State v. Uskert

709 N.E.2d 1200, 85 Ohio St. 3d 593

Opinions

Lundberg Stratton, J.

The issue presented to this court is whether the reinstatement fee paid to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at the conclusion of an administrative license suspension (“ALS”) in the amount of $250, pursuant to former R.C. 4511.191(L)(2), is “punishment,” thereby subjecting the defendant to double jeopardy. For the following reasons, we find that the reinstatement fee of former R.C. 4511.191(L)(2) is not a “punishment” that would subject the defendant to double jeopardy, and, therefore, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.

The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, “nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” This federal protection is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Benton v. Maryland (1969), 395 U.S. 784, 89 S.Ct. 2056, 23 L.Ed.2d 707; State v. Gustafson (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 425, 432, 668 N.E.2d 435, 441. Similarly, Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution provides that “[n]o person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.”

As this court recognized recently, “the Double Jeopardy Clause of each Constitution prohibits (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense!” Gustafson, 76 Ohio St.3d at 432, 668 N.E.2d at 441, citing United States v. Halper (1989), 490 U.S. 435, 440, 109 S.Ct. 1892, 1897, 104 L.Ed.2d 487, 496.

We considered the double jeopardy implications of the ALS in Gustafson. We held that “[t]he Double Jeopardy Clauses of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution do not preclude the criminal prosecution and trial of motorists for driving in violation of R.C. 4511.19 based upon, and subsequent to, the imposition of an administrative license suspension pursuant to R.C. 4511.191.” Id., paragraph one of the syllabus.

We noted, however, that “the need for administrative remedial suspension ends at the point where a criminal conviction of drunk driving is obtained, at which time a court has authority to judicially impose a license suspension in accordance with law and the individual circumstances of the defendant before it.” Id. at 441, 668 N.E.2d at 447. Thus, we held that “[b]eeause an administrative license suspension loses its remedial character upon judicial adjudication and sentencing for violation of R.C. 4511.19, the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States and Ohio Constitutions preclude continued recognition of an administrative license suspension following judicial imposition of criminal penalties for driving while under the influence of intoxicating drugs, including alcohol.” Id., paragraph four of the syllabus.

The statute in effect at the time of the defendant’s suspension, former R.C. 4511.191(L), provided that “[a]t the end of a suspension period under this section, section 4511.196, or division (B) of section 4507.16 of the Revised Code and upon the request of the person whose driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit was suspended and who is not otherwise subjefet to suspension, revocation, or disqualification, the registrar shall return the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit to the person upon the occurrence of all of the following:

“(1) A showing by the person that the person had proof of financial responsibility, a policy of liability insurance in effect that meets the minimum standards set forth in section 4509.51 of the Revised Code, or proof, to the satisfaction of the registrar, that the person is able to respond in damages in an amount at least equal to the minimum amounts specified in section 4509.51 of the Revised Code.

“(2) Payment by the person of a license reinstatement fee of Uvo hundred and fifty dollars to the bureau of motor vehicles, which fee shall be deposited in the state treasury * * (Emphasis added.) Former R.C. 4511.191(L), effective October 17,1996,146 Ohio Laws, Part V, 9967.¹

I. Reinstatement fee does not “continue” the ALS

In this case, the court of appeals based its decision on the premise that the $250 reinstatement fee, “if not paid, would operate to continue the administrative license suspension,” in violation of our holdings in Gustafson. (Emphasis added.) We disagree.

The length of the ALS is determined by R.C. 4511.191(F), depending upon the number, if any, of prior convictions for OMVI. The ALS terminates at (1) the end of the suspension period designated by R.C. 4511.191(F); (2) the initial appearance if the judge or referee of the trial court or the mayor of the mayor’s court determines that one or more of the conditions specified in divisions (H)(1)(a) to (d) of this section have not been met, subject to the imposition of a new suspension under division (B) of section 4511.196 of the Revised Code [R.C. 4511.191(H)(2) ]; (3) by the registrar upon receipt of notice of the person’s entering a plea of guilty to or of the person’s conviction after entering a plea of no contest under Crim.R. 11 to OMVI [R.C. 4511.191(E) ]; or'(4) the violation for which the driver was arrested and in relation to which the suspension was imposed is adjudicated on the merits by the judge or referee of the trial court or by the mayor of the mayor’s court [R.C. 4511.191(H)(2) ].

The suspension ends regardless of whether the driver satisfies the two conditions of R.C. 4511.191(L). The two conditions of R.C. 4511.191(L), proof of financial responsibility and payment of the reinstatement fee, are, as the dissent in the court of appeals’ decision pointed out, conditions precedent to the return of the license by the registrar.

Further, as noted by the same dissent, one who drives after the termination of the ALS, but who has not paid his or her reinstatement fee, is in violation of R.C. 4507.02(C), whereas one who drives during his or her ALS does so in violation of R.C. 4507.02(D)(1).

The appellate court went on to find that “[i]f the reinstatement fee remains enforceable, then the administrative license suspension does not terminate until payment of the fee. Thus, presumably, unless the trial court vacates both the administrative license suspension and the reinstatement fee upon conviction, then the administrative license suspension may survive appellant’s conviction.”

Therefore, as a threshold matter, we find that the failure to pay the reinstatement fee of former R.C. 4511.191(L) does not operate to continue the ALS because the ALS terminates as prescribed by R.C. 4511.191(F), (H)(2), or (K), regardless of whether the driver satisfies the two conditions of former R.C. 4511.19KL).

II. Double Jeopardy Analysis

We must begin any analysis of a statute by pointing to the well-settled rule that an Act of the General Assembly is entitled to a strong presumption of constitutionality. State v. Hochhausler (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 455, 458, 668 N.E.2d 457, 462; Arnold v. Cleveland (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 35, 616 N.E.2d 163. Further, challenged legislation will not be invalidated unless the challenger establishes the unconstitutional nature of the statute beyond a reasonable doubt. Hochhausler, 76 Ohio St.3d at 458, 668 N.E.2d at 462.

In 1989, the United States Supreme Court held that a criminal trial will be precluded by double jeopardy after a civil sanction has been imposed when the civil sanction was “overwhelmingly disproportionate” to the damages caused to the state by the defendant’s wrongful conduct. United States v. Halper, 490 U.S. at 449, 109 S.Ct. at 1902, 104 L.Ed.2d at 502.

However, in 1997, the United States Supreme Court largely “disavow[ed] the method of analysis” used in Halper, 490 U.S. at 448, 109 S.Ct. at 1901-1902, 104 L.Ed.2d at 501, and reaffirmed the previously established rule exemplified in United States v. Ward (1980), 448 U.S. 242, 248-249, 100 S.Ct. 2636, 2641-2643, 65 L.Ed.2d 742, 749. Hudson v. United States (1997), 522 U.S. 93, 96, 118 S.Ct. 488, 491, 139 L.Ed.2d 450, 457.

In disavowing Halper, the Supreme Court returned to a two-part test that requires the court to examine the purpose of the legislation and its effects in determining whether it is “punitive” so as to constitute a double jeopardy violation. Hudson, 522 U.S. at 99, 118 S.Ct. at 493, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459.

Under the two-part test reiterated in Hudson, the court must first ask whether the legislature “ ‘in establishing the penalizing mechanism, indicated either expressly or impliedly a preference for one label or the other.’ ” Id., quoting Ward, 448 U.S. at 248, 100 S.Ct. at 2641, 65 L.Ed.2d at 749. Second, even in those cases where the legislature “ ‘has indicated an intention to establish a civil penalty, we have inquired further whether the statutory scheme was so punitive either in purpose or effect,’ * * * as to ‘transform] what was clearly intended as a civil remedy into a criminal penalty.’ ” (Citations omitted.) Id.

A. Legislative Intent

One need only look to the statute to see that all of the money received under R.C. 4511.191(L) is distributed to various remedial drug and alcohol treatment and intervention funds, reparations and rehabilitation funds, and drug and alcohol education programs. Former R.C. 4511.191(L)(2)(a)-(e). Further, the fact that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, an administrative agency, is granted the authority to collect the reinstatement fee under R.C. 4511.191(L) is “prima facie evidence that [the legislature] intended to provide for a civil sanction.” (Citations omitted.) Hudson, 522 U.S. at 103, 118 S.Ct. at 495, 139 L.Ed.2d at 461-462.

This court noted in Gustafson that we have “historically and repeatedly characterized driver’s license suspensions imposed pursuant to Ohio’s implied consent statutes as being civil in nature and remedial in purpose.” Gustafson at 440, 668 N.E.2d at 446. Further, we have stated that “R.C. 4511.191 * * * was enacted to protect innocent motorists and pedestrians from injury and death caused by irresponsible acts of unsafe drivers on Ohio streets and highways. The broad purpose of the implied-consent statute is to clear the highways of and to protect the public from unsafe drivers.” Hoban v. Rice (1971), 25 Ohio St.2d 111, 114, 54 O.O.2d 254, 256, 267 N.E.2d 311, 314.

Accordingly, we find that the legislature intended that the reinstatement fee of R.C. 4511.191(L)(2) be civil in nature and remedial in purpose. See Gustafson.

B. Purpose or Effect

Even where the legislature indicates an intent to establish a civil penalty, the second part of the Hudson analysis requires the court to inquire as to “ ‘whether the statutory scheme [is] so punitive either in purpose or effect’ ” * * * as to “ ‘transform] what was clearly intended as a civil remedy into a criminal penalty.’ ” (Citations omitted.) Hudson, 522 U.S. at 99, 118 S.Ct. at 493, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459. In order to analyze this prong of the test, it is helpful to refer to the guidelines enunciated in Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez (1963), 372 U.S. 144, 168-169, 83 S.Ct. 554, 567-568, 9 L.Ed.2d 644, 661: (1) “[w]hether the sanction involves an affirmative disability or restraint,” (2) “whether it has historically been regarded as a punishment,” (3) “whether it comes into play only on a finding of scienter,” (4) “whether its operation will promote the traditional aims of punishment — retribution and deterrence,” (5) “whether the behavior' to which it applies is already a crime,” (6) “whether an alternative purpose to which it may rationally be connected is assignable for it,” and (7) “whether it appears excessive in relation to the alternative purpose assigned.” Further, “ ‘only the clearest proof will suffice to override legislative intent and transform what has been denominated a civil remedy into a criminal penalty.” (Citations omitted.) Hudson, 522 U.S. at 99, 118 S.Ct. at 493, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459, citing Ward, 448 U.S. at 249, 100 S.Ct. at 2641-2642, 65 L.Ed.2d at 749.

1. Not an affirmative disability or restraint

We have held that “[i]n Ohio, a license to operate a motor vehicle is a privilege, and not an absolute property right.” Doyle v. Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 46, 554 N.E.2d 97, paragraph two of the syllabus. In fact, it is not a substantial private interest, but a state-regulated privilege. Maumee v. Gabriel (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 60, 63, 518 N.E.2d 558, 561. Further, while the driver is prohibited from driving until the fee is paid, it does not approach the “ ‘ “infamous punishment” of imprisonment.’ ” Hudson, 522 U.S. at 104, 118 S.Ct. at 496, 139 L.Ed.2d at 462, quoting Flemming v. Nestor (1960), 363 U.S. 603, 617, 80 S.Ct. 1367, 1376, 4 L.Ed.2d 1435, 1448.

Therefore, the suspension of a privilege voluntarily granted does not constitute an affirmative disability or restraint.

2. Not historically regarded as punishment

In Hudson, the United States Supreme Court noted that it has long been recognized that “ ‘revocation of a privilege voluntarily granted’ ” (such as a driver’s license) is “ ‘characteristically free of the punitive criminal element.’ ” Hudson, 522 U.S. at 104, 118 S.Ct. at 495-496, 139 L.Ed.2d at 462, quoting Helvering v. Mitchell (1938), 303 U.S. 391, 399, 58 S.Ct. 630, 633, 82 L.Ed. 917, 922, and at fn. 2. Further, the court held that “ ‘the payment of fixed * * * sums of money [is a] sanction which ha[s] been recognized as enforceable by civil proceedings.’ ” Id., 522 U.S. at 104, 118 S.Ct. at 496, 139 L.Ed.2d at 462, quoting Helvering at 400, 58 S.Ct. at 633, 82 L.Ed. at 922.

Accordingly, the reinstatement fee cannot be said to have been historically viewed as punishment.

3. Scienter not required

Clearly, the reinstatement fee of R.C. 4511.191(L) is required for any driver who wishes to reinstate his or her license, regardless of the driver’s state of mind at the time of arrest for OMVI. Accordingly, the reinstatement fee requirement is not dependent upon a finding of scienter.

k. Not retribution and deterrence

The court of appeals below compared the reinstatement fee of R.C. 4511.191(L) to the tax imposed on confiscated illegal drugs in Dept. of Revenue of Montana v. Kurth Ranch (1994), 511 U.S. 767, 114 S.Ct. 1937, 128 L.Ed.2d 767. The appellate court found that the reinstatement fee represents an attempt to “exact an additional monetary penalty from the accused, over and above the statutory fine provided for a criminal conviction for OMVI.” We disagree.

The defendant in Kurth Ranch was required to pay the tax or face the imposition of more serious penalties. Here, the reinstatement fee is voluntary. The driver may choose whether or not to seek reinstatement. No state, civil, or administrative action would be taken against the driver if he or she chose not to reinstate his or her driving privileges, as long as he or she did not drive. See Thompson v. State (1997), 229 Ga.App. 526, 528, 494 S.E.2d 306, 308. If the state has the authority to revoke driving privileges as a remedial measure, then the state may revoke such privileges subject to ability to reinstate the driving privileges upon certain conditions. See id. This is no more than the suspension of a privilege voluntarily granted.

Accordingly, the reinstatement fee associated with the ALS cannot be said to promote retribution and deterrence.

5. Behavior to which it applies is not already a crime

Although OMVI is a criminal offense, the ALS is not a criminal sanction. The fact that the OMVI charge may form the basis of the criminal offense does not transform the ALS or the resulting reinstatement fee into a criminally punitive sanction. See Herbst v. Voinovich (N.D.Ohio 1998), 9 F.Supp.2d 828, 835-836. Further, to the extent that the underlying behavior is already a crime, “[t]his fact is insufficient to render the money penalt[y] * * * criminally punitive.” Hudson, 522 U.S. at 105, 118 S.Ct. at 496, 139 L.Ed.2d at 462.

6. Alternative purpose to which it may be rationally connected

As previously noted, the reinstatement fee is not merely used administratively by the BMV to process the return of the license to the driver. Instead, the funds generated from the reinstatement fee are deposited into the state treasury and credited to driver treatment and intervention programs, the reparations fund, the indigent drivers alcohol treatment fund, the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, and the state treasury to be used for drug abuse resistance education programs. See former R.C. 4511.191(L)(2)(a)-(e).

Thus, the state has a compelling interest to promptly remove careless drivers from the road as a public safety measure. Mackey v. Montrym (1979), 443 U.S. 1, 17-18, 99 S.Ct. 2612, 2620-2621, 61 L.Ed.2d 321, 334. “[T]he right to operate motor vehicles on public roadways of this state may be regulated by the lawful exercise of the police power for the benefit of public safety and welfare.” Gustafson, 76 Ohio St.3d at 446, 668 N.E.2d at 450 (Douglas, J., concurring). This unlawful conduct continues to be prevalent, as evidenced by the number of OMVI cases that continue to flood the judicial system. Id., 76 Ohio St.3d at 447, 668 N.E.2d at 451 (Douglas, J., concurring).

7. Not excessive in relation to the alternative purpose assigned

The court of appeals found that the reinstatement fee “has no rational relationship whatsoever to any remedial aspect and purpose of the implied consent statute, which is to prevent persons from driving while a criminal case is pending.” While the reinstatement fee of R.C. 4511.191(L) is not used solely for the processing of the return of the license to the driver, we find that it is not disproportionate to the harm caused by one operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

In 1995, there were 17,274 alcohol-related traffic fatalities and approximately 300,000 persons injured in alcohol-related crashes.² In addition, in 1995, more than 1.4 million people were arrested for driving while intoxicated, nearly ten percent of all arrests made that year.³ Approximately three in five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives.⁴ Alcohol-related traffic crashes cost society $45 billion annually in hospital costs, rehabilitation expenses, and lost productivity.⁵

“When one considers the staggering costs to enforce our DUI laws, to train the officers, to equip them with chemical tests, to pay them to patrol the highways, to provide rescue services and medical attention for those who are involved in alcohol-related accidents, and to initiate drug and alcohol awareness programs, $250 does not seem grossly out of proportion to [the defendant’s] role in contributing to this state-wide problem.” State v. Schrock (Nov. 20, 1998), Trumbull App. No. 97-T-0176, unreported.

Therefore, we find that the reinstatement fee of R.C. 4511.191(L)(2) is not excessive in relation to the danger posed by impaired drivers.

Accordingly, we hold that the reinstatement fee of former R.C. 4511.191(L)(2) does not violate the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.

We reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and remand the cause to the trial court so that it may lift the stay on the reinstatement fee and order that the defendant is required to pay it.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded.

Moyér, C.J., Resnick and Cook, JJ., concur. Douglas, J., concurs in judgment. F.E. Sweeney and Pfeifer, JJ., dissent.

Footnotes

1

. Effective September 16, 1998, the General Assembly amended R.C. 4511.191 to require only one reinstatement fee of four hundred five dollars if the suspension alises from a single incident or a single set of facts and circumstances. R.C. 4511.191(L)(2) and (3), Am.Sub.S.B. No. 80.

2

. Alcohol Health & Res. World (Sept. 1, 1996) 219, citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1996b.

3

. Id.

4

. Id., citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 1996.

5

. Id., citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1995a.