State v. Berini

Supreme Court of Vermont

State v. Berini

701 A.2d 1055, 167 Vt. 565, 1997 Vt. LEXIS 241

Supreme Court of Vermont·Decided July 28, 1997·No. 96-549·Published·Cited by 17 cases

Opinions

The State appeals an order of the Orange District Court suppressing defendant’s refusal to submit to a breath test because he was not afforded an opportunity to consult with an attorney. We affirm.

Defendant was arrested for driving under the influence. The arresting officer informed defendant of his right to speak with an attorney before deciding whether to submit to a breath test. Defendant refused to provide a sample without the advice of an attorney. Despite numerous attempts, the officer was unable to contact defendant’s lawyer or a public defender. After approximately one hour, the [566] officer asked defendant to provide a sample, but defendant declined to submit without consulting an attorney. The officer concluded that this constituted a refusal.

Defendant moved to suppress the refusal on the ground that he was denied the opportunity to consult with counsel. Under the authority of State v. Garvey, 157 Vt. 105, 107, 595 A.2d 267, 268 (1991), the trial court granted the suppression motion. The State thereupon moved for permission to take an interlocutory appeal. VR.A.E 5(b). The court granted the motion.

Vermont’s implied-consent statute gives a person from whom a breath test has been requested by a law enforcement officer a right to consult an attorney prior to deciding whether to take the test. State v. Fuller, 163 Vt. 523, 526, 660 A.2d 302, 304 (1995); 23 V.S.A. § 1202(c). In Garvey we held that a defendant’s license may not be suspended where the “refusal is premised on the state’s inability to provide him with a consultation with a lawyer before he was required to make up his mind whether to take the test.” 157 Vt. at 106, 660 A.2d at 268. We specifically rejected the State’s contention that the statute authorized the officer to record a refusal if, after thirty minutes, a lawyer could not be found. Id.

Garvey plainly controls in this case. Although the State invites the Court to reconsider and reverse Garvey, it offers no new evidence or persuasive rationale to demonstrate that the case was wrongly decided. While not slavish adherents to stare decisis, see Cooperative Fire Ins. Ass’n v. White Caps, Inc., 166 Vt. 355, 356, 694 A.2d 34, 35 (1997), we generally require more than mere disagreement to overturn a decision, particularly one of such recent vintage.

Affirmed.

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The State appeals an order of the Orange District Court suppressing defendant’s refusal to submit to a breath test because he was not afforded an opportunity to consult with an attorney. We affirm.

Defendant was arrested for driving under the influence. The arresting officer informed defendant of his right to speak with an attorney before deciding whether to submit to a breath test. Defendant refused to provide a sample without the advice of an attorney. Despite numerous attempts, the officer was unable to contact defendant’s lawyer or a public defender. After approximately one hour, the [566] officer asked defendant to provide a sample, but defendant declined to submit without consulting an attorney. The officer concluded that this constituted a refusal.

Defendant moved to suppress the refusal on the ground that he was denied the opportunity to consult with counsel. Under the authority of State v. Garvey, 157 Vt. 105, 107, 595 A.2d 267, 268 (1991), the trial court granted the suppression motion. The State thereupon moved for permission to take an interlocutory appeal. VR.A.E 5(b). The court granted the motion.

Vermont’s implied-consent statute gives a person from whom a breath test has been requested by a law enforcement officer a right to consult an attorney prior to deciding whether to take the test. State v. Fuller, 163 Vt. 523, 526, 660 A.2d 302, 304 (1995); 23 V.S.A. § 1202(c). In Garvey we held that a defendant’s license may not be suspended where the “refusal is premised on the state’s inability to provide him with a consultation with a lawyer before he was required to make up his mind whether to take the test.” 157 Vt. at 106, 660 A.2d at 268. We specifically rejected the State’s contention that the statute authorized the officer to record a refusal if, after thirty minutes, a lawyer could not be found. Id.

Garvey plainly controls in this case. Although the State invites the Court to reconsider and reverse Garvey, it offers no new evidence or persuasive rationale to demonstrate that the case was wrongly decided. While not slavish adherents to stare decisis, see Cooperative Fire Ins. Ass’n v. White Caps, Inc., 166 Vt. 355, 356, 694 A.2d 34, 35 (1997), we generally require more than mere disagreement to overturn a decision, particularly one of such recent vintage.

Affirmed.

State v. Berini, 701 A.2d 1055, 167 Vt. 565, 1997 Vt. LEXIS 241 (Vt. 1997).

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