Title: State v. Berini

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

State v. Berini  (96-549); 167 Vt. 565; 701 A.2d 1055

[Filed 28-Jul-1997]

                          ENTRY ORDER

                 SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 96-549

                         JUNE TERM, 1997

State of Vermont                }     APPEALED FROM:
                                }
                                }
     v.                         }     District Court of Vermont,
                                }     Unit No. 3, Orange Circuit
Christopher M. Berini           }
                                }     DOCKET NOS. 287-8-96 OeCr &
                                                  15-8-96 OeCs

       In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       The State appeals an order of the Orange District Court suppressing
  defendant's refusal to submit to a breath test because he was not afforded
  an opportunity to consult with an attorney. We affirm.

       Defendant was arrested for driving under the influence.  The arresting
  officer informed defendant of his right to speak with an attorney before
  deciding whether to submit to a breath test.  Defendant refused to provide
  a sample without the advice of an attorney.  Despite numerous attempts, the
  officer was unable to contact defendant's lawyer or a public defender.
  After approximately one hour, the officer asked defendant to provide a
  sample, but defendant declined to submit without consulting an attorney. 
  The officer concluded that this constituted a refusal.

       Defendant moved to suppress the refusal on the ground that he was
  denied the opportunity to consult with counsel.  Under the authority of
  State v. Garvey, 157 Vt. 105, 107, 595 A.2d 267, 268 (1991), the trial
  court granted the suppression motion.   The State thereupon moved for
  permission to take an interlocutory appeal.  V.R.A.P. 5(b).  The court
  granted the motion.

       Vermont's implied-consent statute gives a person from whom a breath
  test has been requested by a law enforcement officer a right to consult an
  attorney prior to deciding whether to take the test.  State v. Fuller, 163
  Vt. 523, 526,