State v. Ford

929 P.2d 78, 84 Haw. 65
CourtHawaii Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 9, 1996
Docket16520
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 929 P.2d 78 (State v. Ford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Ford, 929 P.2d 78, 84 Haw. 65 (haw 1996).

Opinion

MOON, Chief Justice.

Following a bench trial, the district court found respondent-appellant Doug J. Ford guilty of two counts of anchoring or mooring a vessel on HawaiTs ocean waters or navigable streams without a permit, in violation of Rule 19-62-17 of the Administrative Rules of the Department of Transportation, Harbors Division, Small Boat Harbors, Part 3 (1981) [hereinafter, harbor rules]. On appeal, the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) vacated the judgment of the district court and remanded for a jury trial based on its decision in State v. Simeona, 10 Haw.App. 220, 864 P.2d 1109 (1993). See State v. Ford, No. 16520, 10 Haw.App. 629, 871 P.2d 800 (Haw.App. Jan. 18, 1994) (mem.). We granted petitioner-appellee State of Hawaii’s (the prosecution) application for a writ of certiora-ri in order to review the ICA’s opinion. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse the portion of the ICA opinion granting Ford the right to a jury trial. However, because we agree with the ICA that the district court violated Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure (HRPP) Rule 10.1(b) in derogation of Ford’s rights against self-incrimination, we vacate the judgment of the district court and remand for a new trial without a jury.

I. BACKGROUND

On June 2, 1992, state harbor agent Susan Keliikuli issued Ford two citations for mooring two vessels in the Ke'ehi Lagoon without proper permits in violation of Rule 19-62-17 of the harbor rules. Rule 19-62-17 provides in pertinent part: “A vessel shall not be moored, anchored, or stored [a]t a berth or space other than that to which it was properly assigned.” 1 Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 266-25 (1993), Ford was subject to a fíne of not more than $10,000 for each violation and/or the loss of his Hawaii operating and mooring privileges for up to two years. Specifically, HRS § 266-25, the penalty provision for all Department of Transportation harbor rules, provides in pertinent part:

Violation of rules; penalty. Any person who violates any rule made, adopted, and published by the department of transportation ... shall be fined not more than $10,000 for each offense, ... provided that in addition to or as a condition to the suspension of the fines and penalties, the court may deprive the offender of the privilege of operating or mooring any vessel in state waters for a period of not more than two years.

On September 16, 1992, the district court orally arraigned Ford on both charges. Appearing pro se, Ford pleaded not guilty, and a bench trial commenced. The following colloquy then ensued:

[PROSECUTION]: Your Honor, I believe there’s a stipulation of fact that vessel number HA8037B, which is a sail-type vehicle [sic], and HA 7490, ... a sail-type vessel, does belong to Doug Ford.
THE COURT: Is that correct, Mr. Ford?
FORD: Yes it is. I stipulate to those facts.

The prosecution called Keliikuli as its only witness. Ford cross-examined her, and the prosecution rested. The trial court then asked Ford if he had a statement to make, and if so, to step up to the witness stand and be sworn. Ford did so, adding that he “[did not] knowingly waive any of [his] rights at any time,” and demanded “all of [his] rights at all times.” Ford then moved, inter alia, for a jury trial, arguing that the maximum fine of $10,000 authorized under HRS § 266-25 rendered a violation of Rule 19-62-17 a constitutionally serious offense, thereby entitling him to a trial by jury. The district court denied Ford’s motion as untimely. After denying Ford’s remaining motions, the district court found Ford guilty of both violations and fined him $500 for each citation. At no time before or during trial did the trial *68 court apprise Ford of his constitutional right against self-incrimination pursuant to HRPP 10.1(b).

Ford appealed. The ICA vacated the judgment of the district court and remanded for a jury trial, holding without analysis that, “[bjased on State v. Simeona, we conclude that Ford had a state constitutional right to a jury trial.” Ford, slip op. at 2 (citation omitted). We granted the prosecution’s timely application for a writ of certiorari.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Right to Jury Trial

1. The penalties authorized under HRS § 266-25 are criminal penalties.

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 14 of the Hawai'i Constitution both provide that, “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury[.j” (Emphasis added.) The prosecution initially contends that, “[pjursuant to [HRS § ] 701-107(5), any offense which is not a felony, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor is not a crime or criminal offense, but a violation. Therefore, [Ford] was not entitled to a jury trial in this case because he was charged with a violation....” HRS 701-107(5) (1993) provides: •

An offense defined by this Code or by any other statute of this State constitutes a violation if it is so designated in this Code or in the law defining the offense or if no other sentence than a fine, or fine and forfeiture or other civil penalty, is authorized upon conviction or if it is defined by a statute other than this Code which provides that the offense shall not constitute a crime. A violation does not constitute a crime, and conviction of a violation shall not give rise to any civil disability based on conviction of a criminal offense.

Although the ICA did not specifically address the prosecution’s section 701-107(5) argument in its memorandum opinion in the instant case, it did so in Simeona, wherein it concluded that,

although a violation does not constitute a crime, it constitutes a penal offense, and the legislature intended its penalties to be criminal penalties. With respect to HRS § 266-25, we have three reasons for this conclusion.
First, ... HRS Chapter 831 recognizes that there are “penal offensefs]” for which no jail sentence may be imposed and that the records of these penal offenses are “criminal records.”
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Second, no statute describes its penalties as civil penalties.
Third, HRS § 266-24 (Supp.1992) vests in the state director of transportation and subordinates the power of police officers to enforce department of transportation rules.

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Bluebook (online)
929 P.2d 78, 84 Haw. 65, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ford-haw-1996.