State v. Day

638 P.2d 546, 96 Wash. 2d 646, 1981 Wash. LEXIS 1436

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: December 24, 1981
• Docket: 47622-5
• Status: Published

Opinions

Dimmick, J.

Petitioner was convicted in Skagit County of driving while intoxicated in violation of RCW 46.61.506.¹ The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction. We reverse.

The sole issue presented for review is whether RCW 46.61.506 applies to the particular facts of this case. We hold that the statute is not applicable. We expressly limit this determination to the unique facts herein.

The facts are not in dispute. In November 1978, petitioner was driving an unlicensed 1971 Ford pickup rapidly in circles in a field owned by his parents. He was not on or near a public road. He was never observed driving on a public road or driving on property where the public had a right to be. A Skagit County deputy sheriff observed the erratic behavior from a public road, entered upon the private land and arrested petitioner for driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Petitioner was clearly under the influence at the time of the incident.

RCW 46.61.506 prohibits driving while under the influence of intoxicants "within this state."² RCW 46.61.005(2) provides that this prohibition shall apply "upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state."³ The interpretation of these provisions is a question of first impression in this state. Although other states have dealt with similar statutory language, none have dealt with facts similar to those in the instant case.

Interpretation of the statutory scheme involved herein requires us to construe the provisions so as to make them purposeful and effective. Mason v. Bitton, 85 Wn.2d 321, 326, 534 P.2d 1360 (1975); State v. Felix, 78 Wn.2d 771, 776, 479 P.2d 87 (1971); O'Connell v. Conte, 76 Wn.2d 280, 287, 456 P.2d 317 (1969). We should avoid a literal reading resulting in unlikely, absurd or strained consequences. The spirit or purpose of an enactment should prevail over the express but inept wording. State v. Burke, 92 Wn.2d 474, 478, 598 P.2d 395 (1979); Alderwood Water Dist. v. Pope & Talbot, Inc., 62 Wn.2d 319, 382 P.2d 639 (1963). A statute should be construed in light of the legislative purposes behind its enactment. Washington State Nurses Ass'n v. Board of Medical Examiners, 93 Wn.2d 117, 121, 605 P.2d 1269 (1980).

Accordingly, in ascertaining whether "elsewhere throughout the state" includes the facts of the instant case within its scope, we must examine the purpose of the statute. In State v. Moore, 79 Wn.2d 51, 483 P.2d 630 (1971), we analyzed the validity of the statutory provision authorizing chemical tests to determine blood alcohol content and noted the danger posed by drunk drivers. In our discussion we stated that the law was an "effort to control or reduce the drunk-driver hazard to highway safety". Moore, at 53. The Court of Appeals in Fritts v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 6 Wn. App. 233, 492 P.2d 558 (1971), also recognized the purpose of the statute as an "effort to reduce the hazard the drunk driver presents to the traveling public ..." Fritts, at 241. The statutory provisions dealt with by the courts in Moore and Fritts were also adopted by the electorate as Initiative 242.

Drunk drivers do indeed create a menace to the public. The statutory provisions at issue here are clearly meant to control such a hazard and protect the public from the perils caused by it.⁴

In order to be valid, prohibitions such as the one in question must be reasonable. As we stated in State v. Spino, 61 Wn.2d 246, 250, 377 P.2d 868 (1963):

The rule is that, to justify any law upon the theory that it constitutes a reasonable and proper exercise of the police power, it must be reasonably necessary in the interest of the health, safety, morals, or welfare of the people. This exercise of police power must pass the judicial test of reasonableness. . . . Legislatures may not, under the guise of the police power, impose restrictions that are unnecessary and unreasonable upon the use of private property . . .

(Citation omitted.)

In light of the purpose of the statutes and the unique facts herein, it would be an unreasonable exercise of police power to extend the prohibition to petitioner's conduct. He was posing no threat to the public. This is not a case where it is logical to assume he would leave the private property and pursue a course along a public roadway. The vehicle was unlicensed and he was not on or even near a public road. In addition, the land on which he was driving was privately owned and the public had no right to be there nor was the public expected to be on the property. His arrest did not further the purpose of the statute in any way.⁵

Accordingly, we hold that the unique facts presented by this case do not fall within the scope of the statutory scheme.

Brachtenbach, C.J., and Dolliver, Hicks, Williams, and Dore, JJ., concur.

1 The statute was renumbered from RCW 46.61.506 to 46.61.502 in 1979. The pertinent language herein was not affected.

2 RCW 46.61.506 was enacted by Laws of 1969, ch. 1, § 3 (Initiative 242, § 3) and provided:

"(1) It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence ... to drive . . . a vehicle within this state."

RCW 46.61.502 was enacted by Laws of 1979, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 176, § 1 and now reads:

"A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if he drives a vehicle within this state ..."

3 RCW 46.61.005 was enacted by Laws of 1965, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 155, § 1 and provides:

"The provisions of this chapter relating to the operation of [motor] vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways except:

"(2) The provisions of . . . 46.61.500 through 46.61.520 shall apply upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state."

4 The purpose of the statutes may also be gleaned from several other considerations. First, the title of the act enacting RCW 46.61.005 is "Motor Vehicles— Rules of the Road" and contains general traffic rules. Laws of 1965, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 155, § 1. It is a well recognized rule of statutory construction that the title of the act may be resorted to as one means of ascertaining intent. In re Estate of Kurtzman, 65 Wn.2d 260, 265, 396 P.2d 786 (1964). In addition, although not persuasive, one may look to RCW 46.61.504 prohibiting actual physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated. Pursuant to RCW 46.61.005(2) the prohibition of .504 also applies to "elsewhere throughout the state". The statute, however, as enacted in 1979 provides that a person is not guilty of a violation if prior to pursuit he has moved the vehicle safely off the roadway. This exception appears to be a recognition that the purpose of prohibiting control of a vehicle while intoxicated is to protect the public. Once the person is safely off the roadway he is no longer posing a threat to the public and thus not guilty under RCW 46.61.504.

5 Although we hold that petitioner's conduct was not in violation of RCW 46.61.506, we recognize that an officer may still investigate under these circumstances. The officer having probable cause to believe the petitioner was operating a vehicle while intoxicated could investigate to determine who owned the property, whether the car belonged to petitioner and any other pertinent facts.