State v. Stewart

310 N.E.2d 271, 37 Ohio Misc. 112, 66 Ohio Op. 2d 317, 1973 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 201
CourtToledo Municipal Court
DecidedNovember 9, 1973
DocketNo. MTR73-36039
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 310 N.E.2d 271 (State v. Stewart) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Toledo Municipal Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Stewart, 310 N.E.2d 271, 37 Ohio Misc. 112, 66 Ohio Op. 2d 317, 1973 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 201 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1973).

Opinion

Deeds, J.

Motion for discharge of the defendant at the close of the evidence after the parties had rested.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and did not testify at the trial on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in violation of B. C. 4511.19,

The prosecution introduced evidence showing that on July 21,1973, at night, the defendant operated an automobile to the left of the center of a public street at an intersecting street, resulting in a collision with another automobile then making a left hand turn into the intersecting street; police officers arrived at the scene of the collision and questioned the defendant concerning the collision and other pertinent matters in reference to the occurrence.

The officers testified that from their observation of the defendant they concluded that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol and as a result arrested the defendant and transported him to the Toledo Police Station.

The officers testified that the defendant was requested to take a breathalyzer test and was advised that if he refused to take the test his driver’s license would be suspended for six months and that the defendant refused to take the test. There was no testimony that the defendant was shown the form prescribed by the Begistrar of Motor Vehicles or that the form was read to the defendant in the presence “of the arresting officer and one other police officer or civilian police employee” as required by B. C. 4511.191.

Following is the relevant part of the form prescribed by the Begistrar of Motor Vehicles as provided by the Legislature:

“You are now under arrest for driving a motor vehicle [114]*114while under the influence of alcohol and will be requested by a police officer to submit to tire chemical test designated by the law enforcement agency. If you refuse to submit to the chemical test requested, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, upon being so notified, in the manner required by law, shall suspend your license, or permit to drive, or any nonresident operating privilege for a period of six months, subject to review as provided; or, if you are a resident without a license or permit to operate a motor vehicle in this state, to deny you the issuance of a license or permit for a period of six months after the date of this alleged violation. ’ ’

The two arresting police officers testified that in their opinion the defendant was under the influence of alcohol when they questioned him at the scene of the collision. The officers also testified as to the appearance and actions of the defendant which indicated and impressed them that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.

The question presented is whether the prosecution in the criminal proceedings was required to prove by testimony that the form prescribed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles was shown and read to the defendant in the presence of “the arresting officer and one other police officer or civilian police employee'”? Was the evidence that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol; that he was requested to take the breathalyzer test and was warned that his license would be suspended for a period of six months if he refused and that he refused to take the test, sufficient to require the court to determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant? Notwithstanding, the evidence failed to show that the form prescribed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles was shown and read to the defendant in the presence of witnesses as required by R. C. 4511.191.

The provisions of R. C. 4511.191 considered pertinent to a resolution of the question are:

“‘ (A) Any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways in this state shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests of his blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining the alcoholic eon-[115]*115tent of his blood if arrested for the offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The test or tests shall be administered at the direction of a police officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving a motor vehicle upon the public highways in this state while under the influence of alcohol. The lawr enforcement agency by which such officer is employed shall designate which of the aforesaid tests shall be administered.”
“(C) Any person under arrest for the offense of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol shall be advised at a police station of the consequences of his refusal to submit to a chemical test designated by the law enforcement agency as provided in division (A) of this section. The advice shall be in a written form, prescribed by the registrar of motor vehicles and shall be read to such person. The form shall contain a statement that the form was shown to the person under arrest and read to him in the presence of the arresting officer and one other police officer or civilian police employee. Such witnesses shall certify to this fact by signing the form. [Emphasis added.]
“ (D) If a person under arrest for the offense of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol refuses upon the request of a police officer to submit to a chemical test designated by the law enforcement agency as ■ provided in division (A) of this section, after first having been advised of the consequences of his refusal as provided in division (C).” (Emphasis added.)

The pertinent provisions of R. C. 4511.19 are:

“(C) If there was at the time a concentration of five hundredths of one per cent or less by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood, it shall be presumed that the defendant was not under the influence of alcohol.
“Upon the request of the person who was tested, the results of such test shall be made available to him, his attorney, or agent, immediately upon the completion of the test analysis.” (Emphasis added.)

It is considered evident by the court that Section 4511.-191 and Section 4511.19, R. C., are to be considered as being in pari materia in the prosecution of a defendant for oper[116]*116ating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Couch v. Rice, 23 Ohio App. 2d 160.

It is also made evident by provisions of the law that the result of the test may be highly beneficial to the defendant in his defense against the charge.

The breathalyzer test was designed and the legislature has provided for its use for the purpose of securing evidence of a scientific nature in the trial of a defendant charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

It is obvious and should be emphasized that the test was not designed and provided for the exclusive use and benefit of the prosecution, consequently, the test should be presented to the arrested driver for taldng or refusal in the manner provided by the legislature.

Can it be said that the defendant has been accorded a fair trial if the defendant has been deprived of the result of a breathalyzer test by reason of the failure of the prosecution to offer the test to the alleged offender for taldng or refusing same in the manner required by the law?

The Legislature has provided, inter alia,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
310 N.E.2d 271, 37 Ohio Misc. 112, 66 Ohio Op. 2d 317, 1973 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 201, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-stewart-ohmunicttoledo-1973.