Case Title: Gilman v. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 1989-10-01T00:00:00Z

Document:
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, 111 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 of any errors in order
that corrections may be made before this opinion goes to press.


                                No. 89-019


Douglas Gilman                               Supreme Court

                                             On Appeal From
     v.                                      Caledonia Superior Court

Commissioner of Motor Vehicles               October Term, 1989
and Vermont District Court,
Unit No. 3, Caledonia Circuit


Matthew I. Katz, J.

Vincent Illuzzi and Michael R. Loignon of Vincent Illuzzi Associates,
  Orleans, for plaintiff-appellant

Dale O. Gray, Caledonia County State's Attorney, St. Johnsbury, and
  Jo-Ann Gross, Law Clerk, Department of State's Attorneys, Montpelier,
  for defendant-appellee


PRESENT:  Allen, C.J., Peck, Gibson, Dooley and Morse, JJ.


     ALLEN, C.J.   The record contains ample support for the conclusion
that defendant refused to submit to a breath test within the meaning of 23
V.S.A. { 1202.  To effect a refusal under 23 V.S.A. { 1202(c), a person need
only conduct himself in a manner which would lead a reasonable person in the
trooper's position to believe that the person understood he was requested to
submit to a breath test and manifested an unwillingness to do so.  Stockwell
v. District Court, Unit No. 6, 143 Vt. 45, 50,