State v. Edwards

525 So. 2d 308, 1988 La. App. LEXIS 923, 1988 WL 35553
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 19, 1988
DocketNo. 87 KA 1273
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 525 So. 2d 308 (State v. Edwards) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Edwards, 525 So. 2d 308, 1988 La. App. LEXIS 923, 1988 WL 35553 (La. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

CARTER, Judge.

Defendant, William E. Edwards, Jr., was charged by bill of information with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:98, and with improper lane usage, a violation of LSA-R.S. 32:79. Defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving while intoxicated.1 He was tried before a jury2 and found guilty of both offenses. For his conviction of driving while intoxicated, docket number 151420, defendant was sentenced to the following: (1) four months imprisonment, suspended on the condition that defendant be placed on probation for two years; (2) a $400.00 fine plus costs, in default of which he must serve sixty days in jail; (3) four eight-hour days of community service work; (4) participation in a substance abuse program; and (5) participation in a driver’s improvement program. For the conviction of improper lane usage, docket number 151422, defendant was sentenced [310]*310to pay a fine of $150.00, in default of which he must serve thirty days in jail.

Following his conviction, defendant filed a supervisory writ of review with this Court, docket number KW 87 0924. The writ was denied because the case had been properly tried before a jury and was therefore appealable. See LSA-Const. Article 5, § 10(A)(3). Subsequently, defendant filed an application for post conviction relief with the district court, seeking an out-of-time appeal. The district court granted defendant’s request.

In this appeal, defendant presents three assignments of error for review:

1. Evidence of defendant’s refusal to submit to a DWI test was improperly admitted at trial.
2. The evidence was insufficient to support the conviction of driving while intoxicated.
3. The trial court erred in allowing the sequestration order to be modified.

FACTS

Trooper Carl Bennett and Sergeant Walter Clement were working DWI detail in one-man units on the evening defendant was arrested for driving while intoxicated and improper lane usage. On the evening of May 30, 1986, Trooper Bennett observed defendant’s vehicle, with two wheels resting on the center line, stopped at a caution light at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 434 and U.S. Highway 190 in La-combe, Louisiana. Trooper Bennett became suspicious because defendant had stopped his vehicle, rather than slowing down at the caution light. Trooper Bennett then followed defendant’s vehicle for approximately two and one-half miles before signaling defendant to pull over to the shoulder of the road. As he followed defendant’s car, it weaved across the center line several times. Although convinced that the driver of the vehicle was under the influence of alcohol, during cross examination Trooper Bennett admitted that the weaving could have been attributable to something other than driving while intoxicated.

Trooper Bennett testified that as he spoke with defendant he noticed defendant’s eyes were bloodshot, a strong odor of alcohol was present on his breath and that, “while standing still, defendant would sway back and forth.” He further testified that defendant’s speech was slurred. Trooper Bennett testified that he attempted to have defendant perform a field sobriety test; however, defendant avoided performing the test and was consequently arrested and handcuffed.

As he followed defendant’s car, Trooper Bennett observed another vehicle driving somewhat erratically. He radioed Sergeant Clement for assistance. Trooper Bennett was already speaking to defendant on the shoulder of the road when Sergeant Clement arrived at the scene. Sergeant Clement testified that defendant was “kind of swaying a bit — bobbing” and that he could smell alcohol on defendant’s breath. Furthermore, he shined a flashlight into defendant’s face and noticed that his eyes looked glassy and bloodshot.

Defendant was transported to the Slidell Sheriff’s Office. He was given a rights form (relating to rights regarding chemical testing), but did not sign it. Trooper Bennett testified that he informed defendant of the DWI arrest, the consequences of the test, the consequences of refusal to take the test, and his Miranda rights. Defendant was given approximately four minutes to read the rights form. Trooper Bennett then asked defendant if he was prepared to take the test, at which time defendant stated that he was unsure. Trooper Bennett allowed defendant a few more minutes to read over the form and again questioned defendant as to his readiness to take the test. Defendant requested that he be allowed to speak with his attorney before assenting to or refusing the test and prior to signing any form. Trooper Bennett then told defendant that in so doing defendant had just refused to take the test and took the form from defendant. Defendant was then booked and charged with driving while intoxicated and improper lane usage.

Defendant’s version of the facts varies considerably from the factual rendition giv[311]*311en by Trooper Bennett. The defense presented testimony to the effect that defendant and a dinner companion each consumed one rum-and-coca-cola drink and one and one-half glasses of wine with a heavy meal on the evening of the arrest. These drinks were allegedly consumed over a three-hour period. Defendant testified that he was exhausted after a long day of engaging in manual labor. Consequently, his dinner companion drove her car to the restaurant where they dined. However, defendant’s companion did not drive after dinner because her contact lenses irritated her eyes when driving after dark. According to the testimony presented by the defense, the night defendant was arrested, the weather was hazy, and the defendant was driving below the speed limit and was being overly cautious because of his unfamiliarity with the roads in the area. Defendant’s dinner companion testified that she and defendant were not intoxicated and that defendant was not weaving or crossing the center line.

Further, defendant testified that he was never informed of the reason for his arrest or asked to perform a field sobriety test. Defendant testified that he was not read the rights form relating to rights regarding chemical testing. Defendant testified that he was never asked if he had consumed any alcoholic beverage or medication or if he were injured. He admitted that Trooper Bennett questioned him as to why his vehicle was weaving, but defendant testified that he told Trooper Bennett he was attempting to avoid oncoming traffic and the bright headlights. Defendant also stated that Trooper Bennett was verbally abusive while transporting defendant to the Slidell Sheriff’s Office.

On rebuttal, Trooper Bennett contradict ed defendant’s version of the facts, stating that defendant was informed of his arrest for driving while intoxicated on the shoulder of the road.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE3

By means of this assignment of error, defendant contends the trial court erred in admitting into evidence testimony concerning his refusal to submit to a PEI test. Specifically, defendant contends that Trooper Carl Bennett failed to read the rights form to him as required by the provisions of Louisiana’s Implied Consent Law. Defendant contends that no reference can be made to the breath test at trial unless and until the proper predicate is laid, citing LSA-R.S. 32:661C(1) and 32:666 A and B.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
525 So. 2d 308, 1988 La. App. LEXIS 923, 1988 WL 35553, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-edwards-lactapp-1988.