State v. Ladigo, Unpublished Decision (6-27-2006)

2006 Ohio 3475
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 27, 2006
DocketNo. 05 MA 201.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2006 Ohio 3475 (State v. Ladigo, Unpublished Decision (6-27-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Ladigo, Unpublished Decision (6-27-2006), 2006 Ohio 3475 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Gary Ladigo appeals from his conviction entered in Mahoning County Court No. 4. Ladigo was convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol, violations of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) and R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(d), and driving left of center, a violation of R.C. 4511.25. The assignment of error that is raised in this appeal claims that the trial court erred when it denied Ladigo's suppression motion. This assignment contains two issues. The first issue questions the constitutionality of R.C. 4511.19(D)(4)(b), which requires field sobriety tests to be administered in substantial compliance with testing standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The second issue is if R.C.4511.19(D)(4)(b) is constitutional, did the trooper administer the field sobriety tests in substantial conformity with the testing standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For the following reasons, the judgment of the trial court is hereby affirmed.

STATEMENT OF FACTS
{¶ 2} On April 8, 2005, Trooper Michael Helmick, of the State Highway Patrol, stopped a silver Pontiac driven by Ladigo. (Tr. 3). Ladigo was driving westbound on Mahoning Avenue, in Mahoning County, approaching Turner Road. (Tr. 4). According to the trooper, prior to approaching Turner Road, Ladigo merged into the left turning lane "way too soon." (Tr. 4, 17). By entering the turning lane "too soon," Ladigo drove through the bike path crossing that runs across Mahoning Avenue. (Tr. 4, 17). On Turner Road, the trooper observed Ladigo go left of center three times within a distance of approximately 1,000 feet. (Tr. 4-6). Thus, Trooper Helmick initiated a stop.

{¶ 3} While speaking with Ladigo, Trooper Helmick detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Ladigo's breath, and additionally noticed that his speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. (Tr. 8). At that point, Trooper Helmick administered the standardized field sobriety tests: the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), the one-leg stand, and the walk and turn. (Tr. 9). Ladigo exhibited multiple clues in each of the tests, thereby indicating that he was intoxicated. (Tr. 91-1).

{¶ 4} Trooper Helmick then arrested Ladigo and transported him to the Austintown Police Department where a BAC DataMaster test was given. (Tr. 14). Ladigo blew a .121. (Tr. 16).

{¶ 5} Given those results and Trooper Helmick's observations, Ladigo was charged with R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) (operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol), R.C.4511.19(A)(1)(d) (operating a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol), and R.C. 4511.25 (left of center). Ladigo entered a not guilty plea.

{¶ 6} On June 9, 2005, Ladigo filed a motion to suppress. The motion was based upon the unconstitutionality of R.C.4511.19(D)(4)(b) and also based upon the belief that the field sobriety tests were not performed in substantial compliance with the standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A suppression hearing occurred on September 22, 2005. Ladigo once again argued the constitutionality of R.C.4511.19(D)(4)(b) and the failure to substantially comply with the standards for administering field sobriety tests. (Tr. 24-25). The trial court denied the motion on September 26, 2005.

{¶ 7} On October 3, 2005, Ladigo entered a no contest plea. The trial court found him guilty. It sentenced him to 30 days in jail with 27 days suspended. Ladigo was given the option to serve the remaining three days in DIP (Driver Intervention Program) in lieu of jail. Ladigo was also placed on probation for 12 months. The court fined him $350, plus court costs.

{¶ 8} Ladigo timely appeals from the conviction. The sentence has been stayed pending appeal. 11/03/05 J.E.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶ 9} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING MR. LADIGO'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS.'

{¶ 10} Ladigo divides this assignment of error into two parts. The first part deals with the constitutionality of R.C.4511.19(D)(4)(b). The second part addresses whether there was compliance with the standards.

Constitutionality of R.C. 4511.19(D)(4)(b)
{¶ 11} In 2000, the Ohio Supreme Court issued its State v.Homan, 89 Ohio St.3d 421, 2000-Ohio-212, opinion. In this opinion, the Court concluded that "in order for the results of a field sobriety test to serve as evidence of probable cause to arrest, the police must have administered the test in strictcompliance with standardized testing procedures." Id. at 424 (emphasis added).

{¶ 12} In response to Homan's strict compliance mandate, the legislature passed S.B. 163. S.B. 163 amended R.C.4511.19(D)(4)(b) to read as follows:

{¶ 13} "(b) In any criminal prosecution or juvenile court proceeding for a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section, of a municipal ordinance relating to operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or alcohol and a drug of abuse, or of a municipal ordinance relating to operating a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the blood, breath, or urine, if a law enforcement officer has administered a field sobriety test to the operator of the vehicle involved in the violation and if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the officer administered the test insubstantial compliance with the testing standards for any reliable, credible, and generally accepted field sobriety tests that were in effect at the time the tests were administered, including, but not limited to, any testing standards then in effect that were set by the national highway traffic safety administration, all of the following apply:

{¶ 14} "(i) The officer may testify concerning the results of the field sobriety test so administered.

{¶ 15} "(ii) The prosecution may introduce the results of the field sobriety test so administered as evidence in any proceedings in the criminal prosecution or juvenile court proceeding.

{¶ 16} "(iii) If testimony is presented or evidence is introduced under division (D)(4)(b)(i) or (ii) of this section and if the testimony or evidence is admissible under the Rules of Evidence, the court shall admit the testimony or evidence and the trier of fact shall give it whatever weight the trier of fact considers to be appropriate."

{¶ 17} Ladigo essentially argues that R.C. 4511.19(D)(4)(b) is unconstitutional because it violates the separation of powers. Under Article IV, section 5(B) of the Ohio State Constitution, it states:

{¶ 18}

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Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 3475, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ladigo-unpublished-decision-6-27-2006-ohioctapp-2006.