State v. Stanley

172 P.3d 848, 217 Ariz. 253, 519 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 6, 2007 Ariz. App. LEXIS 233
Court of Appeals of Arizona·Decided December 18, 2007·No. No. 1 CA-CR 06-0649·Published·Cited by 9 cases

Opinions

OPINION

BARKER, Judge.

¶ 1 We address in this Opinion several issues of first impression with regard to what is frequently referred to as the implied consent statute, applicable to those operating motor vehicles in Arizona and arrested for driving under the influence. Ariz.Rev.Stat. (“A.R.S.”) § 28-1321 (Supp.2006). Specifically, we consider whether requesting to consult with an attorney constitutes a refusal to take a blood test under the implied consent statute. We also consider whether a search warrant for a blood test may be issued even if the suspect has not refused to take the test. We determine that consulting with an attorney, without hindering the investigation, is not a refusal under the statute. We further determine that the issuance of a search warrant under the statute is not dependent upon a refusal.

I.

¶2 Jennifer S. Stanley appeals from her convictions for two counts of aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, a class four felony. The only [255] issue is whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s motion to suppress the results of a blood test carried out pursuant to a warrant. Stanley alleges the court erred because she did not refuse, nor did the affidavit supporting the warrant allege she refused, to take the test offered under the implied consent law prior to the issuance of the warrant. Rather, she was exercising her right to consult with an attorney when the affidavit in support of the warrant was submitted.

¶ 3 Because of the narrow nature of the issues, we cite only those facts necessary to the issues before us. They are essentially undisputed. For our purposes, they can be summarized as follows.

¶4 There was probable cause for Officer D.K. to arrest Stanley for DUI on November 10, 2004, and he did so on that date at about 8:50 p.m. The officer gave Stanley the Miranda warnings at 9:25 p.m. At 9:35 p.m., the officer read Stanley the implied consent admonitions required by statute and requested a blood test. Stanley stated that she did not understand, and the officer explained the admonitions again. Stanley then asked for an attorney. Stanley called an attorney at 9:50 p.m. The attorney called back at 9:59 p.m. and Stanley was permitted to speak with her attorney.

¶ 5 At 10:05 p.m., while Stanley was speaking with her attorney, Officer D.K. submitted to the Superior Court an “Affidavit in Support of Fax Telephonic Search.” The affidavit did not state that Stanley had refused to submit to a blood test. At 10:20 p.m., Stanley concluded her telephonic conference with her counsel. At 10:25 p.m., Officer D.K. again requested a blood test from Stanley. Stanley refused.1 It is unclear at what time the search warrant was obtained by the police. The warrant bears an issuance time, 10:05 p.m., which is the same time as that on the affidavit. At approximately 11:00 p.m., Officer D.K. served the warrant and a phle-botomist drew two blood samples.

¶ 6 Stanley moved to suppress the blood test on grounds that the affidavit did not allege she refused the test and because rather than refuse the test, she only had exercised her constitutional right to consult with counsel. Stanley argued, “when a person asks for an attorney, that does not indicate to the officer that they’re refusing or agreeing [to a test]. It simply is they’re asking for legal advice. If that in fact triggered a refusal, it would obviate the right of a defendant to contact an attorney.” The court denied Stanley’s motion to suppress. The trial court found that “what transpired at 9:35 p.m., when the defendant did not expressly agree to submit to the test and instead requested an attorney, amounts to a failure to expressly agree to the test.” The trial court determined that the officer was therefore authorized to obtain a warrant after that time and that the affidavit need not have referred to any such refusal.

¶ 7 In her motion for reconsideration, Stanley again argued that the trial court’s determination that her request to speak to an attorney was a refusal to submit to a blood test was a violation of her right to consult an attorney. After oral argument, the court denied the motion. Specifically, the court found that Stanley’s “failure to expressly agree to submit to the test over the period of time that had passed amounted to a refusal,” and that was sufficient under the statute.

¶ 8 After her conviction, the court denied her subsequent motion for acquittal and new trial. The court granted Stanley probation for three years to commence after serving four months’ imprisonment. Stanley timely appealed. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 12-2101(B) (2003), 12-120.21(A)(1) (2003), and 13-4033(A)(1) (2001).

II.

¶ 9 The primary issue on appeal is whether the implied consent statute, A.R.S. § 28-1321, mandates that a search warrant for a blood test must be based on an affidavit setting forth that the defendant has refused to give consent to the test. A corollary issue [256] is whether the request to speak with an attorney, standing alone, acts as a “refusal” under the implied consent law.

¶ 10 We review issues of statutory interpretation de novo. Zamora v. Reinstein, 185 Ariz. 272, 275, 915 P.2d 1227, 1230 (1996). “In interpreting a statute, we first look to the language of the statute itself. Our chief goal is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent.” Scottsdale Healthcare, Inc. v. Ariz. Health Care Cost Containment Sys. Admin., 206 Ariz. 1, 5, ¶ 10, 75 P.3d 91, 95 (2003) (internal citation omitted). If the language is not clear, “we determine legislative intent by reading the statute as a whole, giving meaningful operation to all of its provisions, and by considering factors such as the statute’s context, subject matter, historical background, effects and consequences, and spirit and purpose.” Zamora, 185 Ariz. at 275, 915 P.2d at 1230.

A.

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State v. Stanley, 172 P.3d 848, 217 Ariz. 253, 519 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 6, 2007 Ariz. App. LEXIS 233 (Ark. Ct. App. 2007).

172 P.3d 848 (State v. Stanley) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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