Case Title: State v. Morale

Citation: 174 Vt. 213, 811 A.2d 185

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2002-09-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
State v. Morale (2001-325); 174 Vt. 213; 811 A.2d 185

[Filed 06-Sept-2002]


       NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under
  V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal revision before publication in the Vermont
  Reports.  Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions,
  Vermont Supreme Court, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801 of
  any errors in order that corrections may be made before this opinion goes
  to press.


                                No. 2001-325


  State of Vermont	                         Supreme Court

                                                 On Appeal from
       v.	                                 District Court of Vermont,
                                                 Unit No. 1, Windsor Circuit

  Ralph N. Morale, Jr., Robert C. Knapp and 	 May Term, 2002 
  Gordon G. Parker


  Walter M. Morris, Jr., J.
      
  Matthew H. Huntington, Windsor County Deputy State's Attorney, White River
   Junction, for Plaintiff-Appellant.

  Brian R. Marsicovetere, Law Offices of Kevin W. Griffin, P.C., White River
   Junction, for Defendants-Appellees.


  PRESENT:  Amestoy, C.J., Dooley, Morse, Johnson and Skoglund, JJ.

        
       JOHNSON, J.   In this case, we confront the issue of whether admitting
  evidence of a DUI suspect's refusal to submit a breath test violates the
  suspect's constitutional privilege against self-incrimination in a
  prosecution for criminal refusal.  We decide that a defendant's statement
  refusing to submit to a breath test does not fall within the category of
  compelled testimony protected by either the general Fifth Amendment
  privilege against self-incrimination or by the rights announced in Miranda
  v. Arizona,