State v. Wines

333 P.3d 917, 50 Kan. App. 2d 817, 2014 Kan. App. LEXIS 61
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedAugust 29, 2014
DocketNo. 109,680
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 333 P.3d 917 (State v. Wines) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Wines, 333 P.3d 917, 50 Kan. App. 2d 817, 2014 Kan. App. LEXIS 61 (kanctapp 2014).

Opinion

Green, J.:

Aten J. Wines was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol — third offense (DUI) and with refusing a preliminary breath test for conduct occurring on January 7, 2012. Following a bench trial, Wines was found guilty of DUI and refusing a preliminary breath test. The trial court determined that Wines’ current DUI conviction was his third. The penalty for a third DUI conviction under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567(b)(l)(D) is a felony when a person has a previous DUI conviction within the preceding 10 years of the person’s current DUI offense. On appeal, Wines contends that K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567 is unconstitution[818]*818ally vague because one of his previous DUI convictions — a December 2001 DUI diversion agreement in Overland Park, Kansas— should not have been included in determining whether his third-time DUI offense was a felony because it did not occur within 10 years from his current DUI offense of January 7, 2012.

Nevertheless, when it is reasonably possible to interpret statutes in a manner that avoids an unnecessary decision as to their constitutionality, an appellate court should not reach the constitutional contentions of the parties. Because Wines had another DUI conviction, other than the one he complains about, within 10 years of his January 7, 2012, DUI offense, we need not address his constitutional question. Because only one DUI conviction within the preceding 10 years is required under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567(b)(1)(D) and because Wines had another DUI conviction, other than the one he complains about, within 10 years from his current DUI offense, we affirm.

Wines was charged with a third-offense DUI and with refusing a preliminary breath test for conduct which occurred on January 7,2012. The written complaint alleged that Wines had two or more previous DUI convictions.

Wines’ presentence investigation report listed two prior DUI convictions: a DUI conviction in Overland Park, Kansas, on August 14, 2002, and a DUI conviction in Lawrence, Kansas, on September 19, 2002.

Before sentencing, Wines challenged the constitutionality of K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567. Wines contended that K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567 was unconstitutionally vague. Wines maintained that his 2001 DUI diversion should not have been considered because it was outside the 10-year look-back period. As a result, Wines argued that he should not have been charged with a third-offense DUI felony. Instead, he contended that he should have been charged with a third-offense DUI misdemeanor.

On the other hand, the State argued that under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567(j)(l) and (2), when determining whether a conviction is a first, second, third, or subsequent conviction, a violation of a city ordinance or. entering into a diversion agreement shall be taken into account. The State noted that although Wines entered into [819]*819the diversion agreement on December 12, 2001, his diversion agreement was later revoked and he was convicted of DUI on August 14, 2002. The State further pointed out that Wines was also convicted of another DUI on September 19,2002. The State maintained that Wines was charged with a third-offense DUI felony because he had at least one previous DUI conviction within 10 years from his current DUI offense.

At sentencing, the trial court determined that Wines had been properly charged with a felony as a third-time DUI offender. The trial court further ruled that it was the date of the Overland Park, Kansas, conviction that counted and not the date of Wines’ December 2001 diversion agreement.

Did the Trial Court Err in Classifying Wines’ Third DUI Conviction as a Felony Rather Than a Misdemeanorp

On appeal, Wines seems to argue that if the trial court had determined that his conviction date for his Overland Park, Kansas, diversion agreement was December 12, 2001, instead of determining August 14,2002, as his conviction date for his revoked diversion agreement, he would not have had a DUI conviction within 10 years from his current DUI offense of January 7, 2012. As a result, Wines contends that he should have been convicted of a third-offense DUI misdemeanor under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567(b)(1)(C). For this reason, Wines argues that K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567 is unconstitutionally vague.

Whether a statute is unconstitutionally vague is a question of law over which appellate review is de novo and unlimited. Appellate courts presume statutes are constitutional and must resolve all doubts in favor of a statute’s validity. Courts must interpret a statute in a way that makes it constitutional if there is any reasonable construction that would maintain the legislature’s apparent intent. State v. Seward, 296 Kan. 979, 981, 297 P.3d 272 (2013). Moreover, when there is a valid alternative ground for relief, courts should construe statues to avoid decisions as to their constitutionality:

“The Court will not pass upon a constitutional question although properly presented by the record, if there is also present some other ground upon which the case may be disposed of. . . . Thus, if a case can be decided on either of two [820]*820grounds, one involving a constitutional question, the other a question of statutory construction or general law, the Court will decide only the latter.” Asktvanderv. Valley Authority, 297 U.S. 288, 347, 56 S. Ct. 466, 80 L. Ed. 688 (1936) (Brandéis, J., concurring).

See also State v. Schad, 41 Kan. App. 2d 805, 807, 206 P.3d 22 (2009) (“[Wjhen a valid alternative ground for relief exists, an appellate court need not reach the constitutional contentions of the parties.”).

As stated earlier, Wines contends that the date of his DUI diversion agreement should control even though his diversion agreement was later revoked and he was convicted of DUI on August 14, 2002, based on die facts contained in his December 2001 diversion agreement.

In State v. Tims, 49 Kan. App. 2d 845, 851, 317 P.3d 115 (2014), this court stated drat “K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 8-1567 ... is a recidivist statute providing for an enhanced severity in charge and sentence if the offender has previous DUI convictions.” The pertinent part of that statute states as follows:

“(b)(1) Driving under the influence is:
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Related

State v. Wetter
Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2022
State v. Obiero
Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2022
State v. Wines
302 Kan. 1021 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2015)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
333 P.3d 917, 50 Kan. App. 2d 817, 2014 Kan. App. LEXIS 61, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-wines-kanctapp-2014.