Theophilus Roland, Jr. v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 5, 2024
DocketCA-0024-0045
StatusUnknown

This text of Theophilus Roland, Jr. v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (Theophilus Roland, Jr. v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Theophilus Roland, Jr. v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, (La. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

24-45

THEOPHILUS ROLAND, JR.

VERSUS

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

**********

APPEAL FROM THE NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF RAPIDES, NO. 270,415 HONORABLE LOWELL C. HAZEL, DISTRICT JUDGE

CANDYCE G. PERRET JUDGE

Court composed of Van H. Kyzar, Candyce G. Perret, and Wilbur L. Stiles, Judges.

REVERSED. Harrietta J. Bridges Jennifer Del Murray 7979 Independence Blvd, #307 Baton Rouge, LA 70896 (225) 922-2311 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

Jermaine L. Harris Attorney At Law 618A Murray St. Alexandria, LA 71301 (318) 290-3345 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE: Theophilus Roland, Jr. PERRET, Judge.

Defendant, the State of Louisiana, through the Department of Public Safety

and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles (“OMV”), appeals a judgment by the

trial court that ordered it to reinstate Theophilus Roland, Jr.’s commercial driving

license. For the following reasons, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY:

On November 8, 2020, at 12:46 a.m., Theophilus Roland Jr. (“Plaintiff”)

was driving his Polaris Slingshot (a three-wheel autocycle) when he was stopped

by Louisiana State Police Trooper Trevor Blanchard for the intensity of the

vehicle’s white lights all around the autocycle. Thereafter, Trooper Blanchard

arrested Plaintiff for violating La.R.S. 32:327, which pertains to “Special

restrictions on lamps.” Trooper Blanchard testified that upon stopping Plaintiff

because of the intensity of the lights around the autocycle, he noticed the odor of

alcohol on Plaintiff’s breath. When asked if he had been drinking, Plaintiff

admitted to consuming a long island tea approximately one hour before driving and

consented to a standard field sobriety test (“SFST”). Trooper Blanchard testified

that because of Plaintiff’s poor performance on the SFST, he also arrested Plaintiff

on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, first offense, in violation of

La.R.S. 14:98. In accordance with the requirements of La.R.S. 32:661(C),1 titled

1 Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:661(C) provides, in pertinent part:

C. (1) When a law enforcement officer requests that a person submit to a chemical test as provided for above, he shall first read to the person a standardized form approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The department is authorized to use such language in the form as it, in its sole discretion, deems proper, provided that the form does inform the person of the following:

(a) His constitutional rights under Miranda v. Arizona.

(b) That his driving privileges can be suspended for refusing to submit to the chemical test. “Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal

substance or controlled dangerous substances; implied consent to chemical tests;

administering of test and presumptions[,]” Plaintiff was given the opportunity to

submit to a chemical test for intoxication, but he refused to submit a breath sample.

As a result of Plaintiff’s refusal to submit to the alcohol concentration test,

the OMV seized Plaintiff’s personal driver’s license pursuant to La.R.S.

32:667(A)(1). 2 Additionally, in accordance with La.R.S. 32:414.2, titled

“Commercial motor vehicle drivers and drivers with a commercial learner’s

permit; disqualification; issuance of Class “D” or “E” license; alcohol content in

breath and blood; implied consent[,]” 3 and 49 C.F.R. § 383.51, titled

“Disqualification of drivers[,]”4 Plaintiff was statutorily disqualified and ineligible

for his commercial driving privileges for one year.

On January 29, 2021, the assistant district attorney for the Ninth Judicial

District Court, Parish of Rapides, filed a motion to nolle prosequi the charges of

operating a vehicle while intoxicated and the flashing lights against Plaintiff for

insufficient evidence, which was granted on February 1, 2021.

(c) That his driving privileges can be suspended if he submits to the chemical test and such test results show a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or above or, if he is under the age of twenty-one years, a blood alcohol level of 0.02 percent or above.

(d) That his driving privileges can be suspended if he submits to the chemical test and the test results show a positive reading indicating the presence of any controlled dangerous[.]

2 Pursuant to La.R.S. 32:667(A), when a person is placed under arrest for a violation of La.R.S. 14:98, and that person “either refuses to submit to an approved chemical test for intoxication, or submits to such test and such test results show a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or above by weight,” the arresting officer is required to seize the person’s driver’s license and issue a temporary license which notifies the person that he or she may request an administrative hearing in accordance with La.R.S. 32:668 within thirty days from the date of arrest. 3 Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:414.2 contains provisions relating to the suspension and restriction of commercial driving privileges. 4 49 C.F.R. § 383.51 contains provisions relating to the United States Department of Transportation’s authority to suspend and restrict commercial driving privileges.

2 Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing in accordance with La.R.S.

32:668(A), titled “Procedure following revocation or denial of license; hearing;

court review; review of final order; restricted licenses[,]”5 to contest the suspension

of his driving license. Following the administrative hearing, the suspension of

Plaintiff’s driving privileges was affirmed on February 4, 2021. A Motion for

Rehearing, Motion for Reopening, and Motion for Reconsideration was

subsequently filed on February 24, 2021, which was denied on March 4, 2021.

On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff filed a Petition for Judicial Review and

Temporary Restraining Order. Thereafter, on May 17, 2021, the trial court issued

an order prohibiting OMV from “suspending or otherwise enforcing the challenged

suspension of the driving privileges and/or driver’s license, DL# 5635571-CV-26

of Petitioner Theophilus Roland Jr., pending further orders of this Court.”

After a hearing on May 15, 2023, the trial court rendered a judgment

“reinstat[ing] Plaintiff’s driving privileges, with immediate effect.” The trial court

provided the following pertinent written reasons:

Plaintiff alleges that the traffic stop was initiated based on the perceived violation of La. R.S. 32:327, “Special Restriction on

5 According to La.R.S. 32:668(A), the scope of the hearing is limited to:

(1) Whether a law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person, regardless of age, had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state ... while under the influence of either alcoholic beverages or any abused substance or controlled dangerous substance[.]

(2) Whether the person was placed under arrest.

(3) Whether he was advised by the officer as provided in R.S. 32:661.

(4) Whether he voluntarily submitted to an approved chemical test and whether the test resulted in a blood alcohol reading of 0.08 percent or above by weight[.]

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Theophilus Roland, Jr. v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/theophilus-roland-jr-v-louisiana-department-of-public-safety-and-lactapp-2024.