Title: Dobbins v. Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

Dobbins, Appellant, v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Appellee. 
[Cite as Dobbins v. Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles (1996), _____ Ohio St.3d _____.] 
Criminal procedure -- Right to counsel -- Audiotaping of telephone 
conversation between an arrestee and attorney violates R.C. 
2935.20 -- Motor vehicles -- Driving while intoxicated -- By refusing 
to submit to blood-alcohol content test contingent on receiving 
advice of counsel, arrestee has, for purposes of implied consent 
statute, R.C. 4511.191, “refused” to take the chemical alcohol test. 
 
- - -  
1. 
The audiotaping of a telephone conversation between an arrestee and her 
attorney violates R.C. 2935.20, since it does not allow the arrestee to engage 
in a private consultation with the attorney. 
2. 
In the absence of any constitutional violations, when the police violate the 
statutory right to counsel contained in R.C. 2935.20, and the arrestee refuses 
to submit to the blood-alcohol content test until she effectively speaks with 
her attorney, the arrestee remains subject to license suspension.  By refusing 
to submit to the test contingent on receiving the advice of counsel, the 
arrestee has, for the purposes of the implied consent statute, R.C. 4511.191, 
“refused” to take the chemical alcohol test. 
- - -  
 
 
 
 
2 
 
(No. 95-775 -- Submitted March 20, 1996 -- Decided June 5, 1996.) 
 
Appeal from the Court of Appeals for Summit County, No. 16514. 
 
On May 19, 1993, respondent-appellee, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 
notified petitioner-appellant, Peggy L. Dobbins, that her driver’s license would be 
suspended for a year pursuant to R.C. 4511.191, Ohio’s “implied consent” statute.  
On May 28, 1993, appellant filed in the Akron Municipal Court a petition 
appealing the license suspension.  An agreed statement of the evidence was 
approved by the municipal court and set forth the following facts: 
 
“1.  Appellant was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on 
March 13, 1993; 
 
“2.  Upon being brought to the Akron Police Department breath-testing 
room, Appellant requested the opportunity to consult with her attorney; 
 
“3.  One of two officers present informed Appellant that she would be video 
and audio taped during her conversation with her attorney, and then allowed 
Appellant to make her phone call; 
 
 
 
 
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“4.  During the phone conversation with her attorney, the officers stayed in 
the room, and Appellant was videotaped and her statements to her attorney were 
audio taped; 
 
“5.  Because of these circumstances, Appellant felt unable to communicate 
fully and freely with her attorney regarding the facts and circumstances of her 
arrest and prior activities that evening; 
 
“6.  After the conversation with her attorney, Appellant was asked to submit 
to a breath test, which she refused.” 
 
The case was submitted to a referee, who found that appellee had properly 
suspended appellant’s license and denied appellant’s appeal.  The municipal court 
overruled appellant’s objections and adopted the referee’s report and 
recommendation.  The Summit County Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of 
the municipal court. 
 
The cause is now before this court pursuant to the allowance of a 
discretionary appeal. 
- - - 
 
Nicholas Swyrydenko, for appellant. 
 
 
 
 
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Douglas J. Powley, Chief City Prosecutor, and Thomas M. DiCaudo, Chief 
Assistant City Prosecutor, for appellee. 
- - - 
 
Alice Robie Resnick, J.   
 
The issues presented by this case are (1) whether police violate an arrestee’s 
statutory right to effective communication with legal counsel contained in R.C. 
2935.20 when they audiotape the telephone conversation between the arrestee and 
her attorney; and (2) if the police violate R.C. 2935.20 by not allowing the accused 
the opportunity to effectively communicate with her attorney, whether the accused 
has “refused” for purposes of Ohio’s implied consent statute, R.C. 4511.191, if she 
subsequently does not take a chemical test for alcohol content. 
I 
 
R.C. 2935.20 states: 
 
“After the arrest, detention, or any other taking into custody of a person, 
with or without a warrant, such person shall be permitted forthwith facilities to 
communicate with an attorney at law of his choice who is entitled to practice in the 
courts of this state, or to communicate with any other person of his choice for the 
 
 
 
 
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purpose of obtaining counsel.  Such communication may be made by a reasonable 
number of telephone calls or in any other reasonable manner.  Such person shall 
have a right to be visited immediately by any attorney at law so obtained who is 
entitled to practice in the courts of this state, and to consult with him privately.  
No officer or any other agent of this state shall prevent, attempt to prevent, or 
advise such person against the communication, visit, or consultation provided for 
by this section. 
 
“Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor 
more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.” 
 
In two prior cases this court has considered whether police violated R.C. 
2935.20 when they allowed the arrestee to use the telephone in order to contact an 
attorney prior to administering the test for blood-alcohol content.  State v. Royster 
(1976), 48 Ohio St.2d 381, 2 O.O.3d 489, 358 N.E.2d N.E.2d 616; McNulty v. 
Curry (1975), 42 Ohio St.2d 341, 71 O.O.2d 317, 328 N.E.2d 798.  In Royster, the 
court held that, even though the arrestee did not use the telephone, the police had 
not violated the statute because they had allowed the arrestee free access to the 
telephone. McNulty held that the police did not violate the statute because they had 
 
 
 
 
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allowed the arrestee free access to the telephone and did not interfere with or 
abbreviate the consultation with the attorney. 
 
The facts of this case are distinguishable from both Royster and McNulty.  
In the case sub judice the police allowed appellant free access to the telephone and 
did not interrupt her consultation with her attorney.  However, in addition to 
reasonable access to an attorney, the statute requires that the police allow the 
arrestee “to consult with [the attorney] privately.”  (Emphasis added.)  
Audiotaping this consultation, as was done in the case at bar, entirely negates any 
chance of privacy the arrestee might acheive.1 
 
Appellee essentially contends that observation of a person charged with 
driving while under the influence of alcohol is necessary to ensure that the 
arrestee, prior to taking the test for blood-alcohol content, does not consume some 
substance that would affect the test results.2  This, however, can be accomplished 
without invading the privacy of a consultation with an attorney by videotaping 
without sound recording.  The accused’s physical mannerisms will adequately 
demonstrate his or her condition and the accused can be observed to prevent the 
 
 
 
 
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ingestion of any substances.  Videotaping without sound will not reveal the 
subject matter of the conversation being held with the attorney. 
 
Ohio law, through this statute, recognizes that a truly private consultation 
with the accused’s criminal defense attorney is essential to a proper defense.  The 
audiotaping of a telephone conversation between an arrestee and her attorney 
violates R.C. 2935.20, since it does not allow the arrestee to engage in a private 
consultation with the attorney. 
II 
 
Having decided that the police in this case violated R.C. 2935.20, we next 
proceed to consider what effect, if any, that violation has on the suspension of 
appellant’s driver’s license pursuant to R.C. 4511.191(C)(1). 
 
If a person under arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence of 
alcohol has been advised of the consequences of refusal to take a chemical test for 
blood-alcohol content as required by R.C. 4511.191(C)(1), and then refuses to 
have this test performed, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles will suspend the 
arrestee’s driver’s license.  R.C. 4511.191(D)(1).  This court has previously found 
this statute to be constitutional and all proceedings thereunder are civil in nature 
 
 
 
 
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and solely administrative.  McNulty v. Curry, supra, paragraph one of the syllabus, 
approving and following Hoban v. Rice (1971), 25 Ohio St.2d 111, 54 O.O.2d 
254, 267 N.E.2d 311, paragraph one of the syllabus, and State v. Starnes (1970), 
21 Ohio St.2d 38, 50 O.O.2d 84, 254 N.E.2d 675, paragraph two of the syllabus. 
 
Initially, we note that the right to counsel associated with the protection 
against self-incrimination contained in the Fifth Amendment to the United States 
Constitution, or as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, does not apply to the 
stage at which the officer requested the chemical test for alcohol content. 
 
In Schmerber v. California (1966), 384 U.S. 757, 765, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 1832-
1833, 16 L.Ed.2d 908, 916-917, the United States Supreme Court held that 
because the results of a test of a defendant’s body fluids are not testimony, the 
police do not violate the constitutional prohibition against self-incrimination 
contained in the Fifth Amendment by requesting a blood test upon arrest for 
driving while under the influence of alcohol.  Thus, appellant had no Fifth 
Amendment right to consult with an attorney prior to deciding whether or not to 
submit to the test for blood-alcohol content.  See McNulty, 42 Ohio St.2d at 344-
345, 71 O.O.2d at 318-319, 328 N.E.2d at 801. 
 
 
 
 
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The United States Supreme Court has also held that the Sixth Amendment 
right to counsel for criminal defense applies only to the “critical stages” of the 
criminal proceedings.  United States v. Gouveia (1984), 467 U.S. 180, 189, 104 
S.Ct. 2292, 2298, 81 L.Ed.2d 146, 155; United States v. Ash (1973), 413 U.S. 300, 
310-311, 93 S.Ct. 2568, 2574, 37 L.Ed.2d 619, 627; United States v. Wade (1967), 
388 U.S. 218, 224, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 1930, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149, 1156.  In McNulty, we 
interpreted Wade to hold that a blood test is merely a step preparatory to the 
critical stage of the prosecution and thus the Sixth Amendment does not apply: 
 
“In United States v. Wade, supra, at page 227 [87 S.Ct. at 1932, 18 L.Ed.2d 
at 1159-1158], the court determined that lineups are ‘critical stages’ of the 
proceedings as opposed to mere ‘preparatory steps, such as systematized or 
scientific analyzing of the accused’s * * * blood sample.’  (Emphasis ours.)  
Inasmuch as the submission to a blood test necessarily precedes the blood’s 
analysis, such stage is merely preparatory to a ‘preparatory step’ and, thus, beyond 
the ambit of Sixth Amendment protection.”  (Emphasis sic.)  McNulty, 42 Ohio 
St.2d at 344, 71 O.O.2d at 319, 328 N.E.2d at 801. 
 
 
 
 
10 
 
This holding is further supported by the United States Supreme Court’s 
dismissal of Nyflot v. Minnesota Commr. of Pub. Safety (1985), 474 U.S. 1027, 
106 S.Ct. 586, 88 L.Ed.2d 567.  In both Nyflot and the case at bar, the arrestees 
had been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and had refused to 
submit to a test for blood-alcohol level until they had been able to consult with 
their attorneys.  As the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit stated: 
 
“In Nyflot, the Supreme Court dismissed for want of a substantial federal 
question an appeal claiming that appellant had a sixth amendment right to counsel 
with respect to the decision whether to consent to a blood-alcohol test.  
‘[D]ismissals for want of a substantial federal question without doubt reject the 
specific challenges presented in the statement of jurisdiction.’  Mandel v. Bradley, 
432 U.S. 173, 176, 97 S.Ct. 2238, 2240, 53 L.Ed.2d 199[205] (1977) (per curiam).  
See also Hopfmann v. Connolly, 471 U.S. 459, 460, 105 S.Ct. 2106, 2107, 85 
L.Ed.2d 469[471] (1985) (per curiam) (dicta).  These decisions constitute 
adjudications on the merits, Hicks v. Miranda, 422 U.S. 332, 344, 95 S.Ct. 2281, 
2289, 45 L.Ed.2d 223[236] (1975), to the extent indicated in Mandel. 
 
 
 
 
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“Petitioner’s argument that the sixth amendment right to counsel attaches 
prior to taking an alcohol breath test was rejected by the Supreme Court on appeal 
in Nyflot.  See Nyflot 474 U.S. at 1029, 106 S.Ct. at 587[, 88 L.Ed.2d at 569].  
Nyflot, therefore controls our holding that petitioner was not denied her sixth 
amendment right to counsel in the instant case.”  McVeigh v. Smith (C.A. 6, 1989), 
872 F.2d 725, 727-728.  See, also, Roberts v. Maine (C.A.1, 1995), 48 F.3d 1287, 
1290-1291. 
 
Appellant also asserts that the police violated her due process right to 
counsel guaranteed by Ohio Constitution’s Redress in Courts provision, Section 
16, Article I, Ohio Constitution.  Appellant cites Thomas v. Mills (1927), 117 Ohio 
St. 114, 157 N.E.2d 488, in support of this contention.  Thomas, however, held 
that this provision guaranteed a criminal defendant a right to an attorney for 
criminal appeals.  As we noted above, the suspension of a driver’s license pursuant 
to R.C. 4511.191 is civil and administrative in nature.  A driver’s license in the 
state of Ohio 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 
 
 
 
 
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syllabus.  As a result it does not fall within the language of “land, goods, person, 
or reputation” of Section 16, Article I, Ohio Constitution. 
 
Because appellant has no constitutional right to counsel under either the 
Fifth Amendment or the Sixth Amendment in this case, the sole question that 
remains is whether appellant’s refusal to take the chemical alcohol test is a “true 
refusal” pursuant to R.C. 4511.191, since the police violated her statutory right to 
counsel contained in R.C. 2935.20. 
 
As we stated in Cline v.Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 
93, 99, 573 N.E.2d 77, 82, the Ohio General Assembly adopted the implied 
consent statute, R.C. 4511.191, to aid in the removal of  “drivers from Ohio 
roadways who would insist on exercising driving privileges while under the 
influence of alcohol.  Kettering v. Bakeer (1975), 42 Ohio St.2d 351, 355, 71 
O.O.2d 322, 324, 328 N.E.2d 805, 807.  The implied consent statute provides a 
clear remedy by suspending the licenses of those drivers who refuse to take a 
sobriety test and is separate from, independent of, and cumulative to a criminal 
prosecution.  Andrews v. Turner (1977), 52 Ohio St.2d 31, 35-36, 6 O.O.3d 149, 
151, 368 N.E.2d 1253, 1256.  It is designed to discourage any person from 
 
 
 
 
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refusing to take the tests when he is arrested for driving while under the 
influence.” 
 
We realize that the decision of whether or not to submit to a blood-alcohol 
content test is a difficult one to make and one that most people would prefer to 
make on the advice of an attorney.  However, the consent mandated when a person 
chooses to drive on Ohio roadways is an entirely civil requirement and the 
criminal protections for individuals that the General Assembly created do not 
apply.  Moreover, the license suspension is mandatory upon refusal to take the 
test.  Whether the driver requests an attorney does not affect the requirement that 
the arrestee submit to the test for blood-alcohol content or accept the alternative of 
license suspension. 
 
Appellant contends that the courts must order the reinstatement of the 
driver’s license when law enforcement officials violate R.C. 2935.20 because the 
punishment that the General Assembly provided in the statute is inadequate to 
prevent future violations. The statute provides that a violator of the statute “shall 
be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars or 
 
 
 
 
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imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.”  Appellant represents that no one 
has ever been charged with and been found guilty of a violation of this provision. 
 
This contention is based on matters outside the record of this case and, 
therefore, we will not consider them.  The General Assembly provided a specific 
statutory punishment for violations of R.C. 2935.20.  If the General Assembly 
intended the result sought by appellant it would have so provided. 
 
Therefore, we hold that, in the absence of any constitutional violations, 
when the police violate the statutory right to counsel contained in R.C. 2935.20, 
and the arrestee refuses to submit to the blood-alcohol content test until she 
effectively speaks with her attorney, the arrestee remains subject to license 
suspension.  By refusing to submit to the test contingent on receiving the advice of 
counsel, the arrestee has, for the purposes of the implied consent statute, R.C. 
4511.191, “refused” to take the chemical alcohol test. 
 
Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is affirmed. 
Judgment affirmed. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, F.E. SWEENEY, COOK and STRATTON, JJ., 
concur. 
 
 
 
 
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PFEIFER, J., dissents. 
FOOTNOTES 
1Although R.C. 2935.20 does not clearly state whether “privacy” pertains to 
consultations with an attorney over the phone as well as in person, courts have 
long recognized that telephone consultations with criminal defense attorneys 
implicate the defendant’s statutory and constitutional rights to an attorney and that 
those cases implicating a violation of those rights must be analyzed in the same 
manner as those involving in-person consultations with attorneys.  See, e.g., State 
v. Milligan (1988), 40 Ohio St.3d 341, 342-343, 533 N.E.2d 724, 727; State v. 
Sargent (1975), 41 Ohio St.2d 85, 89-90, 70 O.O.2d 169, 170-171, 322 N.E.2d 
634, 638; Tucker v. Randall (C.A. 7, 1991), 948 F.2d 388, 391; United States v. 
Coronel-Quintana (C.A. 8, 1985), 752 F.2d 1284, 1290; In re State Police 
Litigation (D.Conn. 1995), 888 F.Supp. 1235, 1257-1258; State v. Holland (1985), 
147 Ariz. 453, 455, 711 P.2d 592, 594; State v. Martinez (1982), 102 Idaho 875, 
879, 643 P.2d 555, 559.  See, also, Annotation, Propriety of Governmental 
Eavesdropping on Communications Between Accused and His Attorney (1986), 
44 A.L.R.4th 841, and cases cited therein. 
 
 
 
 
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The content of the conversations, whether in person or over the phone, 
would be quite similar.  This is especially true for cases involving driving while 
under the influence of alcohol, in which the arrest is often made in the middle of 
the night, a rather inconvenient time for an attorney to arrange an in-person 
interview when a telephone interview would accomplish the same ends. 
2By regulation, law enforcement officials must observe the arrestee for twenty 
minutes prior to taking the chemical test.  Ohio Adm. Code 3701-53-02, 
Appendices A to G.