SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, DOYLE, P. J.

, and REESE, J.

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

ph 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

Januar y 23, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 82 1 . DIAZ v . THE STATE.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

A ju ry fo u nd Ro b ert Di az g u i l ty o f h o m i ci d e by v eh icl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree,

d ri v i ng un d er t h e co m

b in ed i n fl u en ce (“ DUI”) o f d ru gs t o t h e ex t en t th at i t was l es s

s afe fo r h i m

t o d ri v e, an d fai lu re t o m ai n tai n a l an e. 1 He ap p eal s fro m t h e ju d g m en t

o n h i s co n v i ct i o ns

, arg ui n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t ti n g t h e res u l t s of a s t at ead m i n is t ered b l o o d tes t, hi s s tat em en t t o a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer, an d ev i d en ce t h at

1 See OCGA §§ 4 0-6 -3 9 3 (a) (“ An y p ers o n wh o

, w i t ho u t m al i ce afo ret h o u g h t

,

cau s es t h e d eat h o f an o t h er p ers o n t h ro u gh t h e v i ol at i o n o f [ O CGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 1 ]

co m m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f h o m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e i n t h e fi rs t d eg ree[.] ”); 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (4 )

(“ A p ers o n s h al l no t d ri ve o r b e i n a c t u al p h y s i cal co n t ro l o f an y m ov i ng v eh i cl e

wh i le [u ] n d er t h e co m

b i n ed i n fl u en ce o f an y

[d ru g s ] t o t he ex t en t t h at i t i s l es s s afe

fo r t h e p ers o n t o d ri v e[.] ”); 4 0-6 -4 8 (1 ) (“ A v eh i cl e s h al l b e dri v e n a s n earl y as

p ract i cab l e en t i rel y wi t h i n a s i n g l e l an e an d s h al l n o t b e m o v ed fro m s u ch l an e u n t i l

t h e d ri ver h as fi rs t as cert ai n ed t h at s u ch m o v em en t can b e m ad e wi t h s afet y [.] ”).h e was im

p ai red b y d ru g s o n d ay s ot h er t h an t h e dat e o f t h e co ll i si o n at i s s u e. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h , i n fra, we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e t ri al co u r t ’ s ru l i ng s o n t he m o t i on s

t o e x c l ud e t h e ev i den ce at i s s u e, 2 t h e reco rd rev eal s t he fo l lo wi n g fact s

. On t h e

ev en in g o f M ay 2 4

, 2 01 4

, t h e Ap p el l an t

, wh il e d ri v i ng a wh i t e To y o t a Tu n d ra p i ck u p

t ru ck

, dro v e t h ro u g h a n ei g h bo r’ s y ard an d o v er t h e n ei g h b o r ’ s m ai l b o x

. Th e

Ap p el l an t w al ked t o t h e fro n t d o o r o f t h e h o us e wh i l e carry in g t h e m ai l b o x an d t o ld

t h e n ei g h b o r t h at h e w as so rry an d was g o in g t o b u y h im a n ew m ai lb ox

. A cco rd i n g

t o t h e n ei g h b o r, t h e Ap p el lan t w a s c r yi n g an d “ ji t t ery ,” hi s ey es w ere red

, an d h e

as k ed t h e n ei g h bo r n o t t o t el l h i s (t h e Ap pel l an t ’ s ) wi fe wh at h ad h ap p en ed

. Aft er t h e

Ap p el l an t l eft , t h e n ei g h b o r cal l ed 9 1 1 an d rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t

.

At ap p ro x i m at el y 9 : 5 5 p .m

. t h e s am e ev en i n g

, a Geo rg i a St at e Pat ro l t ro o p er,

Gl en Han d

, w as d ri v i n g t o w o rk wh en h e cam e u p o n an acci d en t s cen e i n v o l v i n g a

wh i te To y o t a Tu n d ra p ick u p t ru ck an d a Hy u nd ai au to m o b i l e. He rep o r t ed t h e

acci den t t o t h e d i s p at ch er an d as k ed fo r as s i s t a n c e b y p o li ce an d em erg en cy

2 See McKi b b en v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 (7 9 6 SE2 d 4 78 ) (2 0 17 ) (“ On ap p eal

fro m a ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, we co n s t ru e t he ev i den ce m o s t f a v o r a b l y to

affi rm in g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t.”) (p u n ct uat i on an d fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

2p e r s o n n el

. Tro o p er Han d t h en wen t t o t he p i ck u p t ru ck

, w h i ch was l y i n g o n i t s

d ri v er’ s s i d e in t h e m i d d l e o f t h e ro ad

. Th e d ri v er o f t h e p i ck up t ru ck

, l at er i d en t i fi ed

as th e Ap p el l an t

, was m o an i ng an d u n ab l e t o get o ut o f t he t r u c k

. Em erg en cy

res p o n d ers arri v ed

, ex t ract ed t h e Ap p el l an t fro m t h e t ru ck

, an d p l aced h i m o n a

s t ret ch er. At t h at p o i n t

, Tro o p er Han d a sk ed th e Ap p el l an t fo r i d en ti fy i n g i n fo rm at i o n

s o h e co ul d i n fo rm t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s fam i l y ab o u t t h e co l l i s io n

. Th e A p p el lan t s ai d t h at

h e d i d no t wan t Tro o p er Han d t o co n t act h i s (t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s ) fam il y

. Acco rd i n g to

t h e o ffi cer, t h e Ap p el l an t h ad “ th i ck t o ng u e t y p e s p eech ” t h at was s l ow an d “ s l u rred ,”

b u t t h e Ap pel l an t ap p eared t o u n d ers t an d t he offi cer’ s qu es t i o ns an d was ab l e t o t el l

t h e o ffi cer h i s ad d res s an d wh ere h e h ad b een co m i n g fro m at t he ti m e o f t h e

co l l i s i o n

. Th e em erg en cy res po n d ers t h en t ran s p o rt ed t he A p p e l l a n t t o th e At l an t a

M ed i cal Cen ter fo r t reat m en t o f h i s i n ju ri es

.

W h i l e Tro o p er Han d as s i s t ed at t h e acci d en t s cen e, h e l earn ed t h at t he d ri v er

o f t h e Hy u n d ai had d i ed o f i n

j u r i e s f ro m t h e co l l i s i o n

. Fu rt h er, an ey ewi t nes s t o ld

Tro o p er Han d t hat h e had s een t h e A p p e l l an t ’ s t ru ck “ al l o ver t h e ro ad ” b efo re t h e

v eh icl es co l l i d ed h ead -o n i n t he o t h er d ri v er’ s l an e. An ot h er o ffi cer al s o n o t i fi ed

Tro o p er Han d t h at

, s h o rt l y b efo re t h e co ll is i on

, s o m eo n e h ad cal l ed 9 1 1 t o rep o rt t h at

3t h e dri v er o f a To y o t a Tu n d ra pi ck u p t ru ck h ad d ri v en t h ro u g h t h e cal l er’ s y ard

, ru n

o v er a m ai l b o x , an d ap p eared t o b e i m p ai red

.

Aft er leav i n g th e acci d en t s i t e, Tro op er Han d d ro v e t o t h e At l an t a M ed i cal

C e n t er t o co n d u ct a fu rt h er i n v es t i g at i o n o f t he co l l i s i o n

. Th e Ap pel l an t w as i n t h e

em erg en cy d ep art m en t an d had al read y recei v ed a CT scan an d m ed i cat i o n s fo r p ai n

an d n au s ea wh en Tro o p er Han d a r r i v ed

. A reg i s t ered n u rs e was al s o i n t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s ro o m

. Tro o p er Han d re-i n t ro d u ced h i m s el f an d to l d t h e Ap p el l an t t h at h e

was t h ere t o i n v es t i g at e t h e co l l i s i o n an d was g o i n g to read hi m t h e im pl i ed co n s en t

n o t i ce. Acco rd i n g t o t h e o ffi cer, t h e Ap p el l an t was al ert an d ap p eared t o u nd ers t an d

w h a t was bei n g s ai d

, an d, wh en t h e Ap p el l an t as ked ab o u t t h e ot h er d ri v e r a n d

l earn ed th at h e h ad di ed i n t h e co l l i s io n

, t h e Ap p el l an t “ t eared u p.” Th en

, b efo re t h e

o ffi cer read t h e i m

p l i ed co ns en t n o t i c e o r q u es t i o n ed t h e Ap p el l an t

, t h e Ap p el l an t

s t at ed t h at h e h ad s el f-ad m i n i s tered m et h ad o n e earl i er i n t he d ay an d t h at th ere was

p o s s i b l y s o m e o t h er “ st u ff” i n h i s s y s tem

. 3 Th e o ffi cer d i d n o t as k a n y f o l l o w-u p

q u es ti o n s ab o u t t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s s t at em en t

.

3 See Di v i s i o n 4 , i n fra.

4Tro o p er Han d read t h e Ap p el lan t t h e i m pl i ed co n s en t n o t i ce wh i l e t h e

reg i s tered n urs e was st i l l p res en t i n t h e ro o m

. 4 In ad di t i o n

, t h e offi cer as k ed t h e

Ap p el l an t t o s i g n an o ffi ci al v o l u n t ary co n s en t fo rm au t h o ri zi n g a b l o o d t es t, an d t h e

Ap p el l an t s i g n ed t h e fo rm i n t h e o ffi cer’ s p res en ce. Tro op er H an d t es t i fi ed t h at t h e

Ap p el l an t di d n o t s ay an y t hi n g o r d i sp l ay an y co n d u ct t h at i n d i cat e d t h at h e was

u n ab le t o co ns en t t o t h e b l o o d t es t o r t h at h i s co n s en t was n o t g i v en freel y an d

v o l u n t ari l y

. 5 Aft er th e Ap p el l an t s i g n ed th e co n sen t fo rm

, t h e n u rs e d rew a b l o o d

s am p l e fro m h i m

, an d t h e s am pl e was s en t t o th e Geo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es ti g at i o n ’ s

Di v is i o n o f Fo ren s i c Sci en ces (h erei n aft er, “ s t at e cri m e lab ”) t o b e t es t ed fo r al co h ol

an d d ru g s

.

Acco rd i ng t o a fo ren s i c t o x i co l o g i s t em p l o ye d b y t h e s t at e cri m e l ab

, t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s b lo od t es t res u l t s s ho we d t h at h e h ad m et h ad o ne an d Cl o n azep am

(b en zo di azep i n e) i n h i s s y ste m

. T he toxi co lo g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at Cl o n azep am i s a cen t ral

n erv o u s s y s t em d ep res s an t t h at cau s es s ed at i o n, d ro ws i n es s

, s l o w m o v em en t

, m en t al

cl o u d i n g

, a n d d i s t ract ab il i t y

, am o n g o t her t h i n g s

, an d i s p res cri b ed t o t reat an x i et y

an d i n s o m

n i a. O n t h e o t h er h an d, m et h ad o n e is a n arco t i c an al g es i c o r p ai n k i l l er t h at

4 See Di v i s i o n 1 (a), i n fra.

5 See Di v i s i o n 1 (b ), i n fra.

5i s o ft en u s ed i n th e t reat m en t o f p e o p l e wh o are ad di ct ed t o o pi o i d s an d o t h er p ai n

m ed i cat i o n s

. Th e fo ren s i c t o x i co l o g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at m et h ad o n e al s o h as s o m e cen t ral

n erv o u s s y s tem d ep res s an t effect s an d

, wh e n c o m b i n ed wi t h Cl o n azep am

, t h e

s ed at i v e effect o n a p ers o n ’ s b rai n is ex ag g erat ed

, al t h o u g h t h e p ers o n co u l d al s o

ex p eri en ce a “ eu p h o ri a” o r a “ h i g h th at i s co m p arab l e t o h ero i n ” wh en co m b i n i n g t h e

d ru g s.

An i n v es t i g at i o n an d acci d en t reco n s t ru ct i o n co n du ct ed b y l aw en fo rcem en t

o ffi cers rev eal ed t h at

, at 9 : 5 2 p .m

., t h e A p p el l an t ’ s p i ck u p t ru ck cro s s ed i n t o t h e

o p p o s i t e l an e o f t raffi c an d co l l i d ed h ead -o n wi t h t he Hy u n d ai

. Bas ed u p o n t h e res u l t s

o f t h e i n v es t i g at i o n an d th e b l oo d t es t res u l t s

, t he Ap p el l an t was arres t ed an d ch arg ed

wi t h h om i ci d e b y v eh i cl e, DUI, an d fai l ure t o m ai nt ai n a l an e.

In ad d i t i o n t o t h e ab o v e ev id en ce, t h e St at e p res en ted ev i d en ce d uri n g t h e

A ppe lla nt’ s j ury t ri al t h at t h e Ap p el l an t h ad b een recei vi n g d ai l y m et had o n e t reatm e nt

fo r o p i at e ad di ct i o n fo r s ev eral m on t h s p ri o r t o t h e co l l i s i o n at i ss u e. Th e h eal t h care

p ro v id er wh o t reat ed t h e A p p el l an t o n t he day o f t h e co l l i s i o n t es t i fi ed t h at

, at 1 0 : 0 9

a.m

. , th e Ap p el l an t i n g es t ed 4 0 m i l l i g ram s o f m et h ad o n e. Sh e al so g av e hi m t wo 4 0

-

m i l l ig ram d o s es fo r h i m t o s el f-ad m i n i s t er d u ri n g t h e n ex t t wo d ay s. Acco rd i n g t o a

p h y s i ci an em

p l o y ed b y t he m et h ad o n e cl i n i c, t h e Ap pel l an t n ev er i n fo rm ed t h e cl i n i c

6t h at h e was al so t ak in g Cl o n az ep am (b en zo d i azep i ne) th at h ad b een p res cri b ed by

an o th er p h y s ici an

.

Fu rt her, t h e p h y s i ci an wh o h ad p res cri b ed C l o n a zep am fo r t h e Ap p el l an t in

Ap ri l an d M ay 2 0 1 4 t es t i fi ed t h at he al w ay s as k s h i s p at i en t s i f t h ey are t ak i n g a n y

o t h er m ed i cat i o n s

, an d t h e Ap p el l an t n ev er t o l d h i m th at h e was u n d e r g o i n g d ai l y

m et h ad o n e t reat m en t

. Th e p h y si ci an t es t i fi ed t h at

, i f h e h ad kn o wn t h e Ap pel l an t was

t ak i n g m et had o n e d ai l y

, h e wo u l d n o t hav e g i v en hi m a ben zo d i azep i n e p res cri p t i o n.

Th e p h y s i ci an ex p l ai n ed t h at cl i n i cs t h at p ro v i d e d m et h ad o n e treat m en t ex p l i ci t l y

p ro h ib i t ed t h ei r p at ien t s fro m t ak i n g an y o t h er co n t ro l l ed s ub s tan ces wi t h a p o t en t i al

fo r ab u s e, s u ch a s b en zo d iazep in e. An o t h er reas o n h e d i d n ot p res cri b e

b en zo d i azep i n e i n s u ch s i t uat i o n s w a s b ecau se co m b in i n g a n arco t i c p ai n m ed i cat i o n,

s u ch as m et h ad on e, wi t h b en zo d i azep in e co u l d r e s u l t i n “ ad d i t i v e o r sy n erg i st i c

effect s ,” s u ch as s ed at io n, co n fu s i o n

, an d ad d i ct i o n

. In ad d it i on

, t h e p h y s i ci an

t es t i fi ed t h at h e al way s w arn s hi s p at i en t s wh o are tak i ng b en zo d i azep in e t h at t h ey

s h o u ld n ot d ri v e aft er t ak i ng t h e m ed i cat i o n b ecau s e t h ey co u l d b e i m pai red an d

, as

a res u l t

, ch arg ed wi t h DUI. In fact

, fo r t h i s reas o n

, h e s peci fi cal l y ch an g ed t h e

Ap p el l an t ’s p res cri p t i on fo r Cl o n azep am s o t hat h e was o n ly s u p p o sed t o t ak e i t at

n i g h t

.

7Fi n al l y

, t h e St at e p res en ted ev i d en ce t h at t h e Ap p el l an t h ad prev i o us l y d ri v en

h i s t ru ck wh i l e h e ap p eared t o b e u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l or dru g s

, 6 an d t h at

,

o n o n e o f t h os e o ccas i o n s

, he h i t a p ark ed car in a sh o pp i n g cen ter p ark i n g l o t

. 7 Th e

St at e al so s h o w e d t h e ju ry v id eo -reco rd i n gs o f t h e Ap p el l an t t ak en b y a fam i l y

m em b er a few h o u rs b efo re t h e co l l i s i o n i n t h i s cas e; t h e reco rd in g s ap p eared t o s h o w

t h at t h e Ap p el l an t was i m p ai red

. 8

F ol l o wi n g t h e ju ry ’ s g u i l t y v erd i ct s o n al l t h ree ch arg es

, t h e t ri al co u r t

s en t en ced t h e Ap p el l an t t o serv e 1 6 y ears i n pri s o n

. On ap peal fro m h i s co nv i ct i o n s

,

t h e Ap pel l an t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y ad m i tt ed se v eral i t em s of ev i d en ce

t h at h e cl ai m s were i l l eg a l l y o b tai n ed

, i rrel ev an t

, an d /o r u n d u l y p reju d i ci al

. He

co n ten d s t h at

, i f s u ch ev i d en ce had n o t b een ad m i tt ed

, t h e rem ai n i n g ev id en ce wo u ld

h av e b een i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct an d, as a res u l t

, h i s co n v i ct i on s

m u st b e rev ers ed . W e d i s ag ree.

On ap p eal fro m a cri m i nal co n v i ct i o n

, we v i ew t he ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct an d an ap p el l an t n o l o n g er en jo y s th e

6 See Di v i s i o n 5 (a), i n fra.

7 See Di v i s i o n 5 (b ), i n fra.

8 See Di v i s i o n 6 , i n fra.

8p res um p t i o n o f i n no cen ce. Th i s Co u rt d et erm i n es wh et h er th e ev i d en ce

i s s u ffi ci en t u nd er th e s t an d ard o f Ja cks o n v. Vi rg i n i a

, 9 a n d d oes n o t

wei g h t h e ev i d en ce o r d et erm i n e wi t n es s cred ib i l i t y

. An y c o n fl i ct s o r

i n co ns is t en ci es i n t h e ev i d en c e are fo r t h e ju ry t o res o l ve. As l o n g as

t h ere i s s o m e co m

pet en t ev i den ce, ev en t h o u g h co n t rad ict ed

, t o s up p o rt

each fact n e c e s s a r y t o m ak e o u t t h e St at e’ s cas e, we m u s t u ph o ld th e

ju ry ’ s v erd ict

. 1 0

Th e s t an d ard of Ja cks o n v. V i r g in i a

, 1 1 i s m et i f t h e ev i den ce is s uffi ci en t fo r an y

rat i o nal tri er o f fact t o fi n d t h e d efen d an t g ui l t y b ey o n d a reas o nab l e d o u b t o f t h e

cri m e ch arg ed

. 1 2

Fu rt her, wh en t h e fact s t h at are m at eri al to a d eci s i o n o n a m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

are d i sp u t ed

,

i t g en eral l y i s fo r t h e t ri al ju d g e t o res o l v e th o se di s p u t es an d d et erm in e

t h e m at eri al fact s. Th i s p ri n ci p l e i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed

, a n d o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt h as i den t i fi ed t h r e e c o ro l l ari es of t h e p ri n ci p l e, w hi ch l i m i t th e

s co p e o f rev i ew in ap peal s fro m a g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n to s u p p res s

i n wh i ch t h e tri al co u rt h as m ad e ex p res s fi n d i ng s o f d is pu t ed fact s

. An

9 4 4 3 U. S. 3 07 , 3 1 9 (III) (B) (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1 , 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

1 0 W a l ker v. S t a t e

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 37 0 (7 6 5 SE2 d 5 9 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

an d fo ot n o t e o m i tt ed ).

1 1 4 4 3 U. S. at 3 1 9 (III).

1 2 See Ba ut is t a v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 1 0 , 2 1 1 (1 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d 3 9 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

9ap p el l at e co u rt g en eral l y m u s t (1 ) accep t a t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g s un l es s

t h ey are cl earl y erro neo u s

, (2 ) co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ti ary r eco rd i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e f a c t u al fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t o f t h e t ri al

co u rt

, an d (3 ) l im i t i t s co n s i d e r a t i o n o f t he d i s p u t ed fact s t o t h o s e

ex p res s l y fo u n d b y t h e tri al co u rt

. M o reo ver, an ap p el l at e co urt m ay al s o

co n s i d er fact s t h at d efi n i t i v el y can b e as cert ai n ed ex cl u s i v el y b y

referen ce t o ev i den ce t h at is u n co nt ra d i c t e d an d p res en t s no q ues t i o n s

o f cred i b i l it y

, s u ch as fact s in d i s p u t ab l y d is cern i bl e fro m a v i d eo t ap e.

An d we rev i ew de n o v o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f l aw t o th e

u n d i s p ut ed fact s

. 1 3

Si m i l arl y

, wh en rev i ewi n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s r u l i n g o n t h e ad m i s s ib i l i t y o f an

i n cri m i nat i n g s t at em en t b y t h e d efen d an t

, w e affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at t h e

d efen d an t m ad e t h e s t a t e m en t freel y an d v o l un t ari l y u n l es s s u ch fi nd i n g i s cl earl y

erro neo u s

. 1 4 An d

, as t o th e co urt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m it o t h er ev i d en ce, w e g en eral l y

1 3 St a te v. Os t er l o h

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 8

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

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n ot es om i t t ed ). Acco rd McKi b b en

, 3 4 0 Ga. A p p

. at 8 9 ; s ee al s o

An d er s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 6 7 Ga. 11 6

, 1 1 8 -1 1 9 (2 ) (4 7 5 SE2 d 6 2 9 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ In a m o t i o n to

s u pp res s

, t h e cred i b i l it y o f t h e wi t n es s es an d t h e wei g ht t o b e acco rd ed t h e i r

t es t i m o ny res t wi th t h e t ri er of fact

, wh o i s u n d er n o o b l i gat i o n t o b el i ev e a wi t n es s

,

ev en i n t he ab s en ce o f co n t rad i ct o ry t es t i m o ny

. Th e fact fi n d er m ay accep t p art o f a

wi t n es s ’ t es t im o ny

an d reject an o th er p art [.] ”) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 4 See Bo yd v. S t a te , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . 4 5 5 , 4 5 7 (3 ) (6 9 1 SE2 d 3 2 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

10r ev i ew t h e ru l i n g t o d et erm i ne i f i t co n s ti t u t es an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. 1 5 W i t h t h e s e

g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o t h e Ap pel l an t ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Th e Ap p el l an t co n t en d s t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o s u p p res s t h e

r e s u l t s o f t h e s t at e-ad m i n i s t ered b l o o d t es t

, arg u in g t h at t h e res u l t s w ere o b t a i n e d

t h ro u g h an u n l awfu l s earch an d s ei zu re an d th at h e di d n o t k n o wi n g l y an d v o l u n t ari l y

co n sen t t o t h e t es t.

A s u s p ect ’s r i g h t u n d er t h e Fo u rt h Am en dm en t [t o t h e Un i ted

St at es C o n st i t ut i o n ] to b e free o f un reas o n ab l e s earch es an d s ei zu res

ap p l ies t o t h e co m

p el l ed w i t h d rawal of b l o o d

, an d t h e ex t ract i o n o f

b l o o d i s a s earch wi t h i n th e m ean i ng o f t h e Geo rg i a Co n st it u t i o n .[ 1 6 ] In

g en eral

, s earch es are o f t wo t y p es : th os e c o n d u ct ed wi t h a s earch

warran t or t ho s e u n d ert ak en w i t h o u t o n e, an d s earch es co nd u ct ed

o u t s i d e th e ju d i ci al p ro ces s are p er s e u n reas o n ab l e u n der th e Fo u rt h

Am en dm en t

, s ub

ject o n l y t o a few s p eci fi cal l y e s t a b l i s hed an d wel l

1 5 See Ca rt er

v. S ta te , 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p . 5 9 8

, 6 0 1

, n . 7 (6 75 SE2 d 3 2 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

1 6 See Ga. Co n s t. o f 1 9 8 3

, Art

. 1

, Sec. I, Par. XIII (“ Th e ri g h t o f t he p eo p l e to

b e s ecu re i n t h ei r p ers o n s

, h o u s es

, p ap ers

, an d effect s ag ai n s t un reas o n ab l e s earch es

an d s ei zu res s h al l n o t b e v i o lat ed [.] ”); s ee al s o W i l l ia ms v. S t a t e , 2 96 Ga. 8 1 7 , 8 1 8,

n

. 5 (7 7 1 SE2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (n o t i n g t h at t h e Su p rem e Co u rt “ h as h el d t h at Parag rap h

XIII i s ap p l i ed i n acco rd wi t h t he Fo u rt h A m en d m e n t i n t h e co n t ex t o f [t h e]

g u aran tee” ag ai ns t u n reas on ab l e s earch es an d s ei zu res ) (ci t at io n o m i tt ed ).

11d el i n eat ed ex cep t i o n s

. Th u s, a w ar r a n t l e s s s earch i s pres u m ed t o be

i n v al i d , an d t h e St at e h as t h e b u rd en o f s h o wi n g o t h erwi s e. 1 7

It i s wel l s et t led t h at “ o n e o f th e s p e c i fi cal l y es t ab l i s h ed ex cep ti o n s t o t h e

req u i rem en t s o f b o t h a w arran t an d p ro b ab l e cau s e i s a s e arch t h at i s co n d u ct ed

p u rs u an t t o co n s en t .” 1 8 An d

, “ w h en rel y i ng o n t h e co n sen t ex cep t i o n t o t h e warran t

req u i rem en t

, t h e S t a t e h as t h e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h at t h e accu s ed act ed freel y an d

v o l u n t ari l y

u n d er t h e t o tal i t y

o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

. ” 1 9

A s s h o w n ab o v e, T ro o p er Han d t es ti fi ed th at

, n o t o n l y d i d h e rea d t h e

ap p li cab l e i m

p l i ed co n s en t no t i ce 2 0 to t h e A p p e l l a n t b efo re t h e b l o o d t es t was

p erfo rm ed

, h e al s o o b t ai n ed t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s w ri t t en co n s en t t o t h e t es t

. Th e t ri al co u rt

1 7 W i l l i a ms , 2 9 6 Ga. at 8 1 9 (ci tat i o ns o m i t t ed ).

1 8 S t a t e v. S t ep hen s

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 7

, 1 6 9 (6 5 7 SE2 d 18 ) (2 00 8 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

an d fo ot n o t e o m i tt ed ).

1 9 W i l l i a ms

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 8 2 1 (ci ta t i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). N o t ab l y

, in

W i l l ia ms

, t he Su p rem e Co u rt ci t ed to ap p el l at e op i n i o n s fro m o t h er s t at es t h at “ s eem

t o i n d i cat e

. . . t h at m ere co m p li an ce wi t h s tat u t o ry i m

p l i ed co n s en t req u irem en t s d o es

n o t

, per s e, eq u at e t o act ual

, a n d t h e r e f o re vo l u n t ary

, co n s en t o n t h e p art o f t h e

s u s p ect so as t o b e an ex cep t i o n t o t h e co n s t i t u t i o n al m an d at e o f a warran t

. ” Id

. at 8 2 2

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

2 0 See OCGA § 4 0 -5 -6 7 .1 (b ) (2 ) (i m p l i ed co n sen t n o t i ce fo r su s p ect s ag e 2 1

o r o v er).

12co n du ct ed a heari ng o n t h e A p pel l an t ’ s m o t i o n t o su p pres s t he bl o o d t es t res u l t s an d

d en ied t he m o t i o n

. Th e co u rt fo u n d t h at T ro o per Han d h ad read t h e im pl i ed co n s en t

n o t i ce t o t h e Ap pel l an t ; t h at

, wh i l e t h e o ffi cer h ad p ro b ab le cau s e t o o b tai n t h e b l o o d

s am p l e, t h e Ap p el l an t was n o t u n d er arres t o r i n cu st o d y at t h e t i m e o f t h e t es t ; t h at

t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t h at t he Ap p el l an t was i n d i s t res s

, p ai n

, o r s h o ck or t h at h e h ad

an y “ p hy si cal i s s u es ” t hat affect ed h i s ab i l i t y t o co n s en t t o t h e b l o o d t es t ; an d t h at t h e

Ap p el l an t v o l u n t ari l y g av e wri tt en c onsen t t o t h e b l o o d t es t

. In m ak i n g t h es e fi n d i n g s

,

t h e co u rt s p eci fi cal l y fo u n d t h at t h e t es t im on y o f T ro o p er Han d an d t h e reg i s t ered

n u rs e was cred i b le, consiste nt

, an d u n co n t ro vert ed

. Becau s e t h e Ap p el l an t ch al l en g es

t h e val id i t y o f b o t h t he im p l i ed co n s en t an d h i s act u al w ri t t en co n sen t

, we ad d res s

each i s s u e i n t u rn

.

(a) Imp l ied co n s en t

. OCGA § 4 0 -5 -5 5 (a) p ro v i d es

, i n rel ev an t part

, as fo l l o w s :

[ A ]n y p ers o n wh o op erat es a m o t or v eh i cl e u p o n t h e h i g hway s o r

el s ewh ere t hro u gh o u t t h i s s t at e s h al l be d eem ed t o h av e g i v en co n sen t

,

s u b ject t o Co de Sect i on 4 0 -6 -3 92 ,[ 2 1 ] t o a ch em i cal t es t or t es ts o f h i s o r

h er b l o o d

, b reat h

, u ri n e, o r o t h er b o d i l y s ub s tan ces f o r t h e p urp o s e o f

2 1 OCGA § 40 -6 -3 92 d el i n eat es t h e p ro ced u ral req u i rem en t s fo r t h e ad m i s s i o n

at t ri al of t he res u l t s o f a s t at e-ad m i n i s t ered ch em i cal an al y s i s o f a p ers o n ’ s b o d i l y

s u b s t an ces o r t h e p ers o n ’ s refu s al t o s u b m i t t o s u c h t es t s ; i t al s o ad d res s es t h e

i n feren ces t h at m ay

b e d rawn fro m

s u ch res u l t s

.

13d et erm i ni n g t h e p res en ce o f al co ho l o r an y o t h er dru g

, i f arres t ed fo r an y

o ffen s e ari s i ng o u t o f act s al l eg ed t o h av e b een co m m i tt ed i n vi o l at i o n

o f Co d e Sect i o n 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 o r i f s u ch p ers o n i s i n vo l v ed i n a n y t r a f f i c

acci d en t res u l t in g i n s eri o u s i n ju ri es o r fat al i t i es

.

Th e A p p el lan t arg u es t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e t h at Tro o p er Han d read h i m

t h e i m pl i ed co n s en t n o ti ce b ecau s e th e o ffi cer d i d n o t reco rd i n hi s po l ice rep o rt t h at

h e h ad g i v en t h e no t i ce. Du ri n g t he m o t i o n t o s u p p res s heari n g

, h o wev er, Tro o p er

Han d tes t i fi ed t h at i t was h i s s t an d ard p r a ct i ce an d p ro ced u re t o read t h e i m p l i ed

co n sen t n o t i ce t o i n d iv i d u al s su s p ect ed o f DUI p ri o r t o o b t ai n i n g a bl o o d s am p l e. He

t es t i fi ed t h at h e read t he req u i red n o t i ce t o t h e A p p el l an t

, b u t he ack no wl ed g ed t h at

h e h ad acci d en t al l y fai l ed t o d o cu m en t i n h i s i nt ern al rep ort t o t h e s u p erv i s i n g

i n v es t i g at o r t h at h e h a d read th e n o t i ce. Tro o p er Han d fu rt h er ex pl ai n ed t h at h e

s p eci fi cal l y rem em

b ered t h e det a i l s o f t h i s cas e b ecau s e o f it s “ m ag n i t u d e” an d

b ecau s e h e h ad g ro wn u p n ear t h e co l l i s i o n si t e a n d p as s ed i t ev ery day on h i s way

t o wo rk

.

Fu rt her, t h e n u rs e w h o o b t ai n ed t h e A p p el l an t ’ s b l o o d s am p le t es ti fi ed t h at s h e

was i n t h e ro o m wi t h t he Ap p el l an t wh en t h e o ffi cer arri v ed an d t h at

, as a m at t er o f

h er s t an d ard p ract i ces an d p ro ced u res

, s h e n ev er d rew a p a t i e n t ’ s b l oo d fo r l aw

14en fo rcem en t p u rp o s es un l es s s h e h ad p ers o n al ly o b s erv ed t h e req ues t i n g o ffi cer read

t h e i m p l i ed co ns en t n o t i ce t o t h e p at i en t

.

Vi ewi n g th e ev i d en ce i n fav o r o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g, 2 2 we fi n d n o erro r in

i t s co n cl u s io n t h at Tro o per Han d read t he Ap p el l an t t h e n eces s ary i m p l i ed co n s en t

n o t i ce b efo re t h e b l oo d s am p l e was ob t ai n ed

. Mo reo v er, ev en if Tro o per Han d h ad

,

i n fa c t

, fai l ed to read t h e i m p l i ed co n s en t no t i ce, t h e A pp el l an t ’ s v o lu n t ary wri t t en

co n sen t 2 3 t o t h e b l o o d t e s t el i m i n at ed t h e n eed fo r t h e o ffi cer to read t h e n o t i ce. 2 4

Th u s, t hi s al leg ed erro r l ack s m eri t

.

2 2 See McKi b b en , 3 40 Ga. Ap p . at 8 9 -9 0

.

2 3 See Di v i s i o n 1 (b ), i n fra.

2 4 See OCGA § 4 0 -5 -6 7 .1 (d .1 ) (“ No t h i n g i n t h i s Co d e s ect io n s h al l b e d eem ed

t o p recl u d e t h e acq u i si t i on o r ad m i s s i o n o f ev i den ce o f a v io l at i o n o f Co d e Sect i o n

4 0 -6 -3 9 1 i f o bt ai n ed b y vo l u n t ary co n s en t [.] ”); M cMu l len v. St a t e

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 4,

6 9 3 -6 9 4 (3 ) (a) (7 3 0 SE2 d 1 51 ) (2 0 1 2) (ru l i n g t h at t h e 2 0 0 6 am en d m en t t o OCGA

§ 4 0 -5 -6 7 .1 ad d i n g s u b s ect i o n (d .1 ) “ el i m i n at es t h e n eed t o g i v e th e [i m p l i ed co n s en t ]

n o t i ce wh en an i n d iv id u al v o l u n t ari l y ag rees to t es t i n g.”) (p u n ct uat i o n an d fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

W e n o t e t h at t h e A p pel l an t errs i n rel y i n g o n S ta t e v. Mo r g a n

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p.

7 0 6

, 7 0 7 (6 5 8 SE2 d 2 3 7) (2 0 0 8 ), fo r h i s arg u m en t t hat “ an o ffi cer mu s t read a s u s p ect

h i s i m p li ed co n s en t ri g ht s befo re t h e s u s p ect m ay be s u b ject ed t o a st at e-ad m i n i s t ered

b l o o d t es t

, ‘ ev en t h o u g h a s us p ect m ay o t herwi s e co n s en t t o t es t i n g .’ ” (Em p h as i s in

o ri g i nal

. ) Th i s Co urt has s p eci fi cal l y n o t ed t h at Mo r g an was d eci d ed un d er t h e p ri o r

v ers i on of OCGA § 4 0 -5 -6 7 .1 t hat d i d n o t i ncl u d e s u b s ect i o n ( d

. 1 )

, an d i t h as

i m p l i ci tl y ru l ed t hat Mo rg a n n o l o n g e r c o n s t i tu t es p reced en t on t hi s i s s u e. See

McMu l len , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 3 (3 ) (a), n . 4 2

.

15(b ) Act ua l wr i t t en co n s en t

. As s h o w n ab ov e, in ad di t i o n t o read in g t h e i m p l i ed

co n sen t n o t i ce, Tro o p er Han d al s o ob t ai n ed t h e Ap pel l an t ’ s act u al wri tt en co n s en t to

t h e b lo o d t es t

. T h e A p p el l an t arg u es t h at h e d i d n o t g i v e h i s act ual co n sen t k n o wi n g l y

o r v o l u n t ari l y b ecau se, at t h e t im e h e s i g n ed th e fo rm

, h e was u n der t h e i n fl u en ce o f

p ai n m ed i cat i o n ad m i n i s tered t o h i m i n th e em erg en cy ro o m

, w as in p ai n an d i n s h o ck

fro m h i s i n ju ri es

, 2 5 an d was u p s et u p o n l earn i n g o f t h e o th er d ri v er’ s d eat h

.

As s tat ed ab ov e, th e d et erm i n at i o n o f wh et h e r t h e Ap p el l an t k no wi ng l y an d

v o l u n t ari l y g av e act u al co n s en t t o t h e b l o o d t e s t d ep en d s o n co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e

t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s tan ces p res en t ed

. 2 6

A co n sen t t o search wi l l n o rm al l y b e h el d v ol u n t ary i f t h e t o t al it y o f th e

ci rc u m s t an ces fai l s t o s h o w th at t h e o ffi cers u s ed fear, i nt i m i d at i o n

,

t h reat o f p h y s i cal p u n is h m en t

, o r l en g t h y d et en t i o n t o o b t ai n th e

co n s en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt m ay al s o co n s i d er as fact o rs i n i t s an al y s i s

p ro l on ged q u es t i o n i n g

, t h e a c c u sed ’ s ag e, l ev el o f ed u cat i o n

,

i n t el l i g en ce, an d ad v is em en t o f co n s t i t u t i o nal ri gh t s ; an d th e

p s y ch o l o g i cal i m

p act of t h es e fact o rs o n t h e accu s ed

. M o reo v er, w h i l e

2 5 Al t h ou g h t he Ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef s t at es t h at h e recei v ed “ a s eri o u s h ead i n ju ry

an d h i p i n ju ry d u ri n g th e co l l i s i on ,” t h e o n l y ev id en ce p r e se n ted reg ard i n g h i s i n ju ri es

was Tro o p er Han d ’ s h ears ay t es t i m o n y t h at u n i d en t i fi ed h o s p i t al p ers o n n el h ad t o ld

h i m t hat t h e Ap p el l an t h ad so m e t yp e o f “ h ead i nju ry ” an d an ot h er, u n s p eci fi ed

i n ju ry

.

2 6 See W i l l i a m s , 2 9 6 Ga. at 8 1 9

.

16k n o w l ed g e o f t h e ri g h t t o refu s e co n s en t is o n e fact or t o b e t ak e n i n t o

acco u n t

, t he go v ern m en t n eed n o t es t ab li sh s u ch k n o wl ed g e as th e s in e

q u a n o n o f an effect i ve co n s en t. In s t ead

, th e co u rt s ho u l d co n s i d er

w h e t h er a reas o n ab l e p ers o n wo u l d feel free t o decl i n e t h e o ffi c e r s ’

req u es t to s earch or o t h erwi s e t erm i n at e t h e en co u n ter. 2 7

In t h i s cas e, t h e u n d i s p u ted ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at t h e A p p el l an t had m et h ad o n e

a n d C l o n azep am i n h i s s y s t em at t h e t im e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

. In ad d i t i o n

, d u ri n g t h e

al m o s t t hree ho u rs b et ween t h e co l l i s i o n an d t h e A p p el l an t ’ s s i g n in g o f t h e co n s en t

fo rm

, t h e Ap p el l an t was t ran s ferred t o At l an ta M ed i cal Cen t er an d recei v ed an “ x -ray

an d /o r CT scan ” an d o th er t es t s

, as wel l as m ed i cat i o n

, i n t h e em erg en cy ro o m

. Ev en

s o

, t h e em erg en cy r o o m ’s m e d i cal reco rd s s h o w th at t h e A p p el l an t was “ o ri en t ed ”

an d “ o b ey [ed ] co m

m an d s ” wh en h e was ex am in ed at ap p ro x i m at el y 1 1 : 0 0 p .m

. an d

wh en h e was ch eck ed ag ai n fi v e, t hi rt y , an d s ix t y m in u t es l at er.

Tro o p er Han d t es t i fi ed t h at

, wh en h e sp o k e w i t h t he Ap p el lan t i n t h e

em erg en cy ro o m

, t h e Ap p el l an t was al ert an d ap peared t o u nd ers t an d wh at was g o i n g

o n ; t h e Ap p el l an t res p o n d ed ap p ro p ri at el y t o q u e s t io n s ; t h e Ap p el l an t as k ed h i m

q u es ti o n s ab ou t t h e co l l i s i on an d t h e co n di ti o n o f t h e o t h er dri v er; he (Tro o p er Han d )

2 7 S t eel e v. S t a t e

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 2

, 5 6 4 (2 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) (2 0 16 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). A cco rd Ken d r i c k v

. S t a te

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 76 6

, 7 6 9 (7 8 2

SE2 d 8 4 2) (2 0 1 6).

17t o l d t h e Ap p el l an t t h at t h e b l o o d t es t was v o l u nt ary an d d i d no t t h reat en t h e Ap p el l an t

o r p ro m i s e h i m an y t h i n g i n ex ch an g e fo r hi s wri t t en co n s en t; an d t h ere was n o t h i n g

t h at s ug g es t ed t o Tro op er Han d t h at t h e A p p el lan t w as n o t ab l e t o co n sen t o r was n ot

freel y an d v ol u n t ari l y

g i v in g h i s co n s en t t o t h e b l o o d t es t.

M o reo v er, t

he n u rs e wh o o b t ai n ed th e Ap p el l an t ’ s b l o o d sam pl e tes t ifi ed ab o ut

t h e m ed i cat i on s t h e Ap p el l an t recei v ed i n t h e em erg en cy ro o m an d t h ei r effect s o n

a p at i en t ’ s s y s t em

. Th e m ed i cal reco rd s s h owed t h at

, at 1 1: 1 7 p .m

., h e recei v ed

Zo fran fo r n au s ea an d Fen t an y l fo r p ai n

, an d t h at

, a t 1 1 : 3 5 p .m

., h e recei v ed a

co m b i nat i o n o f s ucci n y l ch o l i ne ( “ S U X ” ) a nd P r opof ol, w hic h s e da te s a nd te m

por a ri l y

p aral y zes t h e p at i en t

. Acco rd i ng t o t h e n u rs e, t h e S U X/ Pro p o fo l co m b i n at i o n was

t y p i cal l y u s ed t o rel ax a p at i en t ’ s m u s cl es in o rd e r t o rep o si ti o n a d is l o cat ed jo i n t

,

an d

, b as ed u po n t he am o u n t g i v en t o th e Ap p el l an t, t h e d ru g s’ effect s wo u ld l as t fo r

o n l y fi v e t o s ev en m i n u t es

. Th e n u rs e al so t es t i fi ed th at th e ho s pi t al o n ly g av e en o u g h

Fen tan y l t o t he Ap p el l an t to t ak e “ t h e ed g e o ff” t h e p ai n

, an d o p i n ed t h at m o s t p eo p l e

wo u l d b e “ t o t al l y lu ci d ” a few m i n u t es aft er recei v in g t h e d ru g s i n t h e am o u nt s g i v en

t o th e Ap p el l an t

. It is un d i s p u t ed t h at Tro o p er Han d o b t ai n ed t h e Ap p el l an t’ s wri t t en

c o n s e n t t o t h e b l o od t es t at 1 2 : 3 8 a.m

., o v er an h o u r aft er t h e h o s p i tal g av e t h e

Ap p el l an t t h e m ed i cat i o ns at i ss u e.

18Fi n al l y

, t h e fo ren si c t o x ico l o g i st fro m t he s t at e cri m e lab t es t i fi ed t h at o n l y t wo

d ru g s were fo u n d i n t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s b lo o d s am p le: m et h ad o n e an d Cl o n azep am

(b en zo di azep i n e). 2 8 Th u s, th e m ed icat i o n s ad m i n i st ered i n t h e em erg en cy ro o m were

n o l o n g er det e c t a b l e i n t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s b lo od at t h e t i m e t h e b l o od s am p l e was

o b t ai n ed , wh i ch was aft er h e s ig n ed t h e wri tt en co n s en t fo rm

.

Gi v en t h i s ev i d en ce, w e fi n d n o erro r in t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s io n th at

, u n d er

t h e t ot al it y o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces

, t h e Ap pel l an t freel y an d v o l u n t ari l y co ns en t ed t o t h e

b l o o d t es t

. 2 9

2 8 W e n o t e t h at a p ers on can n o t d efen d ag ai n s t a ch arg e o f ho m i ci d e b y v eh i cl e

b y dri v i n g u n d er t he in fl uen ce o f d ru g s b y s h owi n g t h at h e was pres cri b ed t h e d ru g s

at i ss u e o r i s o t h erwi s e l eg al l y en t i t l ed t o u se t h e d ru g s i f t h o s e d ru g s ren dered h i m

i n cap ab le o f d ri v i n g s afel y

. See McMu l l en

, 31 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 8 9 (1 ). Fu rt her, ev en i f

a su s p ect ap p ears t o b e v i s i b l y i n t ox i cat ed

, t h at d o es n ot au t o m at i cal ly ren d er h i s o r

h er co n s en t in v o l un t ary

. See Ja c o b s v

. S t a t e

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 3, 7 4 8 -7 4 9 (2 ) (7 9 1

SE2 d 8 4 4) (2 0 1 6).

2 9 See S t a te v. Rei d

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p. 77

, 7 8 (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 94 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (rev ers i n g t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s u p p res s i n g b l o o d t es t res ul t s aft er co ncl u d in g t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s

co n sen t t o a b l oo d t es t was free an d vo l u nt ary wh en s h e v erb al l y ag reed t o t h e b l o o d

t es t a n d s i g n ed a wri t ten co n s en t fo rm ; ev i d en ce s ho wed th at s he un d ers t o o d t h e

s i tu at i o n an d was ab l e t o co n vers e wi t h t h e o ffi cer; an d th ere was no ev i d en ce o f an y

co erci v e ci rcu m st an ces t h at ren d ered h er co n s en t i n v ol u n t ary ); cf. Os t er l o h

, 3 4 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 6 7 2 -6 74 (affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u p p res s i o n o f b l o o d t es t res ul t s wh en

e v i d e n ce s h o wed t h at t h e d efen d an t s us t ai n ed s u ch a s eri o u s h ead i n ju ry i n t h e

co l l i s i o n t h at h e h ad t o b e p l aced i n a m ed i cal l y i n d u ced co m a i n t h e i n t en s i v e care

u n i t fo r t h ree d ay s

, an d t h at

, wh i l e an o ffi cer read h i m t h e i m p l i ed co n s en t n o t i ce at

t h e s cen e o f t h e co l li s i o n

, h e was h an d cu ffed an d h el d on th e g ro u n d b y d ep u t i es

, an d

192

. T h e A p pel l an t cl ai m s t h at t h ere was n o p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s u s p ect th at h e was

d ri v i ng u n der t h e i n f

l u e n ce o f d ru g s o r al co h o l at th e t im e o f t h e co l l i s i o n an d,

b ecau s e h e was n o t un d er a r r e s t

, Tro o p er Han d was no t au t h o ri zed t o req u es t t h e

b l o o d t es t

.

“ [W ] h e re an i n d i v i du al h as b een i n v ol v ed i n a traffi c acci d en t res u l t i n g in

s eri ou s i n ju ri es o r fat al i ti es [(as i n t h e i n s t an t cas e)] a nd t h e i n v es t i g a t i n g l aw

en fo rcem en t o f

f i c e r h a s p ro b ab l e cau s e t o b el i ev e th at t h e i n d i v id u al was d ri v i n g

u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h ol o r o t h er d ru g s

, . . . t h e en s ui n g s earch i s b o t h warran t ed

an d co n s t i t u t i on al [,] ” reg ard les s i f t h e i n d i v i d u al i s u n d er arres t a t t h e t i m e t h e

i m p l i ed co n s en t n o ti ce i s g i v en u n d er OCGA § 4 0 -5 -5 5 (a). 3 0

was “ bab b l i n g

, ret ch i n g, an d y el l i ng ”); S tep h en s

, 2 89 G a. Ap p

. at 1 6 7 -1 6 8 (affi rm i n g

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s up p res s i o n o f b l o o d an d uri n e tes t res u l ts wh en ev i d en ce sh o wed t h e

fo l l o w i n g : aft er t h e d efen dan t was i n v o lv ed i n a fat al co l l i s i o n

, a s tat e t ro o p er fo u n d

h i m o n t h e g ro u n d i n a fet al p o s i t i o n

, ro ck i n g b ack an d fo rt h

, cry i n g

, an d m u m b l i n g

t o h i m s el f; at t h e ho s p it al

, wh en t h e t ro op er b eg an read i n g a wri t t en co n s en t fo rm to

t h e d efen d an t

, wh o co u l d n o t read

, t h e d efen d an t b ecam e i n co heren t an d v i o l en t an d

h ad t o b e res t rai n ed ; an d th e d efen d an t ’ s w i f e s i g n ed t h e co n s en t fo rm o n t h e

d efen d an t ’ s b eh al f, b u t t h ere was n o ev i d e n c e t h a t t h e d efen d an t u n d ers t o o d t h e

fo rm ).

3 0 Ho u gh v. S t a t e , 2 7 9 Ga. 7 1 1

, 7 1 3 (1 ) (a) (6 2 0 SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (em p h as i s

i n ori gi n al ). See OCGA § 4 0 -5 -5 5 (a) (“ [A] n y p ers o n wh o op erat es a m o t o r v eh i cl e

u p o n t h e h i g h w ay s o r el s ewh ere t h ro u g ho u t t h i s s t at e s h al l b e d eem ed t o hav e g i v en

co n sen t

, s u b

ject t o Co d e Sect i o n 40 -6 -3 9 2

, t o a ch em i cal tes t o r te s t s o f h i s o r h er

b l o o d

, b reat h

, u ri n e, o r o t h e r b o d i l y s u b s t an ces fo r t h e p urp o s e o f det erm in i n g t h e

20Th e t es t o f p ro b ab l e cau s e req u i res m erel y a p ro b a b i l i t y -- l es s t h an a

cert ai n t y bu t m o re t h an a m ere s u s p i ci o n o r p os s i b il i ty

. To au th ori ze an

arres t fo r D UI, an o ffi cer n eed o n l y h av e kn o w l ed g e o r r e a s o n a b l y

t ru s t wo rt h y i n fo rm at i o n th at t h e s u s p ect was act u al l y i n ph y s ical co nt ro l

o f a m ov i n g veh i cl e, wh i l e u nd er t h e i n fl u en ce t o a deg ree wh ich ren ders

h i m i n cap ab l e o f d ri v i n g s afel y

. 3 1

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er p ro b ab l e cau se was n ec e s s ary i n t h is cas e, gi v en t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s act u al wri tt en co n s en t t o t h e bl o o d t es t

, 3 2 t h e reco rd s h o w s t h a t

, at t h e

t i m e o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s co l l i si o n

, T ro o p er Han d h ad b een a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer

fo r ab o u t fi ft een y ears , wh i ch i n cl u d ed fo u r y ears as a m em b er o f t h e Geo rg i a St at e

Pat ro l ’ s “ Ni g h t Hawk s D UI T a s k F o r ce,” a s p eci al i zed u n it fo cu s ed o n i m p ai red

d ri v i ng

. In t h at cap aci t y

, Tro o p er Han d p art i ci p at ed i n o v er 4 0 0 t raffi c s to p s b as ed

p res en ce o f al co ho l o r an y o t h er d ru g

, i f arres t ed fo r an y o ffen s e ari s i n g o u t o f act s

al l eg ed t o h av e b een co m m i t t ed i n v io l at i o n o f Co d e Sect i o n 40 -6 -3 9 1 or i f s u ch

p ers o n i s i n v o l v ed in an y traffi c acci d en t res ul t i n g i n s eri ou s i n ju ri es o r fat al i t i es .”).

3 1 Ca s t a ned

a v. St at e

, 29 2 Ga. Ap p

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

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t es o m it t ed ).

3 2 S e e Di v is i o n 1 (b ), s u p ra; s ee al s o W i l l i a ms

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 8 21 (“ [I] t i s w e l l

s et t l ed i n t h e co n t ex t o f a DUI b l o o d d raw t h at a val i d co ns en t t o a s earch el i m i n at es

t h e n eed fo r ei t h er p ro b ab l e cau s e o r a s earch warran t

. ”) (ci tat i o n s o m i t t ed ); Os t er l o h

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 71

.

21o n s u s p i ci o n o f i m p ai red d ri v i n g an d was in v o l v ed in n u m ero u s i nv es t ig at i o n s o f

v eh icu l ar h o m i ci d e.

Du ri n g th e h eari n g on t h e m o t i o n to s u pp res s

, Tro op er Han d t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s s p eech w as “ t h i ck ” an d “ s l u rred ” aft er t h e em erg en cy p ers o n nel rem o v ed

h i m fro m t h e t r u c k an d p l aced h i m o n t he s t ret ch er. In ad d it i on

, Tro op er Han d

t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e ey ewi t n es s ’ s t at em en t t h at t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s tru ck was “ al l o v er t h e

ro ad ” b efo re i t co l l i ded h ead -o n wi t h t h e Hy u n d ai

, as wel l as t h e i n fo rm at i o n h e

recei v ed ab o u t a 9 1 1 cal l earl i er t h at ev en i n g r e p o rt i n g t hat a p o s si bl y i m p ai red

p ers o n d ri v i n g a To y o t a T u n d ra p i ck u p t ru ck d ro v e o n to so m eo n e el s e’ s p ro p ert y an d

o v er a m a i lb ox

. An d

, fi nal l y

, Tro o p er Han d t es t i fi ed ab o ut t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s

u n p ro m p t ed ad m i s s i o n t hat h e h ad s el f-ad m i n i s t ered m et h ad o n e earl i er t hat d ay an d

t h at t h ere m ig h t b e o th er d ru g s i n h i s s y s t em

.

Un d er t hes e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we co ncl u d e t h at t h e tri al co u rt w as au t h o ri zed to

fi nd t h at t h ere was s u ffi ci en t p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s up p o rt Tro o p er Han d ’ s req u es t fo r

a b l o o d t es t t o ch eck fo r al co ho l , d ru g s

, o r b o t h

. 3 3

3 3 See Ca s t a n ed

a

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 90 -3 9 1

, 3 9 3 -3 9 4 (1 ) (Th e ev i d en ce s h o wed

t h at t h e arres t i n g o ffi cer h ad si g n i fi can t ex p eri en ce i n reco g n izi n g i m p ai red d ri v ers ;

t h e d efen d an t fai l ed t o m ai n t ai n co n t ro l o v er h i s veh i cl e wh i l e d ri v i ng an d

, as a res u l t

, d ro v e o v er a cu rb an d o n t o a s i d ewal k

, k no ck ed d o wn a m ai l bo x

, h i t an o t h er v eh i cl e,

an d d ro v e o nt o an o p en fi el d ; an d

, at t h e s cen e, t h e d efen dan t was s t um b l i n g

, h i s

223

. In a rel at e d cl ai m o f erro r, t h e Ap p el lan t arg ues th at t h e co u rt erred in

ad m i t t i ng h i s b l o o d t es t res u l t s b ecau s e Tro o p er Han d d id no t read h im h i s M i r a n d a 3 4

ri gh t s p ri o r t o ad m i ni st eri n g t h e t es t

. H o wev er, i t is u n d i s p ut ed t h at t h e Ap p el l an t was

n o t i n p o l i ce cu s t o d y o r un d er arres t at th e t i m e o f t h e b l o o d t es t

, so h e was n ot

en t i t l ed t o t h e p ro t ect i on s p ro v i d ed b y Mi r an d a

. 3 5 F u r t h e r

, t h ere i s n o d u t y fo r an

o ffi cer t o i n fo rm a s u s p ect o f h i s o r her co ns t i t u ti o n al ri g h t ag ai n st u n re a s o n ab l e

s earch es b efo re o b t ai n in g a b l o o d s am p l e. 3 6 Th u s , t h ere was n o erro r.

s p ee c h w a s sl u rred

, he was co n fu s ed

, an d h e h ad d iffi cu l t y bal an ci n g. G i v en t h i s

e v i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y co n cl u d ed t h at th e o ffi cer h ad p ro b ab l e cau s e t o

arres t t h e d efen d an t fo r d ri v i n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce.).

3 4 See Mi r a n d

a v. Ar i z o n a

, 3 8 4 U. S. 4 3 6

, 4 7 8 -4 7 9 (III) (8 6 SCt 1 6 0 2

, 1 6 LE3 d

6 9 4 ) (1 9 6 6 ).

3 5 See Ja co b s

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 74 5 (1 ) (“ Law en fo rcem en t o ffi cers are req u i red

t o g i v e M

i r a n da warn in g s pri or t o q u es t i on i n g o n ly wh ere t h e s u b ject i s i n p o l i ce

cu s t o d y

, h av i n g ei t her b een fo rm al l y arres t ed o r res t rai n ed t o an ex t en t as s o ci at ed

wi t h s u ch an arres t

. W h ere o ne h as n o t b een arres t ed

, h e wi ll b e co n si d ered t o b e i n

c u s t o d y o n l y un der ci rcu m st an ces wh ere a reas o n ab l e p ers o n i n th e s am e s i t u at i o n

wo u l d p ercei v e t h at h e was d ep ri v ed o f h i s freed o m o f act i o n i n a m ean i n g fu l way .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ); s ee al s o Di vi s i o n 4 (b ), i n fra.

3 6 See Ja co b s

, 3 3 8 G a

. Ap p

. at 7 4 8 (2 ); s ee al so Ol evi k v. S ta te

, 2 0 1 7 Ga.

LEXIS 8 9 8

, * 4 0 ( 3 ) (a) (i ), n. 1 3 (_

_ _ SE2 d

_ _ _ ) (2 0 1 7 ) (Th e Su p rem e Co u rt

ex p res s l y d ecl in ed t o i m

p o s e a “ Mi r a n d a -s ty l e pro p h y l act i c ru le” t o p ro t ect a DUI

s u s p ect ’ s d u e p ro ces s ri gh t s b efo re o ffi cers ob t ai n a sam pl e o f th e s u s p ect ’ s b reat h

o r o t h er b o d i ly

s u b s t an ces .).

234

. Th e Ap p el l an t co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co urt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g

h i s s t at em en t t o T ro o p er Han d t h at h e h ad s el f-ad m i n i s t ered m et h ad o ne t h at d ay an d

t h at t h ere co u ld b e o t h er “ s t u ff” i n h i s s y s tem

.

Th e reco rd s h ows t h at t h e Ap p el l an t fi l ed a p ret ri al m ot i o n t o e x c l u d e t h e

s t at em en t , an d t he t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a Ja cks o n -Den n o 3 7 h eari n g

.

In d eci d i n g th e ad m i s si b i l i t y o f a s tat em en t d u ri n g a Ja cks o n-Den n o

h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t co n s i d er th e to t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces

.

Th e St at e h as th e b urd en t o p ro v e t h e v ol u n t ari n es s o f a co n fes s i o n b y

a p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce. Aft er t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es t h at th e

St at e h as m et i t s b u rd en o f d em o n s t rat i n g t hat a d efen d an t ’ s s t at em en t

was freel y an d v ol u n t ari l y g i v en i n co m p li an ce wi t h Ja cks o n v. Den n o

,

i t m ay p erm i t t h e s t at em en t t o co m e i n t o ev i d en ce. 3 8

Up o n rev i ew o f a tri al co urt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ad m i t a d efen d an t’ s i n cri m in at i n g s t at em en t

fo l l o w i n g a Jac k

son- D en n o h eari n g

, t h i s Co u rt wi l l n o t d i s t u rb t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fact u al

fi nd i ng s an d cred i b i l i t y

d et erm i n at i o n s u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y

erro n eo u s

. 3 9

3 7 See Ja cks o n v. D en n o

, 3 7 8 U. S. 3 6 8

, 3 9 4 -3 9 5 (IV) (8 4 SCt 1 77 4

, 1 2 LE2 d

9 0 8 ) (1 9 6 4 ).

3 8 S t eel e , 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p . at 5 6 3 (1 ) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

3 9 See i d .; acco rd Da n i el v. S t a t e

, 2 6 8 Ga. 9

, 9-1 0 (2 ) (4 8 5 SE2 d 7 3 4 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

24In t h i s cas e, t h e tri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s s t at em en t w as ad m i s s i b l e,

fi nd i ng t hat t h e Ap p el l an t was n o t i n p o li ce cu s t o dy or u n d er arres t wh en he m ad e t h e

s t at em en t an d a reas on ab l e p ers o n u n der t h e s am e ci rcu m s t an ces w o u l d n o t h av e

b el i ev ed th at h e o r s h e was i n cu s t o dy

. Fu rt h er, t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e s t at em en t was

n o t th e res u l t o f a p o l i ce i n t erro g at i o n an d t hat

, b as ed u po n t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

ab o ut t h e m ed icat i o n gi ven t o t h e Ap p el l an t an d h i s ab i l i t y t o u n d ers t an d wh at was

h ap pen i ng at t h e t im e, t h e Ap p el l an t m ad e t h e s tat em en t freel y an d v o lu nt ari l y

.

On ap p eal fro m t h at ru l i ng

, t h e Ap p el l an t arg u es t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p ro v e

(a) t h at h e m ad e th e s tat em en t freel y an d v ol u n t ari l y an d (b ) t hat h e had b een ad v i s ed

o f h i s Mi r a n d

a ri gh t s b efo re h e m ad e t he s t at em en t

.

(a) T he A ppe ll an t cl ai m s t h at h e d i d n o t m ak e th e s t at em en t v o l u n tari l y b ecau s e

h e was i n p ai n an d un d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f m ed i cat i o ns wh en h e m ad e t h e s t at em en t

.

Fo r t h e s am e reas o n s g i ven i n Di v i s i o n 1 (b ), s up ra, we fi n d n o erro r. 4 0

4 0 See Da n i el

, 2 6 8 Ga. at 9 -1 0 (2 ) (In arg u i n g t h at t h e tri al co u rt erre d i n

ad m i t t i ng an in cri m i n at i n g s t at em en t h e h ad m ad e, t he d efen d an t arg u ed t hat

, at t h e

t i m e h e m ad e t h e s t at em en t

, h e h ad bee n co n fu s ed an d hi s j u d gm en t h ad b een

i m p ai red b ecau s e t h e v i ct i m had h i t h i m t h e d ay b efo re. Th e Co u rt h el d th at

, i n ru l i n g

t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad freel y an d v o l u n t ari ly m ad e th e in cri m i n a t i n g s t at em en t

, t h e

t ri al co urt was au t h o ri zed t o b as e i t s ru l i n g s o lel y o n t h e t es t i m o n y an d cred i b i l i t y o f

t h e o ffi cer wh o t es t i fi ed at th e Ja cks o n -Den no h eari n g.); Ph i l mo re v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 Ga.

6 7

, 6 8 (2 ) (4 2 8 SE2 d 3 2 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (Th e Co u rt ru l ed t h at th e t ri al co u rt di d n o t cl earl y

err i n fi n d i n g t h at t he d efen d an t g av e a v o l u nt ary st at em en t an d m ad e a k n o wi n g an d

25( b ) Th e A p p el l an t arg u es th at t he st at em en t was n o t ad m i s s i bl e b ecau s e

Tro o p er Han d fai l ed t o read h i m h i s Mi r a n d a ri g h ts b efo re t h e s t at em en t was m ad e.

Mi r a n da warn i n g s m

u s t b e ad m i n i st ered wh en t wo fact o rs are

m et : t h e accu s ed i s i n cu s t o d y

, an d i s s u bject ed t o i n terro g at i o n o r i t s

fu n ct i o n al eq u i v al en t

. In t erro g at i on

, fo r Mi randa pur pose s, oc c ur s wh en

t h ere i s ex p res s q ues ti o n i n g an d wo rd s an d act i on s t h at o ffi cers s h o u l d

k n o w are reas o n ab l y l i k el y t o el i ci t an in cri m i nat i n g res p o n s e fro m th e

s u b ject

. 4 1

“ Th e Fi ft h Am en d m en t req u ires t h e ex cl us i o n o f an y s t at em en t m ad e b y an accu s ed

d u ri n g cu s t o d i al i n t erro g at i o n

, u n l es s h e h as b een ad v i s ed of hi s [ Mi ra n d a ] ri g h t s an d

i n v o l u n t ary wai v er o f h is Mi r a nd a ri g h t s, ev en t h o u g h t h e d efen d an t h ad u s ed crack

c o c a i n e a n d m ay hav e s t i l l b een u n d er t h e d ru g ’ s effect d u ri n g t he cu s t o d i al

i n t erv i ew, b ecau s e t h e i n t erv i ewi n g o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at t he d efen d an t d i d n o t ap p ear

t o b e u n der t h e i n fl u en ce o f d ru g s

, h ad n o d i ffi cu l t y s p e a k i n g an d res po n d i n g to

q u es ti o n s

, an d h ad no t been t h reat en ed or co erced .); cf. Mi n cey v. A ri zo n a

, 4 3 7 U. S.

3 8 5

, 3 9 6 -4 0 2 (II) ( 9 8 SCt 2 4 08

, 5 7 LE2 d 2 9 0) (1 9 7 8 ) (Th e d efen d an t, a m u rd er

s u s p ect

, was i n a h o s p it al ’ s i n t en s i v e care u n it wi t h a s eri ou s g u n sh o t wo u n d t o h i s

h i p

. He was o n m ed i cat i on

, i n t u b at ed t o as s is t i n b reat h i n g

, an d b ei n g fed

i n t rav en o u s l y ; h e w as al s o al m o s t co m at o se, in s ev ere p ai n

, co n fu s ed

, s o m e w h a t

i n co h eren t

, an d un ab l e t o s p eak

. St i l l

, aft er g i v i n g t he defen d an t Mi r an d a warn i n g s

,

an o ffi cer i n terro g at ed h i m

, wi t h t h e d efen d an t res p o n di n g i n wri t i n g

. Al t h o u g h t h e

d efen d an t rep eat ed l y as k ed t o s p eak t o a l a w ye r

, t h e i n t erro g at i o n co n t in u ed

. Th e

Co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at

, u nd er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, th e d efen d an t ’ s st at em en t s were

i n v o l u n t ary

, s o t h e s t at em en t s were i n ad m i s s i b le i n b ot h t h e St at e’ s cas e-i n-ch i ef an d

fo r i m p each m en t p u rp o s es .).

4 1 Jo h n s o n v. S t a t e

, 30 1 Ga. 7 0 7

, 7 11 (III) (8 0 4 SE2 d 3 8 ) (2 01 7 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

26ha s volunta

r ily w a ive d those r ights. [ Ho w ev er, a] d efen d an t ’ s s p o n t an eo u s

, v o l u nta r y

,

u n p ro m p t ed u t t eran ce t o a p o l ice o ffi cer i s ad m i s s i b l e ag ai n s t h im at t ri al .” 4 2

Here, t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o r t s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s t hat

, at t h e t i m e o f t h e

s t at em en t

, t h e Ap p el l an t was n o t u n d er arres t o r i n p o l i ce cu s t o d y a nd t h at t h e

s t at em en t was n o t th e res u l t of p o l i ce i n t erro g at i o n. 4 3 Th e ev i den ce al so s h o ws t h at

,

aft er the A

pp el l an t s p o nt an eo us l y m ad e t h e s t at em en t t o Tro o per Han d

, t h e o ffi cer d id

n o t at t em

p t t o el ici t an y fu rt h er i n cri m i n at i n g st at em en ts

. 4 4 Un d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t err i n fi n di n g t h at t h e s t at em en t was ad m i s s i b l e

ev en th o u g h i t was n o t p reced ed b y a Mi r a n d a warn i ng

. 4 5

4 2 Ha g g i n s v. S t a t e

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 2, 7 4 5 (2 ) (a) (6 2 7 SE2 d 44 8 ) (2 0 0 6 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo ot n o t es o m i t t ed ). See Jo h ns o n

, 3 0 1 Ga. at 7 1 1 (III) (“ [A]

s p o n tan eo u s an d u n s ol i ci t ed s t at em en t i s ad m is s i b l e wi t h o u t Mi r a n d a warn i n g s if i t

was n o t el i ci t ed b y q u es t io n i n g o r m ad e in res p o n s e to an y fo rm o f cu s t o d i al

i n t erro g at i o n .”) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

4 3 See S t eel e , 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p . at 5 6 3 (1 ).

4 4 See g en eral l y B o

yd

, 30 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 45 7 (3 ) (Du ri n g a Ja cks o n-Den n o

h eari n g co n cern i n g t he ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f an i n cri m i n at i n g co m m en t b y t h e d efen d an t

,

t h e d ep u ty wh o h eard t h e co m m en t t es ti fi ed

, an d t h e defen d an t o ffered n o ev i d en ce

t o reb u t t h e d ep ut y ’ s t es t i m o n y

. Becau se t h e tri al co u rt cl earl y fo u n d t h e d ep u t y ’ s

t es t i m o ny t o b e cred i bl e, it di d n o t err i n fi n d i n g t hat t h e d efen d an t ’ s s t at em en t was

ad m i s s i b l e as an u n s o li ci t ed co m m e n t t h at w as n o t m ad e as a res u l t o f p o l i ce

i n t erro g at i o n .).

4 5 See Jo h n so n

, 3 01 Ga. at 7 1 1 (III); Ha g g i n s , 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p . at 7 4 5 (2 ) (a).

275

. Th e Ap p el l an t co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co urt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g

ev i d en ce o f co n d u ct t h at h e co m m i t t ed p ri o r to May 2 4

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e d at e of th e co l l i s i o n

at i s s u e, arg u i n g t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i rrel e va n t, unduly pr e

j udic ial

, an d in ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er OCGA § 24 -4 -4 04

. O C G A § 2 4 -4 -4 04 (b ) p ro vi d es

, i n rel ev an t p art

, as

fo l l o w s :

Ev i d en ce o f ot h er cri m es

, wro n g s, o r act s s h al l n o t b e a d m i s s i b l e t o

p ro v e t h e c h a r act er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er t o s h o w act i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

,

b u t n o t l im i t e d t o

, p ro o f of m o t i v e, o p p o rt u n i t y

, i nt en t

, p rep arat i o n

, p l an

,

k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

. 4 6

In o rd er fo r ev i d en ce of o t h er act s t o b e ad m i s si bl e u n der t h i s pro v i si on

, t h e St at e

m u st m ak e t h e fo l l o wi n g s h o wi n g s :

(1 ) ev i d en ce o f ex t ri n s i c, o r o t h er, act s i s rel ev an t t o an i s s u e o t h er t h an

a d efen d an t’ s ch aract er

. . . [ 4 7 ] ; (2 ) t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e o f t h e o t h er act s

4 6 At t ri al

, t h e co u rt gav e a l i m i t i n g i n s t r u ct i o n b efo re each wi tn es s wh o

t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s p ri o r act s

.

4 7 See OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 1 (“ [T] h e term ‘ rel ev an t ev i d en ce’ m ean s ev i d en ce

h av in g an y

t en den cy t o m ak e t he ex i s t en ce o f an y fact t h at i s o f co ns eq u en ce t o t h e

d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e act i o n m o re p ro b ab le o r l es s p ro b ab l e t han it w o u l d b e wi t h o ut

t h e ev i d en ce.”); s ee al s o S t a t e v. Jo n es

, 29 7 G a. 1 5 6

, 1 5 9 (2 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 1 70 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ) “ ex pl i ci t l y reco g n i zes t h e rel ev an ce of o t h e r a c t s ev i d en ce

o ffered fo r a p erm i ss ib l e p urp o s e” an d i s th erefo re “ an ev id en t i ary ru le o f i n cl u s i o n

wh i ch co n t ai ns a n o n -ex h au s ti ve l i s t o f p u rp o s es o t h er th an b ad ch aract er fo r wh i ch

28ev i d en ce is n o t s ub s t an t i al l y o u t wei g h ed b y i t s u n fai r p reju di ce, i .e., th e

ev i d en ce m

us t sat is fy t h e req u i rem en t s of [OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 3 4 8 ] ; an d (3 )

t h ere is s uffi ci en t p ro o f s o t h at t h e ju ry co ul d fi nd th at t h e d efen d an t

co m m i t t ed t h e act i n q u es t i o n

. 4 9

W h i l e t h e d e t erm i n at i o n o f wh et h er ev id en ce i s u n du l y p reju d i ci al “ i s a m at t er

co m m i t t ed p ri n ci p al l y t o t h e d i s cret i o n o f t he t ri al co urt s ,” th e Su p r e m e C o u rt o f

Geo rg i a h as em

p has i zed t h at “ th e ex cl u si o n of ev i d en ce u n d er [OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 3 ]

i s an ex t rao rd i n ary

rem ed y [t h at ] s h ou l d b e u s ed o n l y s p ari n g l y .” 5 0 Ul t i m at el y

, “ [a]

t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n to ad m i t o th er act s ev i d en ce wi l l b e o v ert u rn ed o n l y wh ere t h ere

i s a cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret io n.” 5 1

o t h er act s ev i d en ce i s d eem ed rel ev an t an d m ay b e p ro p erl y o ffered i n t o ev i d en ce.”)

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

4 8 OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 3 p ro v i d es t h at “ [r] el ev an t ev i d en ce m ay b e ex cl u d ed i f i t s

p ro b at i v e v al u e i s s ub s t an t i al l y o u t wei gh ed b y t h e d an g er o f u n fai r p reju d i ce,

co n fu s i o n o f t h e i ss u es , o r m i s lead i n g t h e ju ry o r b y co n s i d erat i o n s o f u n d ue d el ay

,

was te o f t i m e, o r n eed l es s p res en t at i o n o f cu m u l at i v e ev i d en ce.”

4 9 Jo n es , 2 9 7 Ga. at 1 5 8 -1 5 9 (1 ) (ci t at i on s o m it t ed ).

5 0 Ol d s v

. S t a t e

, 29 9 Ga. 6 5

, 7 0 (2 ) (7 86 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 01 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o Ho o d v. S t a t e

, 29 9 Ga. 9 5

, 1 0 3 (4 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 4 8 )

(2 0 1 6) (“ Th e m ajo r fu n ct i o n o f [OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 ] i s t o ex cl u de m at ter o f s can t o r

cu m u l at i v e p ro bat i v e fo rce, d rag g ed i n b y t he h eel s fo r t h e s ak e o f i t s p r e ju d i ci al

effect .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

5 1 Jo n es , 2 9 7 Ga. at 1 5 9 (1 ) (ci t at io n s o m i t ted ).

29In t h i s cas e, t h e St at e o ffered ev i d en ce o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s pri o r act s to s h o w h i s

i n t en t

, h i s k no wl ed g e, an d t h e ab s en c e of m i s t ak e o r acci d en t

, i

. e., t o s h ow t h at h e

h a d i n t en t i o n al l y d ri ven wh il e k no wi ng t h at h e was i m p ai red aft er t ak i n g

m et h ad o n e. 5 2 Th e co u rt ad m i t t ed t h e ev i d en ce, ru li n g t hat i t w as rel ev an t t o t h e

p u rp os es fo r wh i ch i t w as o ffered

, th ere was a su ffi ci en t co n n ect i o n b e t ween t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s p rev i ou s co n d u ct an d t h e co n d u ct at i s s ue i n t h i s cas e, an d t h e pro b at i v e

v al u e o f t h e ev i d en ce was n o t o u t wei gh ed b y u nfai r p reju d i ce.

(a) Th e A p pel l an t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i n g

ev i d en ce t h at hi s wi fe cal l ed 9 1 1 o v er t h ree m o n t h s b efo re t h e co l li s i o n at i s s u e to

rep o rt t h at h e m i g h t b e d ri v i n g u n d er t h e i n fl uen ce.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at

, at 8 : 0 6 a.m

. o n Feb ru ary 9

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e Ap p el l an t i n g es t ed

a 5 5-m i ll i g ram d o s e o f m et h ad o n e at a m et h ad o ne cl i n ic; he al s o r e cei v ed a t ak eh o m e d o s e o f 55 m i l l i g ram s t o s el f-ad m i n i st er t h e n ex t d ay

. Lat er t h at m orn i n g

, t h e

Ap p el l an t left h i s h o m e i n h i s t ru ck

, an d hi s wi fe w a s c o n c e rn ed t h at he was t o o

5 2 See Jo n es

, 29 7 G a. at 1 6 2 (2 ) (“ Th e rel ev an cy o f ev id en ce o f a p ri o r s t at e o f

m i n d [,] an d t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f ev i d en ce o f rep et i t i v e co n d uct t o al l ow a j u ry t o d raw

l o g i cal i n fe r en ces ab o u t a d efen d an t ’ s kn o wl ed g e an d s t at e o f m i n d fro m s u ch

co n du ct [,] i s wel l -es t ab l i sh ed .”) (ci t at i on s an d fo o tn o te o m it t ed ).

W e n o te t h at t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s co u n sel affi rm at i vel y wai v ed an y o b j ect i o n to

ev i d en ce t h at t he Ap p el l an t h ad u s ed m et h ad o n e o n t h e d at es h e co m m i t t ed t h e p ri o r

act s

.

30i m

p ai red t o d ri v e s afel y

. At 1 2: 34 p .m

., t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s wi fe cal l ed 91 1 an d as k ed t h e

o p erat o r t o i s s u e a “ b e o n t h e l oo k o u t ” (“ BOLO”) al ert s o p o li ce o ffi cers wo u l d p u l l

h i m o ver i f t h ey s aw h i s t ru ck “ an d s ee wh at t h ey t h o ug h t ” ab o u t wh et her i t was s afe

fo r h i m to d ri v e. Th e A p pel l an t’ s wi fe i n i t i al l y to l d t h e op erat o r t h at t h e Ap p el l an t i s

“ s eri o u sl y s eri o u s l y m en t al l y i m p ai red ri g h t n o w. I d on ’ t k n ow i f h e’ s o n so m et h i n g.”

Ho wev er, s h e lat er t ol d t he o p e r a t o r t h at “ h e’ s o n s o m et hi n g

. He d id n ’ t s m el l l i k e

al co h o l .” 5 3 Sh e al s o t o l d th e o perat o r t h at t h e Ap p el lan t “ i s v ery v ery u n co h eren t [s i c]

.

He d oes n o t n eed to b e d ri v i n g .” Sh e sai d t h at t h e Ap p el l an t was d ri vi n g a 2 01 0 wh i t e

To y o t a Tu n d ra p i ck u p t ru ck an d t h at he had “ b u s t ed o u t” t h e b ack ri g h t t ai ll i g h t t h e

d ay befo re. In ad d it io n

, t he Ap p el l an t ’ s w i fe t o l d t h e o p erat o r t h at s he had prev i o u s l y

cal l ed 9 1 1 t o g et a BOLO al ert i s s u ed u n d er s i m il ar ci rcu m st an ces an d t h at s h e was

co n cern ed t hat th e Ap p el l an t m i g h t in ju re “ s o m e p o o r h el p les s fam i l y ” i f p o l i ce

o ffi cers d i d n o t p ul l h i m

o v er s o o n

.

Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we fi nd n o erro r in t h e tri al co urt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n

t h at th i s ev i d en ce was rel ev an t t o t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s k n o wl ed g e an d i n t en t t o d ri v e wh i l e

5 3 See g en eral l y New v

. S t a t e

, 1 7 1 G a. Ap p

. 39 2 (5 ) (3 1 9 SE2 d 5 4 2 ) (1 9 8 4 )

(“ [A] wi t n es s wh o s at i s f

a c t o ri l y sh o ws t h at h e had o p p o rt u n i t y t o o b s erv e, an d d id

o b s erv e, t h e co n d i t i o n o f an o t h er, m ay t es t i fy wh et h er th at p e rs o n was u n d er t h e

i n fl u en ce o f i nt o x i can t s an d t he ex t en t t h e r e o f

, s tat i n g t h e fact s u p o n wh i ch t h e

o p i n i o n i s b as ed .”) (ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

31u n d er th e i nfl u en ce o f m et h ad o ne, t h at t h ere was a s u ffi ci en t co n n ect i o n b et ween t h e

act s

, an d t h at t h e p ro b at i ve v al u e o f t he ev i d en ce o ut w ei g h ed i t s p reju d i ci al i m p act

. 5 4

(b ) Th e A p pel l an t arg u es t h at t he tri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret io n i n ad m i t t i n g

ev i d en ce t h at

, ap pro xi m at el y t h ree m o n t h s b efo re t he co l l i s i o n at i s s u e, h e h i t a

p ark ed car wi t h h i s t ru ck aft er h e h ad t ak en a d os e o f m et h ad o n e earl i er i n t h e d ay

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at

, at 1 0 : 5 7 a.m

. o n Feb ru ary 1 9

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e Ap p el l an t was

ad m i n is t ered a 5 0 -m i ll i g ram d o s e of m et h ad o ne at a m et h ad o n e cl i n ic. Lat er t h at d ay

,

a wo m an wal k i n g i n a s h o p pi n g cen t er s aw a w h i t e p i ck u p t ru ck m o vi n g s lo wl y an d

s werv i n g t h ro u g h th e p ark i n g l ot

, wi t h t h e d ri v er “ k i n d o f s lu m p ed o v er.” 5 5 T h e t ru ck

5 4 See Jo nes

, 29 7 Ga. at 1 6 2 -1 6 3 (2 ) (Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n

i n ad m it t i n g ev i d en ce o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s p ri o r DUI co nv i ct i o n as it was rel ev an t fo r

t h e l i m i t ed p u rp o s e of es t ab l i s h i n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s i n t en t an d kn o w l ed g e in

co m m i t t i n g t he ch arg ed cri m es o f DUI; i n ot her wo rd s

, t h e p ri o r co nv i ct i o n “ h ad a

t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex i s ten ce o f [t h e defen d an t ’ s ] gen eral i n ten t to d ri v e u n d er t h e

i n fl u en ce m o re p ro b ab l e an d wo u l d au th o ri ze a j u r y t o l o gi cal l y i nfer t h at [t h e

d efen d an t ] was v ol un t ar i l y d r i v i n g w h i l e u n d er t h e in fl uen ce.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed );

Mo n r o e v. S t a t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 3

, 3 7 5 (2 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 4 5 ) (2 0 1 7); s ee al s o Ki n g v.

S t a t e

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 3, 7 8 7 ( 7 9 2 SE2 d 41 4 ) (2 0 1 6) (Becau s e t h e d efen d an t ’ s

d efen s e t o a DUI ch arg e was t h at he h ad n o t d ri v en w h i l e i n t ox i cat ed

, b u t o n l y d ran k

aft er s t o p p i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n fi n d i n g t h at t he ev i d en ce t h at h e h ad

p rev i o u s l y d ri v en wh i le i n t ox i cat ed was ex cep t i o n al ly rel ev an t an d p ro b at iv e o f h i s

i n t en t t o d ri v e wh i l e i n t o x icat ed

, s o t h at an y p reju d i ci al i m p act di d n o t o ut wei g h i t s

p ro b at i v e v al u e.).

5 5 See McKa

y v. S t a t e

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 26

, 72 9 (2 ) (5 9 2 SE2 d 1 3 5 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (Aft er

t h e d efen d an t h i t a p e d e s t r i a n wi t h h i s t ru ck

, an ey ewi t nes s o b s erv ed t h at h e was

32h i t a co n cret e b a r r i er b efo re co l l i di n g wi th a p ark ed car. Th e d ri v er g o t o u t o f t h e

t ru ck an d ran i n t o a s t o re, t h en ran b ack t o h i s t ru ck

, go t i n

, an d d ro v e away

. Th e

e ye w i t n es s t es t i fi ed th at t h e d ri v er h ad d i ffi cu l t y as he was l eav i n g i n th e t ru ck

,

n o t i n g t h at t h e t ru ck was b u m p i n g i n t o t h i n g s an d t h at i t h i t t he p ark ed car ag ai n o n

t h e w ay ou t

. Th e ey ewi t n es s cal l e d 9 1 1 wh i l e an ot h er wi t n es s at t em p t ed to g et t h e

t ru ck ’ s l i cen se p l at e n u m b er.

A Co wet a Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s d ep u t y res p on d ed t o t h e 9 11 cal l an d, b as ed u p o n

i n fo rm at i o n o b t ai ned fro m t he ey ewi t n es s es

, was ab l e t o lo cat e t h e p i ck up tru ck at t h e

Ap p e l l a n t ’s ho m e. At t h e t i m e th e d ep u t y arri v ed

, t he Ap p el l an t was ap p l y i n g

“ b o n d o ” p u t t y o n t h e t ru ck t o rep ai r wh at ap p eared t o b e “ fres h d am ag e” t o t h e fro nt

o f t h e v eh i cl e. Th e d ep u t y as k e d t h e Ap p el l an t wh at h ad cau s ed t h e d am ag e t o t h e

t ru ck

, a n d th e Ap p el lan t s t art ed t o res p o n d

. Th e d ep u t y st o p p ed h i m

, h o wev er, an d

t o l d t h e Ap p el l an t t h at h e al read y k n ew wh at h ad h ap p en ed t o t h e t ru ck . Ob s erv i n g

t h at t h e Ap p el lan t ap p eared t o b e u nd er t h e in fl uen ce o f s om et h i n g

, t h e d ep u t y as k ed

u n a b l e t o m o v e hi s t ru ck fro m i t s p ark i ng sp ace wi t h ou t di ffi cu lt y an d t h at h e w a s

s l um p ed o v er t h e st eeri n g w h eel o f h i s t ru ck

, s m el l ed o f al co h ol

, an d was i n co h eren t

. W h en b y s t an d ers b l o ck ed h i s t ru ck t o p rev en t h i m fro m l eav in g , t h e d efen d an t fl ed

o n fo o t

. Th e Co u rt ru l ed t hat t h e ey ewi t n es s ’ t es t i m o n y ab o u t th e d efen d an t ’ s

i n t o x i cat io n was ad m i s s i b le an d t h at a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d co n cl u d e fro m t h i s

ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t was d ri v i n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l.).

33t h e Ap p el l an t w h at h e h ad t ak en

, b u t t h e Ap p el l an t d en i ed th at h e h ad u s ed an y d ru g s

o r al co h o l

. Th e d ep u t y arres t ed t h e Ap p el l an t, an d t h e Ap p el l an t p l e d g u i l t y to

s t ri k i n g an u n at t en ded v eh i cl e.

A s w i t h t he 91 1 cal l b y t h e Ap p el l an t’ s wi fe, 5 6 t h i s ev i d en ce i s rel ev an t t o

wh et h er th e Ap p el l an t i n t en t i on al l y d ro v e h i s t ru ck wh i l e u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f

m et h ad o n e. W e fi n d n o erro r i n t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g t h at t h i s ev i d en ce was

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ). 5 7

6

. Th e Ap pel l an t co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s di s cret io n i n ad m i t t i n g

fo u r v i d eo -reco rd i n g s t ak en at h i s h o m e b y h is m o t h er-i n -l aw o n t h e ev en i n g o f t h e

co l l i s i o n at i s su e. He arg u es t h at t h e reco rd i n g s were in ad m i s s i bl e un d er t h e “ b es t

ev i d en ce” ru l e 5 8 an d t h at t h e St at e fai l ed to reb u t h i s ch al l en g e t o t h e au t h en t i ci ty o f

t h e reco rd i n gs

.

5 6 See Di v i s i o n 5 (a), s u p ra.

5 7 See Jo n es

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 1 6 2 -1 6 3 (2 ); Ki n g , 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 7 8 7

.

5 8 See OCGA § § 2 4 -1 0-1 0 0 2 (“ To p ro v e t h e co nt en t s o f a wri ti n g

, reco rd i n g,

o r p ho t o g rap h

, t he o ri g in al wri t i n g

, reco rd i n g, o r p h o t o g rap h s h al l b e req ui red .”); 2 4

-

1 0 -1 00 3 (“ A d u pl i cat e s h al l b e a d m i s s i b l e t o t h e s am e ex t en t as an o ri gi n al u n l es s :

(1 ) A g en u i n e qu es t i o n i s rai s ed as t o t h e au t h en ti ci t y o f t he o ri g i n a l ; or (2 ) A

ci rcu m s t an ce ex i s t s wh ere i t wo u l d be u n fai r t o a d m i t t h e d u pl i cat e in l i eu o f t h e

o ri g i nal

. ”); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 4 -1 0 -1 0 0 1 (1 ), (3 ), (4 ) (d efi n i t i o ns ).

34Th e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at

, a t 1 0 :0 9 a.m

. o n t h e d ay o f th e co l l i s i o n

, t h e

Ap p el l an t re c e i v e d a 4 0 -m i l l i gram do s e o f m et h ad o n e; h e was al s o g i v en t wo 4 0

-

m i l l i g ram d o s es t o s el f-ad m i n i s t er du ri n g t h e n ex t t wo d ay s

. Acco rd i ng t o t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s m o t h er-i n -l aw, wh o l i v ed wi t h t h e Ap p el lan t an d hi s fam i l y

, s h e s aw t h e

Ap p el l an t t ry i n g t o b ack h i s t ru ck d own t h e d ri v eway at ap p ro x i m at el y 6 : 0 0 p .m

. t h at

ev en in g

. Th e Ap p el l an t was h av i n g d i ffi cu l t y m an eu v eri ng t h e t r u c k an d

, wh en h e

ex i t ed t h e t ru ck an d s at d o wn

, h e ap p eared to b e s i ck

. Th e m o th er-i n -l aw m ad e a s h o rt

v i d e o

- reco rd i n g o f h im wi t h h er p h o n e, 5 9 t h en cal l ed her d au g h t er (t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s

w i fe), t el l i n g h er t o co m e h o m e b ecau s e th e Ap p el l an t was s ick

. At 7 : 23 p .m

. , t h e

Ap p el l an t an d h is wi fe s t art ed arg u i n g

, 6 0 an d t h e m o t h er-i n

- l a w v i d eo -reco rd ed t h e

ex ch an g e b ecau s e s h e t h o u g ht t h e Ap p el l an t was b ei n g “ ag g res s iv e” wi t h h i s wi fe.

Sh o rt l y t hereaft er, at 8: 5 0 p

. m

., t h e Ap p el l an t an d h i s wi fe co n t i n u ed t h ei r arg u m en t

,

an d t h e Ap p el l an t st art ed y el l i n g ; t h e m o t h er-i n -l aw ag ai n v i d eo -reco rd ed t h e

i n ci d en t

. Fi n al l y

, at 8 : 5 4 p .m

., t h e m o t h e r

- i n -l aw reco rd ed t h e Ap p el lan t as h e

d i s cu s s ed t h e nex t wo rk d ay wi t h h er. Th e m ot h er-i n-l aw t es ti fi ed t h at , at t h e en d o f

5 9 Th e St at e p l ay ed al l o f t h e v i deo -reco rd i n gs fo r t he ju ry

.

6 0 Acco rd i n g t o t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s wi fe, t h ey were arg u i n g b ecau s e he wan t ed to

d ri v e h er s on t o s ee a m o v i e, an d s h e wo u l d n o t let h im b ecau s e s h e bel i ev ed h e was

i m p ai red

.

35t h ei r co n v ers at i o n

, t h e Ap p el lan t ran i n to a b o o k cas e as h e left t he ro o m

, an d s h e was

co n cern ed t h at h e was i m p ai red

. Les s t h an an h o ur l at er, t h e Ap p el lan t was i n v o l v ed

i n t he co l l i s i o n at i ss ue.

Th e tri al co u rt den i ed t he m o t i o n to ex cl u d e t h e reco rd i n g s

, ru l i n g t hat

, as l o n g

as th e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce t o p ro v i d e a fo u n d at i o n fo r th e reco rd i n g s

, t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s o bject i o n s wen t t o t h e w ei g h t

, n o t t h e ad m i s s i b i l i t y, o f t h e v i d eo

reco rd i n g s

. At t ri al

, t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s wi fe an d h i s m o t her-i n -l aw pro v i d ed t h e

fo u n dat i o n fo r ad m i t t i ng t h e reco rd i n gs wh en t h ey b o t h t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o t h er-i n

l aw reco rd ed t he v i d eo s wi t h h er p ho n e o n t h e n i g ht o f t h e co l l i s i o n, M ay 2 4

, 2 0 1 4.

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er th e Ap p el l an t rai s ed a “ b es t ev i d en ce” o b j ect i o n i n t h e

t ri al co u rt 6 1 o r w h et h er th e St at e ad eq u at el y es t ab l i s h ed t h e a u t h en t i ci ty o f t h e

reco rd i n g s

, we fi n d t h a t t h e ev i d en ce was m erel y cu m u l at iv e o f o t h er co m

p et en t

ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at th e Ap p el l an t ap p eared t o b e i m p ai red s h o rt ly b efo re t h e

6 1 See W es t v. S ta t e

, 3 00 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 3

, 5 8 5 (2 ) (6 8 5 SE2 d 4 8 6 ) (2 0 0 9) (“ Is s u es

an d o b ject io n s n o t rai s ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt an d ru l ed o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt are d eem ed

wai v ed an d can n o t b e rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal .”) (fo o t n o te o m i t ted ); s ee al s o

W a r r en v. S t a t e

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 1

, 4 8 5 (4 ) (a) (6 5 7 SE2 d 5 3 3 ) (2 0 0 8) (Aft er

ev i d en ce h as b een ad m i tt ed

, ov er o b ject i o n

, o n t h e co n d i t i o n t h at t h e St at e es t ab l i s h

a fo u n d at i o n fo r it

, th e d efen d an t ’ s fai lu re t o ren ew h i s o b ject i o n aft er t h e fo u n d at i o n

h as b een es t ab l i s h ed wai v es ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e o b ject i on .).

36co l l i s i o n

. 6 2 M o reo v er, as s h o wn ab o v e, t h ere was o v erwh el m in g ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce

t o s h o w t h at t he Ap p el l an t was i m p ai r e d b y d ru g s t o t h e ex t en t t h at i t w as l es s s afe

fo r h i m t o d ri v e o n th e n i g h t o f t he co l l i s i o n

. Co n s eq u en tl y

, we co n cl u d e t h at an y

er r o r was h arm l es s b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o ub t an d d o es n o t req u i re rev ers al o f t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s co n v i ct i on s

. 6 3

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Do yl e, P. J., co n cu r

.

6 2 Su ch ev i d en ce i n cl ud es

, i n t er al ia, a n ei g hb o r’ s t es t i m o n y t hat t h e Ap p el l an t

h ad d ri v en o n t o th e n ei g hb o r’ s p ro p ert y an d o v er h i s m ai l b o x s h o rt l y befo re t h e

co l l i s i o n an d t h at t h e Ap p el l an t was cry i n g an d “ ji t t ery ” at t h at t i m e.

6 3 See Bel ma r v. S t at e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 7 9 5

, 8 0 0 (3 ) (6 2 1 SE2 d 4 4 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ) ( E v en i f

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g cert ai n ev i den ce, “ [r] ev ers al i s n o t r e q u i red i f t h e

ev i d en ce o f gu i l t i s s o ov erwh el m i n g t h at t h ere i s no reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at t h e

v erd i ct o f t h e ju ry w o u l d h av e b een d i fferen t i n t h e ab s en ce o f t h i s erro r.”) (ci t at i o n

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); s ee al s o W i l l ia ms v. S t a t e

, 3 0 1 Ga. 8 2 9

, 8 3 2 (2 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d

3 9 8 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (Th e im

p ro p er ad m i s s i o n o f ev i den ce reg ard i ng a s ep arat e i nci d en t fro m

t h e o ffen s e at is s u e was h arm l es s wh en i t w as cu m u l at i v e o f o t h e r co m

p et en t

ev i d en ce an d th e ev id en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t c o m m i tt ed t h e cri m e ch arg ed was

o v erwh el m i ng .); B i l l i n g

s v. S t a t e , 2 9 3 Ga. 9 9 , 1 03 (3 ) (7 4 5 SE2 d 5 83 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

37