension scheme at issue did not impose punishment. Id. at 922. At that time, we used the more formalistic approach of simply looking at whether the proceeding itself was civil/administrative or criminal. Id. If a sanction was imposed in a civil/administrative proceeding, the sanction was not punishment under the Double Jeopardy Clause. Id.

However, since Crandall, the United States Supreme Court has disavowed that approach and recognized that “a civil as well as a criminal sanction constitutes punishment when the sanction ... serves the goals of punishment,” which are retribution and deterrence. United States v. Halper, 490 U.S. 435, 448, 109 S.Ct. 1892, 1901-02, 104 L.Ed.2d 487 (1989); see also Department of Revenue v. Kurth Ranch, — U.S. -, -, 114 S.Ct. 1937, 1946, 128 L.Ed.2d 767 (1994) (stating “labels do not control in a double jeopardy inquiry”). Halper held that “¹ “a civil sanction that cannot fairly be said solely to serve a remedial purpose, but rather can only be explained as also serving either retributive or deterrent purposes, is punishment, as we have come to understand the term.” ’ ”² Davis, 903 P.2d at 947 (quoting Austin v. United States, — U.S.-, -, 113 S.Ct. 2801, 2806, 125 L.Ed.2d 488 (1993) (quoting Halper, 490 U.S. at 448, 109 S.Ct. at 1902)).

Thus, to determine whether the administrative license suspension scheme at issue is punishment for double jeopardy purposes, we must perform “‘a particularized assessment of the penalty imposed and the purposes that the penalty may fairly be said to serve.’ ” Davis, 903 P.2d at 947 (quoting Halper, 490 U.S. at 448, 109 S.Ct. at 1901). We focus on “no single ‘key’ factor,” but examine the “totality of the circumstances,” recognizing that “the specific analysis that applies to determine whether a sanction constitutes punishment within the meaning of the double jeopardy clause varies depending upon the sanction.” Baldwin v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 35 Cal.App.4th 1630, 42 Cal.Rptr.2d 422, 430 (Cal.Ct.App.1995) (citing Kurth Ranch, — U.S. at-, 114 S.Ct. at 1948). Therefore, in the context of an administrative license suspension, we do not strictly apply the Supreme Court’s analyses from Halper, 490 U.S. at 448-52,109 S.Ct. at 1902-04 (monetary sanction), Austin, — U.S. at-, 113 S.Ct. at 2806-12 (civil forfeiture), and Kurth Ranch, — U.S. at-, 114 S.Ct. at 1948 (drug tax).³ See Baldwin, 42 Cal.Rptr.2d at 429-30. Instead, we fashion an analysis informed by those cases, yet suited to the civil sanction at issue. See id.; State v. Higa, 897 P.2d 928, 933 (Haw.1995); State v. Jones, 340 Md. 235, 666 A.2d 128, 134 (1995); State ex rel. Schwartz v. Kennedy, 904 P.2d 1044, 1055 (N.M.1995).

Considering Halper, Austin, and Kurth Ranch, together with myriad other state cases applying their principles in the context of administrative driver’s license suspensions for DUI, we proceed as follows: We first place the statutory scheme at issue in its historical context, examining past uses of license suspensions to determine if their purposes have been perceived to be punitive or nonpunitive. See Austin, — U.S. at-, 113 S.Ct. at 2812; State v. Zerkel, 900 P.2d 744, 751 (Alaska Ct.App.1995); Jones, 666 A.2d at 135; Davis, 903 P.2d at 948. Then, we review the statutory scheme itself for overall purpose and legislative intent. Zerkel, 900 P.2d at 751; State v. Savard, 659 A.2d 1265, 1268 (Me.1995); Jones, 666 A.2d at 135; Kennedy, 904 P.2d at 1055-56; State v. Strong, 158 Vt. 56, 605 A.2d 510, 513 (1992).

Historical Context

In determining that administrative driver’s license suspensions for DUI violations have traditionally been viewed as “remedial” or protective — not punitive — we find support in (1) prior pronouncements of the United States Supreme Court, the Utah Supreme Court, see City of Cleveland v. Miller, 68 Ohio Misc.2d 52, 646 N.E.2d 1213, 1216 (1995); cf. Davis, 903 P.2d at 945 (using state supreme court authority to label civil forfeiture punitive), and other state courts; and (2) analogy to other licensing schemes, see Savard, 659 A.2d at 1268.

As far back as 1938, the United States Supreme Court stated, “One [sanction] which is characteristically free of the punitive criminal element is revocation of a privilege voluntarily granted.” Helvering v. Mitchell, 303 U.S. 391, 399, 58 S.Ct. 630, 633, 82 L.Ed. 917 (1938). Certainly a state-issued driver’s license is a “privilege voluntarily granted.” State v. Fox, No. MV94315260, 1995 WL 559000, at *3 (Conn.Super.Ct. Sept. 13, 1995); Nolen v. State, 218 Ga.App. 819, 463 S.E.2d 504, 507 (1995); Johnson v. State, 95 Md.App. 561, 622 A.2d 199, 205 (1993); Savard, 659 A.2d at 1267; State v. Young, 3 Neb.App. 539, 530 N.W.2d 269, 278 (1995); cf. Utah Code Ann. § 53-3-207(l)(a) (1994). Thus, revocation or suspension of a driver’s license has traditionally been outside the Supreme Court’s notion of punishment under the Double Jeopardy Clause.

Further, the Utah Supreme Court long ago declared, “The purpose of this administrative procedure is not to punish the inebriated drivers; such persons are subject to separate criminal prosecution for the purpose of punishment. The administrative revocation proceedings are to protect the public, not to punish individual drivers.” Ballard v. State, 595 P.2d 1302, 1305 (Utah 1979). Other states agree that the historical purpose of driver’s license suspension after a DUI arrest is remedial — i.e., to protect the public from unsafe drivers — not punitive. See, e.g., State v. Hanson, 532 N.W.2d 598, 601 (Minn.Ct.App.1995).

Indeed, suspensions of various types of government-issued licenses generally serve the remedial purpose of protecting the public. See Jones, 666 A.2d at 136. For instance, aside from drivers, Utah requires licensure of those practicing in a broad range of professions with the potential to injure consumers through malfeasance or negligence. Utah Code Ann. §§ 58-1-101 to 58-66-608 (1994 & Supp.1995) (ranging from architects and accountants to physicians and social workers). Likewise, certain kinds of businesses that could be harmful to public health may not be operated without licenses. See, e.g., id. § 2-1-16 (1995) (airport); id. § 4r-11-4 (bee raising); id. § 4-32-4 (slaughterhouse). To ensure public protection, licensees typically must show their capability by meeting certain standards such as reaching a specific level of education or passing an examination before receiving a license. See generally id. §§ 58-1-101 to 58-66-608 (1994 & Supp.1995) (listing requirements for each type of professional or occupational license).

Traditionally, the ultimate goal of licensing schemes is to prevent unethical or inept persons from participating in an activity which requires a license. See Jones, 666 A.2d at 136. In revoking a conditionally issued license for noncompliance with the conditions of its issuance, the state simply means to guard the public from those who are unfit for the regulated activity. Kennedy, 904 P.2d at 1056. Accordingly, “courts have repeatedly held that revocation [or suspension] of a license for violation of the laws governing the licensed activity or occupation is not ‘punishment,’ but rather is remedial insofar as it serves the interests of enforcing regulatory compliance and protecting the public.” Id.; see also People v. Marmon, 903 P.2d 651, 655 (Colo.1995) (holding disciplinary action against attorney was to protect public,- not to punish wrongdoer); Loui v. Board of Medical Examiners, 78 Hawai'i 21, 889 P.2d 705, 707, 711 (1995) (concluding medical license suspension after doctor convicted of sexual abuse protected public from unfit doctor, serving legitimate nonpunitive governmental objectives); Cocco v. Maryland Comm’n on Medical Discipline, 39 Md. App. 170, 384 A.2d 766, 768-69 (1978) (“[Disciplinary proceedings against a professional have the unique purpose of protecting the public from the results of a professional’s improper conduct, incompetence or unscrupulous practices.”).

Based on past declarations by the United States Supreme Court, Utah Supreme Court, and other state courts, along with the traditional notion that licensing schemes in general are designed for public protection, we conclude that administrative driver’s license suspension procedures are historically regarded not to be punishment under the Double Jeopardy Clause. Next, we consider the purpose of the specific statute at issue.

Specific Statutory Purpose

The Uniform Driver License Act (the Act), Utah Code Ann. §§ 53-3-101 to - 909 (1994 & Supp.1995), is designed to promote public safety. Indeed, the Act is found in Title 53, designated “Public Safety.” And, throughout the Act, references to public safety abound. For instance, the Driver License Division is directed to “make rules ... for examining applicants for a license, as necessary for the safety and welfare of the traveling public,” id. § 53-3-104(l)(a)(i), and test a license applicant’s “physical and mental abilities ... to determine the applicant’s fitness to drive a motor vehicle safely on the highways,” id. § 53-3-206(l)(e), and is authorized to restrict a licensee “as it determines appropriate to assure safe driving of a motor vehicle by the licensee,” id. § 53-3-208(1). In addition, no reference to the goals of punishment exists in the sections of the Act that outline causes and purposes of license revocations and suspensions. See id. §§ 53-3-208, 53-3-209, 53-3-220 to -223.

As for the specific sections governing the type of license suspensions in this case, id. §§ 53-3-222 to -223, the Legislature has explicitly stated its purpose:

The Legislature finds that a primary purpose of this title relating to suspension or revocation of a person’s license or privilege to drive a motor vehicle for driving with a blood alcohol content above a certain level or while under the influence of alcohol ... is protecting persons on highways by quickly removing from the highways those persons who have shown they are safety hazards.

Id. § 53-3-222. No other purpose is stated or implied.⁴ The Act also allows suspension or revocation of a driver’s license for other actions, stating the same purpose of public protection. See id. § 53-3-221(1); supra note 2. We thus conclude that the statutory scheme’s purpose and intent is remedial — it is meant to protect the public, not to punish the DUI offender.⁵

CONCLUSION

Having determined (1) the historical purpose of licensing programs is to safeguard public health and safety and (2) the specific purpose of the statutory scheme at issue is remedial or protective, we hold administrative driver’s license suspensions for DUI do not constitute punishment for double jeopardy purposes. Thus, the Double Jeopardy Clause does not preclude the State from suspending a DUI arrestee’s license under Section 53-3-223 and later bringing criminal DUI charges against that arrestee. The trial court was correct to deny defendants’ motions to dismiss their DUI prosecutions. Accordingly, we affirm and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

DAVIS, Associate P.J., concur.

1 . The State conceded at oral argument that this case involved separate proceedings arising from the same offense.

2 . Defendants urge us to contemplate the purpose of the license suspensions in terms of effect. They argue the effect of a potential suspension is to deter licensees from driving under the influence of alcohol; thus, a suspension meets a goal of punishment. As an aside, we note that this “deterrent effect” apparently did not work on the particular licensees in this case. In any event, whether a specific sanction constitutes punishment is not decided from the defendant's viewpoint. United States v. Halper, 490 U.S. 435, 447 n. 7, 109 S.Ct. 1892, 1901 n. 7, 104 L.Ed.2d 487 (1989); State v. Davis, 903 P.2d 940, 947 n. 12 (Utah App.1995) "[F]or the defendant!)] even remedial sanctions carry the sting of punishment.” Halper, 490 U.S. at 444 n. 7, 109 S.Ct. at 1901 n. 7. Accordingly, our analysis need not consider the incidental deterrent effect license suspensions may have on drivers.

3 . Defendants note that a feature of the Montana drug tax in Kurth Ranch which led to its designation as punishment was that the tax was assessed only of those who had committed the crime of possessing marijuana. See Department of Revenue v. Kurth Ranch, - U.S. -, -, 114 S.Ct. 1937, 1947, 128 L.Ed.2d 767 (1994). The Court found that to be " ‘significant of penal and prohibitory intent.' ” Id. (citation omitted). Defendants argue that ‘‘[t]he administrative suspension of a driver’s license in Utah is similarly conditioned on the commission of the crime of DUI” and, thus, should be designated punishment just as the drug tax was. To the contrary, we have found many other reasons for driver's license suspensions in Utah. For instance, drivers can have their licenses suspended for not observing the conditions of a special restricted license, Utah Code Ann. § 53-3-208(3) (1994); for two charges of reckless driving within 12 months, id. § 53-3-220(l)(a)(viii); for mental or physical unfitness, id. § 53-3-221(l)(c); or for exceeding a maximum number of points assigned for traffic violations, id. § 53-3-221(4). From our review of these sections and others, it is obvious that suspensions are allowed or required, not just on criminal grounds, but on many other grounds as well. The overall controlling theme of these sections is public protection.

4 . Defendants argue that because the above language states, "a primary purpose,” as opposed to “the primary purpose,” there may be other deterrent or retributive purposes of the legislation not stated by the Legislature. However, defendants concede in footnote seven of their brief that they have been unable to identify any other purpose, even after reviewing legislative history. We do not believe the Legislature's use of "a,” instead of “the,” should change our result.

First, a statute is presumed to be constitutional. See Lander v. Industrial Comm’n, 894 P.2d 552, 555 (Utah App.1995). The statutory scheme here is thus presumed to create no double jeopardy problem. The defendants bear the burden of proving it does. See id. As we have mentioned, defendants have not identified any other express purpose for this statute than to enhance public protection. Thus, defendants have not met their burden.

Second, legislative intent is only one factor in our analysis. See supra. We do not regard the use of "a” instead of "the" here to be particularly significant. We simply weigh it along with other considerations as part of the totality of the circumstances.

Finally, we find it persuasive that the Legislature has recently amended the language to state “the primary purpose,” not "a primary purpose." See Utah Code Arm. § 53-3-222 (Supp.1995). Although the amended language does not control this case, it does intimate that the Legislature has become aware that the earlier language could be misconstrued as defendants have done. Consequently, the Legislature has merely clarified the statute’s purpose.

5 . Our determination places us in good company. In overwhelming numbers, using a similar analysis, other states also inteipret these types of statutes to primarily afford public protection, not to punish the DUI offender. See, e.g., State v. Zerkel, 900 P.2d 744, 758 (Alaska Ct.App.1995); State v. Nichols, 169 Ariz. 409, 819 P.2d 995, 998 (1991); Baldwin v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 35 Cal.App.4th 1630, 42 Cal.Rptr.2d 422, 429 (1995); Ellis v. Pierce, 230 Cal.App.3d 1557, 282 Cal.Rptr. 93, 95 (1991); State v. Fox, No. MV94315260, 1995 WL 559000, at *2 (Conn.Super.Ct. Sept. 13, 1995); State v. Schwander, Nos. IN94-08-1350 to IN94-08-1351, IN94-08-1352, IN94-08-1353, IN94-08-1354, 1995 WL 413248, at *3-4 (Del.Super.Ct. June 15, 1995); Davidson v. MacKinnon, 656 So.2d 223, 225 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1995); Jackson v. State, 218 Ga.App. 677, 462 S.E.2d 802, 803 (1995); State v. Higa, 897 P.2d 928, 933 (Haw.1995); State v. Maze, 16 Kan.App.2d 527, 825 P.2d 1169, 1174 (1992); State v. Savard, 659 A.2d 1265, 1267-68 (Me.1995); State v. Jones, 340 Md. 235, 666 A.2d 128, 143 (1995); State v. Hanson, 532 N.W.2d 598, 601 (Minn.Ct.App.1995); State v. Young, 3 Neb. App. 539, 530 N.W.2d 269, 278 (1995); State ex rel. Schwartz v. Kennedy, 904 P.2d 1044, 1060 (N.M.1995); People v. Frank, 631 N.Y.S.2d 1014, 1017 (N.Y.Crim.Ct.1995); State v. Zimmerman, 539 N.W.2d 49, 50 (N.D.1995); State v. Toriello, 71 Ohio Misc.2d 81, 654 N.E.2d 1075, 1078 (Summit County Ohio Mun.Ct.1995); State v. Strong, 158 Vt. 56, 605 A.2d 510, 513 (1992); Tench v. Commonwealth, 21 Va.App. 200, 462 S.E.2d 922, 923-24 (1995). But see State v. Ackrouche, 70 Ohio Misc.2d 34, 650 N.E.2d 535, 538-39 (Franklin County Ohio Mun.Ct.1995).