State v. Hansen

542 N.W.2d 424, 249 Neb. 177, 1996 Neb. LEXIS 12
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 26, 1996
DocketS-95-312
StatusPublished
Cited by75 cases

This text of 542 N.W.2d 424 (State v. Hansen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska 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. Hansen, 542 N.W.2d 424, 249 Neb. 177, 1996 Neb. LEXIS 12 (Neb. 1996).

Opinions

Connolly, J.

In this appeal, we are asked to determine whether the criminal prosecution of a motorist for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor (DUI) after the motorist’s driver’s license has been administratively revoked violates the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy.

Russell J. Hansen appeals from an order of the district court for Dodge County affirming the county court’s overruling of Hansen’s plea in bar to criminal DUI charges. The court found that the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions are not applicable because the administrative revocation of Hansen’s driver’s license was remedial in nature and not punitive. We affirm the district court’s finding that the Double Jeopardy Clauses do not bar the criminal prosecution of Hansen for DUI because the administrative revocation of his driver’s license for 90 days was remedial in nature and that, thus, he is not subject to multiple punishment for the same offense.

I. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

Hansen alleges the district court erred in not finding that his criminal DUI prosecution was barred by the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions because the DUI prosecution, in addition to the administrative revocation of his driver’s license, subjects him to multiple punishment for the same offense.

n. SCOPE OF REVIEW

Regarding questions of law, an appellate court is obligated to [180]*180reach a conclusion independent of determinations reached by the trial court. State v. Lynch, 248 Neb. 234, 533 N.W.2d 905 (1995).

m. BACKGROUND

On November 12, 1994, Hansen was stopped by a deputy of the Dodge County Sheriffs Department in Scribner, Nebraska, for driving at night with a burned out taillight. Upon approaching Hansen’s vehicle, the officer detected the odor of alcohol, observed that Hansen’s face was flushed, and noted that Hansen’s speech was dry mouthed and chalky. Hansen agreed to take a preliminary breath test, the results of which were over the legal limit of . 10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. Hansen was then placed under arrest and transported to the Dodge County Judicial Center in Fremont, Nebraska. At the center, an official breath test was administered with a resultant reading of .143 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. As a result, Hansen was given notice of revocation of his driver’s license, a temporary driver’s license, and a form to petition for an administrative hearing along with an addressed envelope.

On December 13, 1994, Hansen’s driver’s license was ordered revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles for 90 days. At the same time, Hansen was also facing criminal prosecution in the county court for Dodge County for DUI, third offense. Hansen filed a plea in bar alleging that the criminal DUI prosecution was barred by the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions, because he had already been punished for the same offense by having his driver’s license administratively revoked. The county court overruled Hansen’s plea in bar, and the district court affirmed.

IV. OVERVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE REVOCATION PROCEDURE

Preliminarily, we believe it helpful to give a description of Nebraska’s administrative license revocation statutes, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-6,205 to 60-6,208 (Reissue 1993). Under the statutes, a person who is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and who submits to a chemical test which discloses the presence of alcohol in any of the. concentrations [181]*181specified in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,196 (Reissue 1993), .10 of a gram or more of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or .10 of a gram or more of alcohol per 210 liters of breath, shall be served verbal notice by the arresting officer, as an agent of the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, of the intention to immediately impound and revoke the driver’s license of such person and that the revocation will be automatic 30 days after the date of the arrest. § 60-6,205(3).

The arresting officer is then required to take possession of the driver’s license and to issue a temporary license, which is valid for 30 days. § 60-6,205(4). The arresting officer is also required to explain the administrative license revocation procedure and the rights of the arrested person, and to provide an addressed envelope and a petition form which may be used to request a hearing before the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles to contest the revocation. Id.

The burden of proof is on the State to make a prima facie case for revocation before the director. McPherrin v. Conrad, 248 Neb. 561, 537 N.W.2d 498 (1995); Mackey v. Director of Department of Motor Vehicles, 194 Neb. 707, 235 N.W.2d 394 (1975). However, once the officer’s sworn report is provided, the director’s order of revocation has prima facie validity. Id. It is then presumed that the revocation will occur unless the offender establishes grounds for reversal by a preponderance of the evidence. Id.

If the offender is unable to show cause why his driver’s license should not be revoked, then the director shall revoke his license for a period of 90 days for a first offense and 1 year for the second and any subsequent offense within an 8-year period. § 60-6,206(1). Any person who feels himself or herself aggrieved because of such revocation may petition for judicial review therefrom to the district court of the county where the alleged events occurred. § 60-6,208.

V. ANALYSIS

1. Plea in Bar

Before addressing the double jeopardy issue raised by Hansen, we must first address the threshold issue of whether this court has jurisdiction to hear an appeal from an order [182]*182overruling a plea in bar arising after Hansen’s driver’s license was administratively revoked, but before the merits of his criminal DUI prosecution have been litigated.

As a general rule, appeals may be taken only from final judgments. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1901 (Cum. Supp. 1994). Hansen contends that the district court’s denial of his plea in bar was a final order appealable when entered. The State contends that the denial was not a final, appealable order because Hansen could ultimately prevail on the merits of his DUI prosecution.

There are three types of final orders which may be reviewed on appeal: (1) an order which affects a substantial right and which determines the action and prevents a judgment,. (2) an order affecting a substantial right made during a special proceeding, and (3) an order affecting a substantial right made on summary application in an action after judgment is rendered. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-1902 (Reissue 1989) and 25-1911 (Cum. Supp. 1994); Jarrett v. Eichler, 244 Neb. 310, 506 N.W.2d 682 (1993); In re Interest of R.G., 238 Neb. 405, 470 N.W.2d 780 (1991).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Tegra Corp. v. Boeshart
976 N.W.2d 165 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2022)
State v. Moody
26 Neb. Ct. App. 328 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 2018)
State v. Arterburn
276 Neb. 47 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2008)
Betterman v. Dept. of Motor Vehicles
728 N.W.2d 570 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2007)
Commonwealth v. Stump
69 Va. Cir. 433 (Roanoke County Circuit Court, 2006)
State v. Worm
680 N.W.2d 151 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2004)
Searcey v. Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
679 N.W.2d 242 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 2004)
Searcey v. NEB. DEPT. OF MOTOR VEHICLES
679 N.W.2d 242 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 2004)
Neal v. State
2003 MT 53 (Montana Supreme Court, 2003)
Randall v. Department of Motor Vehicles
632 N.W.2d 799 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 2001)
State v. Isham
625 N.W.2d 511 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2001)
State v. Dandredge
585 N.W.2d 433 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Dandridge
585 N.W.2d 433 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Kula
579 N.W.2d 541 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Howell
575 N.W.2d 861 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Howard
571 N.W.2d 308 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1997)
Hudson v. School District No. 1
572 N.W.2d 379 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1997)
Sedivy v. State Ex Rel. Stenberg
567 N.W.2d 784 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1997)
State v. McClendon
131 Wash. 2d 853 (Washington Supreme Court, 1997)
State v. Fiedler
562 N.W.2d 380 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
542 N.W.2d 424, 249 Neb. 177, 1996 Neb. LEXIS 12, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hansen-neb-1996.