THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA T E JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

p h y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ay 14, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 64 2 . YEONG SIK OH v . THE STATE.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

Yeo n g Si k Oh ap p eal s fro m h i s co n v i ct i o n on o n e co u n t of d ri v i n g u n d er t h e

i n fl u en ce o f al co ho l

. He arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u r t e r r ed b y den y i n g hi s m o t i o n to

s u p p res s ev i d en ce fro m a t raffi c s t o p b ecau s e t h e o ffi cer co n d uct i ng t h e st o p d i d n ot

ad v is e h i m o f hi s Mi ra n da ri g h t s befo re h e m a d e in cri m i nat i n g s t at em en t s an d

s u b m i t t ed t o a p ort ab l e b reat h al y zer t e s t

, b e cau se h i s arres t was m ad e wi t h o ut

p ro b ab l e cau s e, an d b ecau s e t h e o ffi cer fai l ed to o b t a i n h i s c o n s en t t o p erfo rm an

al co h o l b reat h t es t fo l l o wi n g h i s arres t

. Fo r t h e r e a s o n s set fo rt h b el o w, we fi n d n o

erro r i n t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al of Oh ’ s m o ti o n t o s u p p res s an d affi rm h i s co n v i ct i o n.O n a p p e a l fro m a ru l i n g o n a m ot i o n t o s u p p res s

, w e d efer t o t h e t ri a l

co u rt ’ s fact ual fi n d i n g s an d cred i b i l i t y d et erm i n at i o n s, b u t rev i ew de

n o v o th e co u rt ’ s ap pl i cat i o n o f t he l aw t o t h e u n d i s p u t ed fact s

. An d

s i gn i fi can tl y

, t o t h e ex t en t t h at t he co n t ro l l i n g fact s are un d i s p u t ed

b ecau s e t h ey are pl ai n l y di s cern ab le fro m th e p at ro l car-m ou n t ed v i d eo

reco rd i n g as t h ey are i n t h i s c a s e

, w e rev i ew th o s e fact s d e n o v o

.

Al t h ou g h we owe s u b s t an t i al d e f e ren ce t o t h e w ay i n w h i ch t h e t ri al

co u rt res o l v ed d is p ut ed qu es t i o n s o f m at eri al fact

, we o we n o d eferen ce

at al l t o t h e t ri al co u rt w i t h res p ect t o q u es t i on s o f l aw, an d i n s t ead

, we

m u s t ap p l y t he law o u rs el v es t o t h e m at eri al fact s

. T h i s i n cl u d es l eg al

d et erm i nat i o n s b as ed u p o n t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

.

S t a t e v. Dep o l

, 3 3 6 G a

. Ap p

. 1 9 1, 1 9 1 -9 2 (7 84 SE2 d 5 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

In t h is cas e, t h e ev id en ce p res en t ed at t h e s up p res si o n h eari n g

, i n cl u d i n g v i d eo

an d au d i o reco rd ed fro m a p o l i ce car p at ro l cam era, sh o w ed t h at in t h e earl y m o rn i n g

h o u rs o f Decem

b er 3 1

, 2 0 1 5

, Oh was d ri v i n g h i s v eh i cl e wh en h e was s t o p p ed b y a

p o l i ce o ffi c e r wh o h ad no t i ced t hat a b rak e l i gh t was m al fu nct i o n i n g

. Th e o ffi cer

fo l l o w ed Oh ’ s v e h i c l e fo r a s h o rt d i s t an ce an d t h en i n i t i at ed h i s b l u e l i g ht s

, wh i ch

p ro m p t ed O h t o p ul l h i s v eh i cl e i n t o a n earb y p a r k i n g l o t

. Th e o ffi cer h ad n ot

o b s erv ed an y ev i d en ce o f i m pai rm en t at t h at p o in t, an d o t h er t han t h e fai l i n g b rak e

l i gh t h ad n o t o b s erv ed an y o t h er t raffi c v i ol at i o n s

.

2Th e o ffi cer ap pro ach ed t he d r i ver’ s s i d e o f th e v eh i cl e an d b eg an sp eak i n g wi th

Oh

. Du ri n g th at co n v ers at i o n, th e o ffi cer t o l d Oh t h at h e s m el led b u rn ed m ari ju an a

co m i n g fro m t h e v eh i cl e. Oh rep l i ed t h at h e had s m o k e d m ari ju an a i n t h e v eh i cl e a

few d ay s b efo re. T h e o ffi cer as k ed Oh t o ex i t h i s v eh i cl e an d h ad h i m s t an d b eh i n d

t h e car u n t i l a back u p o ffi cer arri v ed

. At t h at p oi nt

, th e o ffi cer p l an ned t o s earch t h e

car b as ed o n t h e m ari

ju an a h e h ad s m el l ed

. In res p o n s e t o a q u es ti o n fro m t h e o ffi cer,

Oh d en i ed t h at h e h ad co n s um ed al co h o l t h at ev en in g

.

Lat er, wh i l e Oh was s t an d i n g o u t s id e t h e v eh i cl e, t h e o ffi cer s m el led al co h ol

o n Oh ’ s b reat h . Oh ag ai n d en i ed t h at h e h ad been dri n k in g b u t t h en ad m i t t ed t o t h e

o ffi cer t h at h e h ad co n s u m e d o n e b e e r ab ou t an h o u r earl i er i n t he ev en i n g wi t h a

m eal . At t h at t im e, t h e o ffi cer al s o o b s erv ed t h at Oh ’ s ey es were red an d wat ery

.

Th e o ffi cer co m

m en ced a DUI i n v es t i g at i o n o f Oh

. T he o ffi cer ex pl ai ned each

o f t h e ev al u at i o n s h e was g oi n g t o as k Oh t o p art i ci p at e i n an d as k ed i f Oh h ad an y

p h y s i cal o r m ed i cal co n di t i o n s t hat wo u l d p rev en t h i m fro m part i ci p at i n g

. Oh

i n d i cat ed t h at h e was ab le t o p art i ci p at e an d d i d n o t m en t i o n an y p h y s i cal co n cern s

.

Th e o ffi cer h ad Oh p e r f o r m a b at t ery o f s t an d ard i zed fi el d s o b ri et y t es t s

,

b eg in n i n g wi t h a h o ri zo n t al g aze n y s t ag m u s (HGN) t es t

. Th e o ffi cer o b serv ed s i x o ut

o f s i x cl u es o n th e H GN t es t

, co n s i s t en t wi t h co n d i t i o n s o f i m p ai rm en t . Th e o ffi cer

3t h en i n s t ru ct ed Oh to t ak e a tes t i n wh i ch h e was i n s t ru ct ed to t ak e n i n e s t ep s wi t h h i s

arm s t o h i s s id e an d t h en t u rn aro u n d (t h e “ wal k an d t u rn ”). Th e o ffi cer dem o n s t rat ed

t h e act i o n s h e was as k i n g Oh t o p erfo rm b efo re i n st ru ct in g Oh to pro ceed

. Th e o ffi cer

n o t ed th at O h t o o k t en s t e p s i n s t ead o f n i n e, fai l ed t o keep h i s b al an ce d u ri n g t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n al p h as e of t he t es t

, m ad e an im p ro p er t urn

, an d h ad t o u s e h i s arm s t o

m ai n t ai n h is bal an ce. Th e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at o b s erv i n g t wo o r m o re of t h es e cl u es

d u ri n g a wal k an d t u rn i nd i cat es i m p ai rm en t

. Th e o ffi cer t h en as k ed O h t o s t an d o n

o n e l eg

, wh i ch h e dem o n s t rat ed fo r Oh

. Oh p erfo rm ed th i s t es t w i t ho u t s i g nal i n g an y

cl u es o f i m

p ai rm en t.

Bas ed o n th e p rel i m i nary s o b ri et y t es t s

, t h e o ffi cer t o l d Oh t h at he b el i ev ed h e

was im pai red d ue t o al co h o l co n s u m p t i o n an d o ffered h i m a p o r t a b l e b reat h tes t

(PBT). Th e o ffi cer t h e n a c c u s e d O h o f l y i n g ab o u t t h e am o u nt o f al co h o l h e h ad

co n su m ed t h at ev en i n g

, as k i ng h i m w h et h er h e had i n fact co n s u m e d m o r e al co h ol

t h an h e i n i t i al l y cl ai m ed

. O h i n i t i al l y d en ied t h at h e h ad l ied t o t h e offi cer o r

co n su m ed m o re al co h o l th an h e cl ai m ed

, bu t h e lat er ad m i t t ed t h at h e had co n s u m ed

fo u r beers earl i er i n t h e ev en i n g

. Aft er s o m e d i s cu s s i o n, Oh b l ew i nt o t h e PBT, wh i ch

g en erat ed

, acco rd i n g t h e o ffi cer, a “ real l y h i g h nu m b er.” T h e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e

d i d n o t bel i ev e t h e t es t was accu rat e b ecau s e “ [i ] t was an ab s u rd n u m b er, l i k e al co h o l

4p o i s o n i n g k i n d o f nu m b er.” Bas ed o n h i s b el i ef t h at t h e i n i t i al t es t was no t co n s i s t en t

w i t h h i s o b s erv at io n s o f Oh

, t h e o ffi cer as k ed Oh t o b l o w i n to t h e d ev i ce a s ec o n d

t i m e, w h i c h yi e l d e d a p o si t i ve t es t fo r al co h o l

. Th e o ffi cer l at er t es t i fi ed t h at Oh ’ s

b eh av i o r an d res p on s es t o t h e fi el d s ob ri et y t es ts were m o re co ns i s ten t wi t h

co n su m p t i o n o f fo u r b eers t h an a s i n g l e b eer.

Bas ed o n t h es e o b s e r v at i o n s

, t he o ffi cer p l aced Oh u n der arres t

. Th e o ffi cer

t h en read t h e G e o rg i a Im p l i ed Co n s en t No ti ce fo r Su b ject s Ag e 2 1 an d Ov er t o Oh

an d as k ed wh et h er h e co ns en t ed t o a b reat h t es t

. O h as k ed s ev eral q u es t i o n s ab o u t t h e

warn i n g an d as ked t h e o ffi cer t o read i t ag ai n

, wh i ch p ro m pt ed t h e o ffi cer t o ag ai n

read t h e co n s en t warn i ng t o Oh an d as k i f h e w o u l d s u b m i t t o a b reat h t es t

. Th e

o ffi cer al s o accu s ed Oh of s t al l i n g

. Sev eral m i n ut es l at er, aft er as k i n g ad d i t i o n al

q u es ti o n s

, Oh p ro vi d ed h i s co n s en t fo r t h e breat h t es t

. Oh s ub m i t ted t o t h e b reat h tes t

at p o l i ce h ead q u art ers

, th e res u l t s o f wh ich were co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ev i d en ce o f

i m p ai r m e n t t h e o ffi cer h ad o b serv ed d u ri n g t h e t raffi c s to p

. Oh d id no t req u es t an

ad d it i o n al t es t

. Th e o ffi cer des cri b ed hi s en co un t er wi t h Oh as “ pl eas an t ” an d n o t ed

t h at h e h ad n o t h ad t o rai s e h i s v o ice w i t h Oh d u r i n g t he s t o p

. Th e o ffi cer al s o

t es t i fi ed t h at h e n ev er t o l d Oh t h at h e h ad t o t ak e t h e breat h t es t

. Hi s t es t i m o n y was

co n si s t en t wi t h t h e co n v ers at i o n reco rd ed b y t h e d as h b o ard cam era.

5Oh was ch arg ed wi th o ne co u n t o f DUI les s s afe 1 an d o n e co u nt o f DUI p er s e

(d ri vi n g wi t h u n l awf

u l a l c o h o l co ncen t rat i o n ). 2 O h m o v ed t o s u p p res s al l ev i d en ce

fro m t h e t raffi c s t op

, cl ai m i n g v i o l at i o n s o f h i s Fo urt h

, Fi ft h

, an d Si x t h Am en d m en t

ri gh t s. T h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Oh ’ s m o t i o n

. Fo l l o w i n g a b en ch tri al

, Oh was acq u i t t ed

o f t h e DUI l es s s afe ch arg e b u t was co nv i ct ed o f DUI p er s e. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Oh fi rs t arg u es t h at he was i n cu st od y w h en he p ro v i d ed breat h s am p l es i n to

t h e PBT an d ad m i t t e d t o co n s u m i n g fo u r b eers

. He arg u es th at b ecau s e he h ad n ot

recei v ed a Mi r a nd

a warn i ng fro m t h e o ffi cer b efo re pro v i di n g th e b reat h s am p l es o r

m ak i n g t ho s e s t at em en t s, t h at ev i d en ce s h o u l d b e s u pp res s ed . W e d i s ag ree.

An i n d iv i d u al m

us t b e ad v i s ed o f hi s Mi r an d a ri gh t s

, i n cl u d i n g h i s ri g h t

a g a i n s t s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n

, o nl y aft er b ei ng t ak en i n t o cu s to d y o r

o t h erwi se d ep ri v ed of h i s freed o m o f act io n i n an y s i g n i fi can t way

.

Al co -s en s o r an d o th er fi e l d s o b r i et y t es t s g iv en t o a p ers o n u nd er

cu s t od ial arres t are i n ad m i s s i bl e wh ere ad m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e t es t s h as

n o t b een p reced ed by a Mi r a n da warn i n g. Al t h ou g h a m o t ori s t i s

d ep ri v ed o f h i s freed o m o f a c t i o n d u ri n g a t raffi c s t op

, s u ch a

d ep ri v at i o n do es n o t al way s t ri g g er t h e ri g h t s s et fo rt h i n Mi r a n d a

.

In s t ead

, t h e t es t fo r d et erm i n i n g wh et h er a p ers o n i s ‘ i n cu s t od y ’ at a

t raffi c s t o p i s i f a reas o n ab l e p ers o n in t h e s u sp ect ’ s p o si t io n wo u l d h av e

1 OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (1 ).

2 OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 ).

6t h o u g h t th e d et en t i o n wo u l d n o t b e t em p o rary

. W h et h er o n e i s i n

cu s t od y fo r Mi r an d

a p u rp o s es is a m i x ed q u es t i o n o f l aw an d fact

, an d

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s det erm i n at i o n wi ll n o t b e d i s t u r b ed u n l es s i t i s cl earl y

erro n eo us

.

S t a t e v. Pa d i d

h am , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 9

, 8 4 0 -4 1 (1 ) (7 14 SE2 d 6 5 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In Pa di d h a m

, t h e s u s p ect h ad b een s to p p ed fo r s p eed i n g

. Id

. at 8 3 9

. He

s u b m i t t ed t o s ev eral fi el d s o b ri et y t es t s, wh i ch p ro m p t ed t h e o ffi cer t o cal l fo r a

b ack up offi cer t o b ri n g an al co -s en s o r t o t h e s cen e. Id

. W h il e wai t in g fo r t h e o ffi cer

t o arri v e, t h e s u s p ect w as p erm i t t ed t o ret u rn t o h i s o w n car. Id

. Th e o ffi cer t o l d h i m

t h at h e h ad s t o p ped h i m fo r s p eed i n g

, t h at h e was go i n g t o recei v e a t i ck et

, an d t h at

h e t h ou g h t t h at t h e s u s p ect was t o o i n t o x i cat ed t o dri v e, w h i ch h e w as go i n g t o v eri fy

.

Id

. Th e o ffi cer a d m i n i s t e r e d t he t es t ei g ht t o t en m i n u tes l at er, wh ich s h o wed t h e

p res en ce o f al co h o l. Id

. Th i s Co u rt r e v e r s e d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f th e s u s p ect ’ s

m o ti o n to s u p p res s

, fi n d i ng t h at h e was n o t i n cu st o d y at t h e t i m e he p ro v i d ed t h e

b reat h s am

p l es

. Id

. at 8 4 1 (1 ). In s o d o i ng

, w e n o t ed t h at t he o ffi cer h ad no t t o l d t h e

s u s p ect t hat h e wo u ld b e ar r e s t e d a s h e awai t ed th e back u p o ffi cer an d t h e al co

s en s o r. Id

.

As t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed

, t h e fact s of t h i s cas e cl o sel y m i rro r t h o s e i n Pa d i d h a m

.

7Th e o ffi cer i n d icat ed t o O h t h at h e bel i ev ed t h at h e was i m p ai red b efo re

ad m i n is t eri n g t he PBT. Th is i s s i m i l ar t o t h e s t at em en t i n Pa d i d ha m in wh i ch t h e

o f fi cer i n d i cat ed t h at h e was g o i ng t o veri fy h i s b el ief th at t h e d ri v er was t o o

i n t o x i cat ed t o d ri v e.

Cri t i cal l y

, as i n Pa d i d

h a m

, t h e o ffi cer al s o n ev er i nd i cat ed t o Oh t h at h e wo u ld

b e u n der arres t reg ard l es s o f t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t es t o r wh et h er h e ag reed t o s u bm i t

t o t he t es t at al l . Befo re ag reei n g t o t h e t es t

, Oh as k ed t h e o ffi cer wh et h er h e wo u ld

b e “ lo ck ed u p ” i f h e refu s ed t o b l o w i nt o t h e P B T

. Th e o ffi cer d i d n ot an s wer t h e

q u es ti o n d i rect l y

, b u t i ns t ead n o t ed h i s b el i ef t h at wh at h e had seen t o t h at p o i n t l ed

h i m t o b el i ev e t h at O h was i m p ai red b y al co h o l . Th i s i s es s en t i al l y a res t at em en t o f

t h e o ffi cer’ s earl ier s tat em en t as t o wh y h e was as k i n g Oh to tak e t h e t es t

. M o reo v er,

i n a p ro lo n g ed d i s cu s s i o n b efo re ad m i n is t e r i n g t h e t es t

, th e o ffi cer wen t o n to

em ph as i ze t h at t he PBT is us ed t o ru l e o u t dru g us e an d m ed i cal co n d i ti o n s as s o u rces

o f i n t o x i c a t i o n a nd t o s ee if h i s o b s erv at i o n s o f Oh ’ s b eh av i o r t o t h at p o i n t were

c o n s i s t en t wi t h im

p ai rm en t d u e t o al co h o l co n s um p t i o n

. W e fi n d n o t h i n g i n t h o s e

s t at em en t s t h at wo u l d h av e g i v en Oh t h e i m p res si o n a t t i m e t h at hi s d et en t i o n was

m o re t h an t em

p o rary

.

8Acco rd i ng l y

, t he tri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at Oh was n o t i n cu s t o d y at t h e

t i m e h e t o o k t h e PBT a n d t o l d t h e o ffi cer h e h ad co n su m ed fo u r b eers t hat ev en i n g

was n ot cl earl y

erro n eo u s . Co n s eq u en t ly , n o Mi r a n da warn i n g was req u i red

.

2

. Oh n ex t ar g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

b ecau s e t h e o ffi cer l ack ed pro bab l e cau se t o p l ace Oh u n d er arres t

. Oh p ri n ci p al l y

rel i es u p o n t h i s Co u r t ’s d e c i s i o n i n S t at e v. Ba t t y 3 t o arg u e a l ack o f ev i d en ce

s u p p ort i n g p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t Oh . W e d i s ag ree.

In Ba t ty

, t h e o ffi cer i n i t i at ed a t raffi c s t op aft er n ot i ci n g t he d efen d an t m ak i n g

an i l l eg al t u rn an d t h en fo l l o w i n g a v e h i c l e t o o cl o s el y

. 2 59 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 1

. Th e

o ffi cer n o t ed t h e s m el l o f al co h ol co m i ng fro m th e v eh icl e, an d t h e d ef e n d an t

t h ereaft er ad m i t t ed t o h av in g “ a co u p l e o f b eers

. ” Id

. An al co -s en s o r t es t s h o wed a

p o s i t i ve res u l t fo r th e p res en ce of al co h o l

, pro m p t i n g t h e o ffi cer to ad m i n i st er s ev eral

fi el d s ob ri et y t es t s

, al l o f w h i c h t h e d efen d an t p as s ed

. Id

. Th e o ffi cer n o n et h el es s

p l aced t h e d efen d an t i n cu s t o d y fo r DUI l es s s afe, an d t h e d efen d an t s u b m i t t ed t o a

s t at e-ad m i n i s t ered al co h o l b reat h t es t w h i le i n cu s t o d y

. Id

. T hi s Co u rt u p h el d t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s gran t o f t he d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n t o s u pp res s

, n o ti n g t h a t t h e o ffi cer n ev er

3 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p . 4 3 1 (5 7 7 SE2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

9art i cu l at ed an y fact s s u p po rt i n g a b el i ef t h at th e d efen d an t was a les s s afe d ri v er d u e

t o t he p res en ce o f al co h o l

. Id

.

T h i s cas e i s pl ai n l y di s t in g u i s h ab l e fro m Ba t t y o n a nu m

b er o f fro n t s

. Fi rs t

,

acco rd i n g t o t h e o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o n y

, t h e o ffi cer n o t ed Oh ’ s red an d wat ery ey es an d

t h e s m el l o f al co h o l o n h i s b r e at h

, an d t w o o f t h e i n i t ial t es t s ad m i n i s t ered b y t h e

o ffi cer y i el d ed ev i d en ce o f i m pai rm en t as d id Oh ’ s s eco n d b l o w i n t o t h e PBT. Each

o f t h es e i t em s s u p p ort ed an i n feren ce t h at Oh was i m pai red

.

In t h i s cas e, th e o ffi cer i n d i cat ed th at h e arres t ed Oh fo r “ d ri v i n g un d er t h e

i n fl u en ce” an d n o t ed t he res ul ts o f t h e fi el d so b ri et y t es t s h e h ad co n d uct ed l ed h i m

t o b el i ev e th at h e was a l es s -s afe d ri v er. T h e s t an d ard s fo r p ro b ab l e cau s e a DUI p er

s e arres t are d i fferen t fro m th o s e fo r a DUI l es s s afe arres t

, bu t i n t h i s cas e t h e

ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t h e s u p p res s i o n h eari n g es t ab l i s hed t h at t h e o ffi cer h ad

p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t Oh fo r b o t h o ffen s es

.

An in d i v id ual i s g u i l t y o f DUI-l es s s afe wh ere h e o r s h e o p er a t e s a m o t o r

v eh icl e wh i l e “ [u ] n der t h e i nfl u en ce o f al co h o l to t h e ex t en t t h at it i s l es s s afe fo r t h e

p ers o n to d ri v e.” OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (1 ). As t h is Co urt d i s cu s s ed i n S t a t e v. Ri s h

, 4

i f t he e v i d e n c e s h o ws o n ly th at a d ri v er i s i n t o x icat ed an d d o es n o t s h o w t h at h i s

4 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . 8 1 5

, 8 1 6 (6 7 3 SE2 d 2 5 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

10co n su m

p t i o n o f al co ho l h as i m

p ai red h i s ab i l i t y

t o d ri v e, t h ere i s no p ro b ab l e cau s e

t o arres t fo r D UI-l es s s afe. “ Im p ai r e d d ri v i n g ab i l i t y d ep en d s s ol el y u p o n an

i n d i v i d u al ’ s res p on se t o al co h o l

. Becau s e in d i v i d u al res p o n s es to al co h o l vary

, t h e

p res en ce o f al co h ol i n a d efen d an t ’ s b o d y

, b y i t s el f, d o es n o t s u p po rt an i n feren ce t h at

t h e d efen d a n t w a s a n im p ai red d ri v er.” Ri s h

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 1 6 -1 7 (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Ho wev er,

a co n v i ct i on u n d er OCGA § 4 0

– 6

– 3 91 (a) (1 ) do es no t req u ire p ro of t hat

a pers o n act u al l y co m

m i t t ed an u n s afe act wh i l e d ri v i n g ; i t o n l y req u i res

s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o au t h o ri ze a fi n di n g

, b ey o nd a reas o n a b l e d o u bt

,

t h a t t h e d efen dan t was o p erat i ng o r i n act u al p h y si cal co n t ro l o f a

m o v i n g v eh i cl e wh il e u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l t o t h e ex t en t t h a t

i t was l es s safe fo r h i m t o d ri ve. Ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce m ay be

s u ffi ci en t t o m eet t h i s b urd en o f p ro o f.

Ben net t v. S t a t e

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p . 4 6 5 , 4 6 6 (7 2 2 SE2 d 9 4) (2 01 1 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

I n B e nn et t

, th i s Co u rt h el d t h at t he St at e p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce to

s u p p ort a DUI l es s -s afe co n v i ct i o n wh ere t h e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at

, d u ri n g t h e t raffi c

s t op

, h e n o t i c ed th e s m el l o f al co h o l o n t h e su s p ect ’ s b reat h

, t hat h i s s p eech was

s l urred

, an d t h at h i s ey es were b l o o d s h o t

. Id

. at 4 6 5 -6 6

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e d efen d an t

ad m i t t ed t o d ri n k i n g earl i er i n t h e ev en i n g a n d f a i l e d an HGN t es t

. Id

. He al s o

s u b m i t t ed t o an al co s en s o r t es t wh i ch reg is t ered p o s i t i v e fo r t h e p res en ce o f al co h o l

.

11I

d

. I m po rt an t l y

, i n Ben n et t

, t h e s t o p o ccu rred at a p o l i ce ro ad bl o ck

. Id

. Th e o f f i c e r

h ad n ot o b serv ed t he s u s p ect d ri vi n g u n s afel y

, an d h e h ad no t d ri v en at an u n s afe

s p eed or m ad e an at tem

p t t o ev ad e t h e ro ad

b l o ck

. Id

. at 4 6 6. Nev ert h el es s

, th i s Co u rt

affi rm ed h i s co n v ict i o n fo r DUI l es s -s afe, n o t i n g t h at t h e offi cer co ul d

, b as ed o n h i s

t r a i n i n g an d ex p eri en ce, g i v e o p i n i o n t es t i m o n y as t o t he d efen d an t ’ s s o b ri et y an d

wh et h er h e was u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f a l c o ho l t o th e ex t en t t hat he was l es s s afe to

d ri v e. Id

. S

ee a ls o Ta n n er v. S t a t e

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 2

, 7 0 2 -0 3 (4 8 4 SE2 d 7 6 6) (1 9 9 7 ).

In co n t ras t

,

a co n v i ct i o n fo r DUI-p er s e d o es n o t req u i re p ro o f t h at i t was l es s s afe

fo r t he d efen dan t t o d ri v e. Rat h er, an i n d i v id u al i s g u i l t y o f D UI-p er s e

wh ere, wi t h i n t h ree h ou rs aft er d ri v in g a m o t o r v eh i cl e, t es t s s h o w t hat

h i s bl o o d al co h o l co ncen t rat io n i s 0.0 8 g ram s o r m o re. OCGA §

4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 ). Th u s

, pro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t fo r D U I

- p e r s e ex is t s

wh ere an o ffi cer h as a reas o n ab l e b as i s t o b el i ev e t hat : (1 ) t h e s u s pect

h as

, wi th i n t h e p r e v i o u s t h ree h o u rs

, b een i n p h y si cal co n t ro l o f a

m o v i n g v eh i cl e; an d (2 ) t h e su s p ect ’ s c u rren t b l o od al co h o l

co n cen t rat io n i s g reat er t h an 0 .0 8 g ram s.

Ri s h , 2 95 Ga. Ap p . at 8 1 7 (ci t at i o n s o m it t ed ).

In t h i s c a s e

, as in Ben n et t

, Oh ad m i tt ed t o co n su m i n g al co ho l earl i er i n t h e

ev en in g

, an d two fi el d t es t s s h o w ed cl u es o f i m p ai rm en t

. T h e P B T s h owed t h e

12p res en ce o f al co ho l an d was “ co n s i s t en t ” wi t h t h e res u l t t h e o ffi cer s us p ect ed b as ed

o n t h e t wo earl i er fi el d s o b ri et y t es t s t h at Oh h ad fai l ed

. Becau s e o f th e read i ng o n t h e

PBT an d t h e p h y s i cal m an i fes t at io n s o f i m p ai rm en t t h e o f

f i cer o b serv ed wh en Oh

s u b m i t t ed t o t h e v ari o u s fi el d so b ri et y t es t s

, t h e o ffi cer h ad p ro b ab le cau se t o arres t

Oh fo r DUI l es s -s afe.

M o reo v er, al t h o u gh th e s p eci fi c read i ng o n t he PBT w as no t ad m i t t ed i n to

ev i d en ce at th e s u p p res s i o n h eari n g

, t h e o ffi cer’ s ch aract eri zat i o n o f t h e read i n g o n

t h e t es t

, i n co n

j u n ct io n w i th t h e o t h er ev id en ce i n t h e reco rd

, es tab l i s h ed a reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t h at

, at th at t i m e

, O h w as i n v i o l at i o n o f OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 ) an d

g av e t h e o f

f i c e r p r o bab l e cau s e t o p l ace h im u nd er arres t fo r DUI p er s e. S ee Ri s h

,

2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . at 8 17 -1 8 . Oh ’ s en u m erat i o n t h erefo re fai l s

.

3

. Fi n a lly

, O h a r gue s tha t t h e res ul t s o f Oh ’ s st at e-ad m i ni s t ered ch em i cal b reat h

t es t , t ak en at p ol i ce h ead q u art ers fo l l o wi ng h i s arres t , s h o u l d h av e b een s u p p res s ed

b ecau s e t h e St at e d i d n o t o bt ai n Oh ’ s act u al co n s en t fo r t h e t es t . W e d i s ag ree.

At t h e t i m e th e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered Oh ’ s m o t i o n t o s u pp res s (an d at t h e t i m e

Oh fi led h i s n o t i ce o f ap p eal i n t h i s cas e), th e Su p rem e Co u rt h ad n o t y et i s s u ed i t s

13d eci s i o n i n O l evi k v. St a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 2 2 8 (8 0 6 SE2 d 5 0 5 ) (2 0 1 7 ). 5 In Ol evi k

, t h e

Su p rem e Co urt d et erm i ned t h at a b reat h t es t p ro v i d ed b y a DUI s u s pect aft er h av i n g

b een read t h e ag e-ap pro p ri at e Geo rg i a i m p l i ed co n sen t w arn i n g was n o t s u b ject t o

an al y s i s u n d er t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t b u t was rat h er s u b j ect t o a s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n

an al y s i s u n d er t he Fi ft h Am en d m e n t a n d Art icl e I, Sect i o n I, Parag rap h X VI o f t h e

Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t i o n. Id

. at 2 3 2 -4 6 (2 ). U n d er t h at pro v i si o n o f t h e Geo rg i a

Co n s t i t u t i o n

, a s us p ect i n t h es e ci rcu m st an ces i s p ro t ect ed fro m co m p el l ed act s o f s el f

i n cri m i nat i o n

, wh i ch i n cl u d es p ro t ect i o n ag ai n s t b e i n g co m p el l ed to s u b m i t t o a

b reat h t es t g i v en aft er recei vi n g t h e i m p l ied co n s en t warn i n g

. Id

. Th u s

, a d efen d an t

h as a co n s t i t u t i o n al ri g h t t o refu s e s u ch t es t i n g. Id . at 2 4 6 (2 ).

As t h e Su p rem e Co u rt wen t o n t o d i s cu s s o n Ol evi k

,

wh et h er a de f

e nda n t i s co m p el l ed t o p ro v i d e s el f-i n cri m i n at i n g ev i d en ce

i n v i o l at i on of Parag rap h XVI i s d et erm i n ed u n der t h e t o tal i t y o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. Det erm i n i n g t h e v o l u n t ari n es s o f (o r l ack o f co m p u l s i o n

s u rro u nd i n g ) a d efen d an t ’ s i n cri m i n at i n g st at e m e n t o r act i n vo l v es

co n s i d erat i o n s s i m i l ar t o t h o s e em p l o y ed i n d e t e r m i n i n g wh et h er a

d efen d a n t vo l u n t ari ly co n s en t ed t o a s earch

. W e h av e s ai d th at th e

v o l u n t ari n es s of a co ns en t t o s earch is d et erm i n ed b y s u ch fact o rs as th e

5 Th e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g Oh ’ s m o t io n t o su p p res s was i s s u ed o n M arch

1 7

, 2 0 1 7

. Oh ’ s n o t i ce o f ap p eal was fi led o n May 1 1

, 2 0 1 7

. Ol evi k w as i ss u ed b y t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt o n Oct o b er 1 6 , 2 0 1 7

.

14a g e o f t h e accu s ed

, hi s ed u cat i o n

, h i s i nt el l i g en ce, t h e len g t h o f

d et en t i o n

, wh et h er th e accu s ed was ad v i sed o f h i s co n st i tu t i o n al ri g h t s

,

t h e p ro l o n g ed n at u re o f q u es t i o n i n g

, t h e us e of p h y si cal p u ni s h m en t

, an d

t h e p s y ch o l o g i c a l i m

pact o f al l t h es e fact ors o n t h e accu s ed

. In

d e term i ni ng v o l un t ari n es s

, n o s in g le fact or i s co n tro l li n g

. J u s t a s t h e

v o l u n t ari n es s of co n s en t t o s earch i n cl u d es an a s s e s s m en t o f th e

p s y ch o l o g i c a l i m

p act o f al l t h e fact o rs o n a d efen d an t

, a s i g n i fi can t

fact o r i n a d ue p ro ces s i n q u i ry i s wh et her a d ecep t i v e p o l i ce p ract i ce

c a u s e d a d efen d an t t o co n fes s o r p ro vi d e an i n cri m i n at i n g s t at em en t

.

An d al t h o u gh k no wl ed g e o f t h e ri g h t t o refu s e co n sen t i s o n e fact or t o

b e t ak en i n t o acco u n t

, t h e g o v ern m en t n eed n o t es t ab l i s h s u ch

k n o wl ed g e as t h e s i n e q u a n o n o f an effect iv e co n s en t

.

Ol evi k , 3 0 2 Ga. at 2 5 1 -5 2 (3 ) (b ).

Cri t i cal t o t h e m at t er b efo re u s

, t he Su p rem e Co u rt al so n ot ed t h at “ t he rel ev an t

fact ors [u s ed ] t o d et erm i n e t h e v o l u nt ari n es s to co n s en t t o s earch

, are [t h e s am e

fact ors ] u s e d i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er an i n cri m i n at i n g act o r s t at em en t was

v o l u n t ary .” Id

. at 2 5 2 (3 ) (b ). Th u s

, ev en t ho u g h t h e t ri al co urt in O l evi k h ad an al y zed

t h e su s p ect ’ s al l eg ed co n s en t t o a b rea t h t e s t u n der a Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

v o l u n t a r i n e s s o f co n s en t t o s earch s t an d ard

, t h e sam e fact o rs w ere t o b e ap p l i ed in

d et erm i n i n g w h et h er an in cri m i n at i n g act was m ad e v o l u nt ari l y

. Id

. T h u s

, i n t h i s cas e,

al t h o u g h t he p res en tat i o n o f ev i d en c e b y th e St at e an d Oh (an d th e t ri al co urt ’ s

15co n si d erat io n o f i t ) was m ad e u n d er t h e Fo u rt h A m en d m en t ru b ri c an n ou n ced b y t h e

Su p rem e Co urt i n W

i l li a m s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 81 7 (7 71 SE2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ), we are n ot

p recl u d ed fro m rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o ns as t o t h e v ol u n t ari n es s o f

O h ’s a ct o f s u b m i t ti n g t o t h e b reat h t es t becau s e t h e tri al co u rt wo u l d h av e ap p l i e d

t h e s am e fact o rs i n i t s an al y s i s h ad i t b een aware t h at ch al l en ges t o t h e b reat h t es t are

p ro p erl y co n s i d ered u n d er Ol evi k rat h er t h an W il l ia ms

.

W e t u rn

, th en

, to a d e n o v o rev i ew o f th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at Oh ’ s

act o f s ub m i t t i n g t o t h e b reat h t es t w as v o lu n t ary

. Dep o l

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 19 2

. In t h i s

cas e, Oh s u g g es t s h e was co n fu s ed b y t h e lan g u ag e o f t h e i m p l i ed co n s en t warn i n g,

n o t i n g t h at h e as k ed t h e o ffi cer to read i t m ul t i p l e t i m es

. He al s o n o t ed t h at t he o ffi cer

b ecam e fru s t rat ed wi t h h i m an d t h at t h e o ffi cer “ em

p h at ical l y an d s t ern l y t o l d [Oh ]

t h at h e was s t al l i n g.” Oh arg u es t h at t h e o ffi cer’ s s t at em en ts p res s u red hi m t o s u p p l y

a y es o r n o an s wer t o t h e o ffi cer’ s q u es t io n as t o wh et her h e wo u l d co n sen t to t es t i n g.

Oh co n t en d s t h at h i s q u es t i o ns an d fai l u re t o p ro v i d e a d i rect res po n s e s ho u l d h av e

b een co n s t ru ed as a refu s al t o co n s en t

. Oh al s o arg u es t h at t h e p res en ce o f a b ack u p

o ffi cer i n t i m i d at ed h i m d u ri n g t h e t i m e h e wa s d et erm i ni n g h o w t o res p o n d t o t h e

co n sen t warn i n g.

16Un d e r t h e f a ct o rs s et fo rt h i n O l evi k

, we d i s ag ree wi th Oh t h at t h e fact s

s u rro u n d i n g h is res po n s e t o t h e co n s en t warn i n g i nd i cat e h i s co n s en t t o t es t i n g was

n o t v ol u n t ari l y g i v en

. O h w a s 2 4 y ears o ld wh en t h i s i n ci d en t o ccu rred

, an d t h e

o ffi cer o b s erv ed th at

, i n l i g h t o f t h e r o ad s i d e co n v ers at i o n h e h ad wi t h Oh t h at

ev en in g

, Oh ap p eared t o b e a p ers o n o f at l eas t av erag e in t el l i gen ce. Th e traffi c s t o p

l as t ed ju s t u n der 4 0 m i n u t es

, wh i ch i n li g ht o f t h e n u m b er o f t as k s p erfo rm ed b y t h e

o ffi cer, d id n o t ap p ear t o b e u nreas on ab l e o r n eed l es s l y ex t en d ed at an y p o i nt

. Oh was

n e v e r p h y s i cal l y p u n i s h ed o r t h reat en ed wi t h v i o l en ce, an d we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o bs erv at i o n t h at n o t h i n g i n t h e reco rd , i n cl u d in g o ur rev i ew o f t h e d as h cam

v i d eo o f t h e st o p

, s u p p o r t s a n i nferen ce t h at Oh s u ffered an y s o rt o f n eg at i v e

p s y c h o l o g i c a l i m

p act as a co n s eq u en ce o f t h e DUI s t o p an d t h e o ffi cer’ s o n -s i t e

i n v es t i g at i o n

, in cl u d in g an y i n fl u en ce t h e p res en ce o f b ack u p offi cers m ay h av e h ad

o n h i s d eci s i o n -m ak i n g

.

M o reo v er, des pi t e Oh ’ s arg u m en t t o t he co n t rary

, t h e o ffi cer m ad e n o effo rt to

d ecei v e O h i n t o co n s en t i n g to t h e t es t an d

, i n fact

, wen t t o so m e l en g t h t o cl ari fy Oh ’ s

ch o ice i n t h e m at t er, i n cl u di n g read i n g t h e co ns en t warn i ng t o h i m twi ce. Th e o ffi cer

cl ari fi ed t h at t h e warn in g cal l ed fo r a “ y es o r n o” an s wer t o t h e “ wi l l y ou s u b m i t ”

q u es ti o n

. Th e v i d eo of t h e in ci d en t al s o i n d i cat es t h at t h e o f f i c e r d i d n o t rai s e h i s

17v o i ce t o O h

, rem ai ni ng cal m an d p ro fes si o n al wi t h Oh t h ro u g h o u t t hei r d i s cu s s i o n

reg ard i n g Oh ’ s res p o ns e t o t h e co n s en t warn in g

. Mo reo v er, al th o ug h Oh ’ s q u es t i on s

are co n s is t en t wi t h hi s cl ai m o n ap p eal t hat he d i d n ot in i t i al ly u n d ers t an d t h e co n s en t

warn i n g, h i s l at er co n s en t t o t es t i n g aft er t h e offi cer’ s rep eat ed read i n g o f t h e warn i n g

an d t ru th fu l an s wers t o Oh ’ s q u es ti o n s lead s u s t o reject t h i s arg u m en t

. T h e ch o i ce

b efo re Oh m ay h av e been an u n p l eas an t o n e, b u t t h e reco rd d o es n o t s u p p o rt an

i n feren ce t h at h e d i d n o t u n ders t an d wh at h e was bei n g as k ed to deci d e o r t h at h e was

p res s u red i n t o co n s en t in g t o t h e t es t

.

Th erefo re, i n l i g ht o f t h e t o t al i t y o f th e fact ors co n s i dered ab o ve, we ag ree wi th

t h e t ri al co u rt t h at Oh ’ s co n s en t to t h e b reat h t es t fo ll o wi n g th e i m p l i ed co n s en t

warn i n g was v o l u n t ari l y g i v en

. S ee S t a t e v. Co u n ci l

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p. 5 83

, 5 8 6 (8 0 7

SE2 d 5 0 4 ) (2 0 17 ) (co n s en t g iv en v o l u n t ari l y w h en

, am o n g o t h er fact o rs

, o ffi cer read

co n sen t warn i n g m

u l t i p l e ti m es

, p at ien t l y an d cal m l y an s w ered s u s pect ’ s q u es t i o n s

,

an d s u sp ect ap p eared t o un d ers t an d an d res po n d t o q u es t i o ns ). Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

err i n d en y i n g Oh ’ s m ot i o n t o s u p p res s . Acco rd i n g l y , we affi rm h is co n v ict i o n

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. El l i n g t o n

, P. J., an d Sen i o r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her b er t E.

Ph i p ps , co ncu r

.

18