State v. McInnis

581 So. 2d 1370, 1991 WL 99924
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedJune 13, 1991
Docket90-1137
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 581 So. 2d 1370 (State v. McInnis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. McInnis, 581 So. 2d 1370, 1991 WL 99924 (Fla. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

581 So.2d 1370 (1991)

STATE of Florida, Appellant,
v.
Julian Scaffe McINNIS, et al., Appellees.

No. 90-1137.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.

June 13, 1991.

*1371 Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and David S. Morgan, Asst. Atty. Gen., Daytona Beach, for appellant.

Robert L. McLeod, II, Palatka, for appellee Julian Scaffe McInnis.

James B. Gibson, Public Defender, and Michele A. Lucas, Asst. Public Defender, Daytona Beach, for appellees Burns, Marshall, and Gustafson.

W. SHARP, Judge.

The state appeals from a final order of the county court in and for the Seventh Judicial Circuit which held section 316.193(4) unconstitutional and which certified the following question as being one of great public importance:

Does section 316.193(4) of the Florida Statutes create a constitutionally impermissible class in its application to those defendants similarly situated and thus violate the equal protection clause of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article One, Section Two of the Florida Constitution; and does the same statute, in its application, impose a cruel or unusual punishment or excessive fine upon those in similar position before the law and thus violate Article I, Section 17 of the Florida Constitution?

We accepted jurisdiction pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.030(b)(4)(A). We answer the certified question in the negative.

Four defendants who had each been convicted of driving under the influence[1] (McInnis, Burns, Marshall, and Gustafson) appeared before the county court for sentencing. Each had consented to take a breath test, to determine blood alcohol levels, and each had been found to have a blood alcohol level of.20 or more. Pursuant to section 316.193(4), these defendants should have been sentenced to enhanced penalties[2] which would have exceeded those penalties applicable to motorists convicted under section 316.193(1)(a) who had refused to take the breath test.[3] Accordingly, *1372 the court disregarded the enhanced penalties of section 316.193(4)(a) and sentenced these defendants as first-time DUI offenders pursuant to section 316.193(1).

Initially, the state argues the lower court erred in ruling the statute unconstitutional as applied because the defendants presented no evidence or testimony at the hearing. In re Fuller, 255 So.2d 1 (Fla. 1971); Sims v. State, 510 So.2d 1045 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987). However, from the face of the order appealed, it appears the county court took judicial notice of the fact that some defendants who refuse to take the breath test have readings of .20, and thus they are sentenced, after their convictions, under a less vigorous range of penalties. However, from a common sense perspective, it seems to us that the challenge here is to the statute's operation on its face, not "as applied." The interrelationship of the punishment and consent statutes[4] create the possibility that individuals will be punished differently for the same crime, depending upon whether or not they consent to take the breath test, and measure above one of the statutory levels (.10 or as in this case, .20).

I. Equal Protection Challenge

In order to create an equal protection challenge to a statute the defendants must show there are at least two categories of persons similarly situated, who are being treated differently, without any rational explanation or justification. Where the classification is not a legally suspect one, or one involving a fundamental right, only a rational basis for the different treatment must be shown in order for the statute to pass constitutional muster. State v. Breed, 111 Idaho 497, 725 P.2d 202 (Idaho App. 1986). But the first task is to clearly identify the class under attack.

In this case, there is no clear category of persons who receive disparate treatment. The more severe penalties of section 316.193 are provided for persons convicted of DUI who are given the option to refuse the test, but who agree to take it, and measure above the prohibited levels.[5] But the more severe penalties are also applicable to unconscious motorists, who have no option to refuse,[6] and who are later convicted of DUI. §§ 316.193, 316.1932(1)(c), Fla. Stat. (1989). Similarly, motorists who cause death or severe injury are given no option to refuse the blood test, and if convicted of DUI they also may be sentenced to the more severe range of punishments.

The defendants' real target in this case is Florida's statutory scheme which allows a motorist not to take the blood test, under certain circumstances.[7] Pursuant to Florida's *1373 statutory scheme, a person suspected (with adequate cause) of driving under the influence, can be asked to take a blood alcohol test by the police, pursuant to section 316.1932(1)(c),[8] if he or she is conscious and if no death or great injury is involved in the accident.[9] The police officer must warn the motorist that failure to consent will result in the motorist's license being suspended. The suspension results if a warning is adequately given[10] for all motorists who exercise the statutory option of refusing to take the test, without regard to whether or not they are later convicted of DUI.[11]

This statutory option not to take a blood alcohol test, when there are probable grounds to charge a driver with DUI, is a "grace," and not a "right."[12] The United States Supreme Court has held under these circumstances, there is no fourth, fifth, sixth or fourteenth amendment right not to have a blood test taken by brute force and against a suspect's will. See South Dakota v. Neville, 459 U.S. 553, 103 S.Ct. 916, 74 L.Ed.2d 748 (1983); Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966); State v. Hoch, 500 So.2d 597 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986), rev. denied, 509 So.2d 1118 (Fla. 1987); Pardo v. State, 429 So.2d 1313 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983). Our Florida Supreme Court has similarly found no state constitutional grounds prohibiting such a forced test.[13]

Assuming, for purpose of argument, there is disparate treatment of two similarly situated classes of motorists convicted of DUI (those driving with blood alcohol levels of .10 or .20 or over), depending on whether or not they refuse the test, is there a rational basis for the different sentences? This lesser standard applies because no fundamental constitutional right is involved, and no "suspect" classification based on race, religion, national origin, or the like, is involved. Breed. If there is a rational legislative policy or purpose for the statutory scheme, it should be upheld. Pennell v. City of San Jose, 485 U.S. 1, 108 S.Ct. 849, 99 L.Ed.2d 1 (1988).

In this case it appears to us that the defendants are attacking Florida's legislative decision to give motorists suspected of DUI the option not to take a blood alcohol test.[14] If all suspected motorists were *1374 forced to take the test, all would be treated the same.

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Bluebook (online)
581 So. 2d 1370, 1991 WL 99924, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mcinnis-fladistctapp-1991.