FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, RA Y, P. J.

, and SELF, 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

A u gust 2, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 28 8 . THE STATE v . J ACOBS.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

Th e St at e ap peal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f K ev i n Jaco b s ’ s m o t i on t o s u p p res s

b reat h -t es t ev i d en ce o b t ai ned wh en h e was arres t ed fo r, i n t er al i a

, 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

. On ap p eal

, th e St at e arg u es t h at th e tri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y

s u p p res s ed t he breat h -t es t ev i d en ce b as ed on a fi n d i n g t h at t h e m an n er i n w h i ch t h e

arres t i n g o ffi cer read t h e i m p l i ed -co n s en t n o t i ce wo u l d l ead a reas o nab l e p ers o n to

m i s t ak en l y

b el i ev e t h at t h ey

h ad n o ri g h t t o refu s e t es ti n g

. Fo r th e reas o n s s et fo rt h

i n f r a , we rev ers e.Th e fact s rel ev an t t o th is ap p eal a r e u n d i s p u t ed

. 1 On Feb ru ary 1 8

, 2 0 1 6

, at

ap p ro x i m at el y 1 : 3 0 a.m

., a p o l i ce o ffi cer wi t h t h e DeKal b Co un t y Po l i ce Dep art m en t

wa s o n p at ro l wh en he o b s erv ed a v eh i cl e ap p ro ach a red li g h t

, d ri v e p as t t h e

“ s t o pp i ng l i n e,” an d s t o p in t h e m i d d l e o f a cro s s wal k

. Bas ed o n t h es e o b s erv at i o n s

,

t h e o ffi cer act i vat ed h i s em erg en cy l i g h t s an d i m m ed iat el y in i t i at ed a t raffi c s t o p o f

t h e v eh icl e. Th e o ffi cer fi rs t as k ed t h e d ri v er, J aco b s

, fo r h i s d ri ver’ s li cen se, an d h e

co m p l ied . W hi l e t h e o ffi cer was s peak in g wi t h J aco bs , h e ap p eared t o b e co n fu s ed

,

an d “ h e h a d s o m e s l u rred s p eech

. . . .” T h e o ffi cer t h en as k ed J aco b s i f h e h ad

co n su m ed an y al co h o l i c b ev erag es b efo re d ri v i n g

, an d Jaco b s res p o n ded t h at h e h ad

t wo al co ho l i c d ri n k s at a n earb y cl u b

.

Th e o ffi cer t h en w a l k e d b ack t o h i s car t o co nfi rm t hat J aco bs ’ s l i cen s e was

v al i d

, an d w h en h e ret u rn ed

, t h e o ffi cer “ s m el l ed a v ery st ro n g o d or of co l og n e” t h at

h e d id n o t s m el l p rev i o u sl y

. At t h i s p o i nt

, t h e o ffi cer al s o o b s erv ed an op en b o t t l e o f

l i qu o r i n t h e fro n t p as s en g er s eat o f t h e car. W h en h e q u es t i on ed Jaco b s ab o u t t h e

b o t t l e, J aco b s res p o nd ed t hat h e h ad b een “ d ri n k i n g

. . . w i t h [h i s ] bo y s .” T h e o ffi cer

1 In i t s ap pel l at e bri ef, t h e St at e ad o pt s t he t ri al co u rt ’ s reci t at i o n o f t h e fact s

as s et fo rt h i n i t s o rd er g ran t i n g J a c o b s ’ s m o t i o n t o su p p res s

, an d i n h i s res p o n s e

b ri ef, J aco b s ad o p t s t h e St at e’ s reci tat i o n o f t h e f act s an d p ro ced u ral h is t o ry o f t h e

cas e. Th es e u nd i s p u t ed fact s are co n si s t en t wi t h t h e ev i d en ce pres en t ed at t h e

s u p p res s i o n h eari ng

.

2t h en as k ed i f J aco bs wo u l d s u b m i t t o an y fi el d -s o b ri et y t es ts

, b u t h e refu sed t o d o s o.

Bas ed o n h i s ex p eri en ce, t rai n i n g

, an d ob s erv at io ns of J ac o b s

, t h e offi cer b el i ev ed

t h at J aco b s “ was n ’ t ab l e t o d ri v e s afel y .” Th e o ffi cer t h e n as k ed J aco b s t o ex i t t h e

v eh icl e, an d wh en h e d i d s o

, th e o ffi cer o b serv ed J aco b s sway in g l i k e h e was t ry i n g

t o cat ch h i s b al an ce. Th ereaft er, t h e o ffi cer t o o k J aco b s i n t o cu s t od y , p l aced h i m i n

t h e b ack s eat o f t h e p at ro l car, an d read h i m t h e i m p l i ed -co n s en t n o t ice fo r ag es 2 1 an d

o l d er. Th e offi cer as k ed Jaco b s t o “ d es i g n at e” wh et h er h e wan t ed t o s ub m i t t o a St at ead m i n is t e r e d t e s t o f hi s b l o o d

, b reat h, u ri n e, or o t h er b od i l y s ub s t an ce fo r t h e

p u rp os es o f d et erm i n i n g wh et h er h e was u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l o r d ru g s

, an d

J aco b s ag reed t o t ak e a b reat h t es t

.

Su b s eq uen t l y

, J aco b s was ch arg e d

, v ia accu s at i o n

, wi t h d ri v i n g u n d er t h e

i n fl u en ce p er s e, d ri v i n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce l es s safe, im p r o p e r p a rk i ng

, an d o p en

co n tai n er. J aco b s fi l ed a m o t i on t o s u p p res s t h e res u l t s o f h i s b reat h t es t

, arg u i n g t h at

h i s co n s en t t o t h e t es t was o b t ai n ed b y co erci o n

. Fo l l owi n g a h eari n g on t h e m o t i o n,

t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed i t . Th i s ap p eal b y t h e St at e fo l l o ws

. 2

2 S ee OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a) (4 ) (au t h o ri zi n g t he St at e t o ap p eal “ [f] ro m an o rd er,

de c isio n

, o r ju d g m en t s up p res s i n g o r ex cl u d i n g ev id en ce il l eg al l y s ei zed o r ex c luding

t h e res u l t s o f an y

t es t fo r al co h o l o r d ru gs ”).

3In rev i ewi n g t h e d en i al o f a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, an ap p el l at e co u rt g e n e r a l l y

m u st “ (1 ) accep t a t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s un l es s th ey are cl earl y erro n eo u s

, (2 ) co n s t ru e

t h e ev i d en t i ary reco rd i n th e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he fact u al fi n d i n g s an d ju d g m en t

o f t he t ri al co u rt

, an d (3 ) l i m i t i t s co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e 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 t ri al co u rt .” 3 Bu t we rev iew d e n o v o “ t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

ap p li cat io n o f l aw t o t h e u nd i s p u t ed fact s.” 4 Th u s, wh en

, as here, t h e fact s are

u n d i s p u t ed

, 5 we o we no d eferen ce t o the tr ial co urt ’ s l eg al co n cl u s i o n s. 6 Beari n g t h es 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 St at e’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m o f erro r.

In i t s so le en u m erat i o n o f erro r, t h e St at e a r g u e s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred in

s u p p res s i n g t h e res u l t s o f J aco b s ’s breat h tes t b as ed o n i t s fi nd i ng s t h at t h e o ffi cer

fai l ed t o d es i g n at e t h e sp eci fi c t es t fo r wh i ch h e was req u es t i ng co n s en t an d t h at t h e

3 Ar men t ro u t v. S t a t e

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 0

, 37 1 -7 2 (7 7 2 SE2 d 8 1 7 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(fo o t no t es o m i t t ed ).

4 Id

. at 3 7 2 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

5 S ee s u p r a n o t e 1

.

6 S ee Hu g h es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 4 4, 7 5 0 (2 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ A l t h o u g h

we o we su b st an t i al d eferen ce t o t h e way i n wh i ch t h e t r i al co u rt res o l v ed d i s p u t ed

q u es ti o n s o f m at eri al fact [n o t reco rd ed o n a v i deo t ap e]

, we o we no d eferen ce at al l

t o t h e t ri al co u rt wi t h res p ect t o q u es t i o n s o f l aw, an d i n s tead

, we m u s t ap p l y t h e l aw

o u rs el v es t o t h e m at eri al fact s.”); S t a t e v. Y ou n g

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 6

, 3 0 7 (7 9 3 SE2 d

1 8 6 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (s am e).

4way in w h i ch t he o ffi cer read t he i m p l ied -co n s en t n o t i ce t o J aco b s i m p ro p erl y as k ed

h i m t o ch o os e on e o f t he av ai l ab l e ch em i cal t es t s i n s tead o f as k in g h i m w h et h er h e

wo u l d co n s en t t o a t es t i n t h e fi rs t p lace. W e ag ree.

Here, i t i s u n di s pu t ed t h at b efo re a b reat h tes t was ad m in is t ered t o J aco b s

, t h e

arres t i n g o ffi cer read G eo rg ia’ s i m p l i ed -co n sen t s t at u te fo r s u sp ect s wh o are 2 1 y ears

o l d o r o l der al m o s t v erb at i m

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, at t h e s u p p res si on h eari n g

, t h e o f f i c e r

t es t i fi ed t h at h e read t h e fo ll o wi n g n o t i ce t o J aco bs :

G e o r g i a l aw req u i res y ou t o s u b m i t t o St at e-ad m in i s t ered

ch em i cal t es t s o f y o u r b l o o d

, b reat h

, u ri n e, o r o t h er b o d il y s ub s tan ces

fo r t h e p urp o s e o f d et erm i n in g i f y o u are u n d er t h e in fl u en ce o f al co h o l

o r d ru gs

.

If y o u refu s e t h i s t es t i ng

, y o u r Geo rg i a d ri v er’ s l i cen s e o r

p ri v il eg e t o d ri v e o n t h e h i g h way s o f t h i s s t at e wi ll b e s u s p en d ed fo r a

m i n i m um p eri o d o f o ne y ear. Y o u r refu s al t o s u b m i t t o t h e req u i red

t es t i n g m ay

b e o ffered i n t o ev i d en ce ag ai n s t y o u at t ri al

.

If y o u s u b m i t t o t es t i n g an d t h e r e s ul t s i n d i cat e an al co h o l

co n cen t rat io n o f 0 .0 8 g ram s o r m ore, y o ur Geo rg ia d ri v er’ s l i cen s e o r

p ri v il eg e t o d ri v e o n th e h i g hway s o f t h i s s tat e m ay b e s u s p en d ed fo r a

m i n i m um p eri o d o f o n e y ear.

5Aft er fi rs t s u b m i t t i n g t o t h e req u i red s t at e t e s t s

, y o u are en t i t led

t o ad d i t i o n al ch em i cal t es t o f y o u r b lo o d

, breat h, u ri n e, o r ot h er b o di l y

s u b s t an ces at y o u r o wn ex p en se an d fro m q u al ifi ed pers o n n el of y o u r

o wn ch o o s i n g

.

W i l l y ou s u b m i t t o t h e St at e-ad m in i s t ered c h e m i cal t es t o f y o u r

d es i gn at ed

— d es i g n at e wh i ch o n e u n d er t h e Im p l i ed Co n s en t Law? 7

An d wh en as k ed w h i ch s p eci fi c t es t t he offi cer as k ed t o co n d u ct

, h e tes t i fi ed t h at h e

al l o wed Jaco b s t h e o pt i o n o f wh i ch t es t t o t ak e, an d J aco b s ag reed t o b reat h t es t

.

Bas ed o n t h e fo reg oi ng

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Jaco b s ’ s co n sen t was i n v al id

b ecau s e t h e way i n wh i ch th e o ffi cer read t h e q u e s t i o n at t he en d o f t h e i m p l i ed

co n sen t n o t i ce “ wo u l d t en d to l ead a reas on ab l e p ers o n t o res p o nd w it h o n e o f t h e

7 S ee OCGA § 4 0-5 -6 7 .1 (b ) (2 ). W e n o te t h at t h e l as t sen t en ce o f OCGA § 4 0

-

5 -3 7

. 1 (b ) (2 ) as k s, “ W il l y o u s ub m i t to t h e s t at e ad m i n i st ered ch em i cal tes t s o f y o u r

( des i gn a t e wh i ch t es t

s ) u n der t h e i m

p li ed co ns en t l aw? ” An d “ d es i g nat e wh i ch t es t s ”

i s i n p aren t h es i s an d un d e r l i n e d

, s u g g es t i n g t h at t h e o ffi cer read i n g th e i m p l i ed

c onsen t st at u t e s ho u l d s p eci fi cal l y d es i g n at e wh i ch tes t i s bei n g req u es ted

, rat h er t h a n

act u al l y s ay i n g “ d es i g n at e wh i ch t es t

. ” S ee OCGA § 4 0 -5 -6 7 .1 (b ) (2 ); OCGA § 4 0 -5

-

6 7 .1 (a) (p ro v i d i n g t h at “ t h e req ues t i n g l aw e nf or cem en t o ffi cer s h al l d es i g n at e wh i ch

t es t o r t es t s s hal l b e ad m i n i s t ered i n i t i al l y an d m ay su b seq u en tl y req u i re a t es t o r t es t s

o f an y s u b s t an ces n o t i n i t i al l y t es t ed ). Bu t s ee Co l l i n s v. St a t e

, 29 0 Ga. A p p

. 4 1 8,

4 1 9 -2 0 (1 ) (6 59 SE2 d 8 1 8 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (h o l d in g t h at an arres t i n g offi cer’ s fai l u re to

d es i g n at e t he p art i cu l ar St at e-ad m i n is t ered t es t fo r wh i ch h e was req u es t i n g co n s en t

d i d no t ch an g e th e s u bs t an ce o r m ean i ng of t he warn i n g i n Geo rg ia’ s i m p l i ed -co n s en t

n o t i ce). Bu t t h e o ffi cer wh o arres t ed J aco b s t es t i fi ed he read s t h e “ d es i g n at e wh i ch

t es t s ” l an g u ag e “ ev ery

s i n g l e t i m e[,] ” rat h er t h an ch o o si ng a t es t h i m s el f.

6o p t i o n s

. . . rat h er t h an ag ree t o o r refu s e al l p o ss i b l e t es t i n g

. ” Bu t i n st ead o f ci t i n g

an y l eg al au t h o ri t y to s u p p o rt su ch a co n cl u s io n

, t h e t ri al co u rt m erel y d is t i n g u i s h ed

t h e cas es rel i ed u p o n b y t h e St at e. Ul t i m at el y

, t he tri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e o ffi cer in

t h i s cas e v i ol at ed t h e i m

p l i ed -co n s en t s t at u t es i n t wo w ay s : (1 ) by fai l i n g to des i g n at e

an y p art i cu l ar t es t t o b e co n du ct ed ; an d (2 ) b y co n v ert i n g t h e fi n al q u es t i o n o f t h e

i m p l ie d c onse nt no t i ce in t o a m u l t i p l e-ch o i ce i n q u iry p ri m ari l y fo cu s ed o n wh i ch t y p e

o f t es t th e d efen d an t wo u l d p refer.

Th e St at e arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n s u p p r e s s i n g t h e b reat h -t es t

e v i d e n ce b ecau s e J aco b s ’ s co n s en t t o t ak e t he b reat h t es t was v o l u n t ary u n d e r t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. As we h av e p rev i o u s l y ex p l ai n ed

,

[t ] h e Fo u rt h Am en dm en t o f t h e Un i t ed St at es Co n s t i t u t i o n an d Art i cl e

I, Sect i o n I, Parag rap h XIII o f th e Geo rg ia Co ns t i t u ti o n b o t h p ro t ect an

i n d i vi d u al ’ s ri g h t t o b e free o f u n reas o n ab l e s earch es an d s ei zu res

, an d

ap p l y w i t h eq u al fo rce t o t h e co m pel l ed wi th d rawal o f b l o o d

, b reat h

, an d

o t h er b o d i l y

s u b s t an ces

. 8

8 Y o u n g

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 0 (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). W e n o t e th at in Bi r ch f i el d

v. No r t h Da ko t a

, 5 7 9 U.S.

_ _ _ ,

_ _ _ (V) (C) (3 ) (1 3 6 SCt 21 6 0

, 1 9 5 LE2 d 5 6 0 )

(2 0 1 6), t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f t h e Un it ed St at es recen t l y h el d t h at t h e Fo u rt h

Am en d m en t al lo ws b reat h t es t s u n d er t he s earch -i nci d en t-t o -arres t ex cep t io n t o t h e

warran t req u i rem en t

. Becau se, as ex pl ai n ed m o re fu l l y i n f r a

, J aco b s g av e act u al

co n sen t t o t h e b reat h t es t, we n eed n o t d eci d e wh et her t h e t es t was al s o p erm i t t ed as

a s earch i n ci d en t to h i s arres t

.

7An d b ecau s e a b reat h t es t i s “ a search wi t h i n t he m ean i n g of t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

,

ab s en t a warran t

, t h e St at e m u s t s h o w t h at i t f

a l l s i n t o o n e o f t h e s peci fi cal l y

es t ab l i s h ed an d wel l -d el in eat ed ex cep ti o ns t o t h e warran t req u i rem en t .” 9 Rel ev an t to

t h i s cas e, “ [c] o n s en t i s a v al i d b as is fo r a warran t l es s s earch wh ere i t is g i v en freel y

an d v ol u n t ari l y

, an d t h e St at e d o es n o t arg u e t h at an y o t her ex cep ti o n m i gh t ap p l y .” 1 0

A n d h ere, t h e o n ly q u es t i o n i n reg ard t o t h e val i d i t y o f t h e s earch i s “ wh e t h e r t h e

St at e m et i t s b u rd en o f p ro vi n g t h at [J aco b s ] act ual l y co n s en t ed freel y an d v o l u n t ari l y

u n d er t h e t ot al i t y

o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces .” 1 1

In Geo rg i a, t h e v o l u nt ari n es s o f co ns en t i s “ d et erm in ed b y t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. . . .” 1 2 M oreo v er, v o l u n t ari n es s m us t refl ect “ an ex erci s e o f free wi l l

,

9 Y o u n g , 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p . at 3 1 0 (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

1 0 Id

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

1 1 Id

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

1 2 S t a t e v

. Jo u r d

a n

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

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

(p u n c t u a t i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Jo h n s o n v. S t a te

, 2 9 7 Ga. A p p

. 84 7

, 8 4 9 (6 7 8 SE2 d

5 3 9 ) (2 00 9 ); see W

i l li a ms v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 8 1 7

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

(ex p l ai n i n g t h at a w arran t les s s earch i s p res u m ed i n v al i d an d t h e St at e h as t he b u rd en

o f p ro v i n g o t h er w i s e ) ; Y o u n g

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 0 (“ [T] h e St at e i s req u i red to

de m onstr a te a c tua l c o n s en t fo r St at e-ad m i n i s t ered t es ti n g fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f e xc e ption

t o t h e warran t req ui rem en t

. An d i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e d ef e n d a n t g av e act u al

co n sen t t o a St at e-ad m i n i st ered b reat h t es t

, th e tri al co u rt i s req u i red t o ad d res s t h e

v o l u n t ari n es s o f t he co n s en t u n d er t h e t ot al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

. ” (p u n ct u at i o n

8n o t m erel y a s u b m i s s i on t o o r acq u i es cen ce in t h e ex p res s o r i m p li ed as s e r t i o n o f

a uthor ity .” 1 3 Co n s eq u en tl y

, in m ak i ng t h i s d et erm i n at i o n

, we co ns i d er s ev eral f a c tor s,

i n cl u d i n g “ p ro lo n g ed q u es t io ni n g ; t h e u s e o f p h y s i cal p u n i s hm en t ; t he accu s ed ’ s ag e,

l ev el o f ed u cat i o n

, i nt el l i g en ce, l en gt h o f d et en t i on

, an d ad v i s em en t o f co n s t i t u t i o n al

ri gh t s; an d t h e p s y ch o l o g i cal i m p act o f th es e fact o rs o n t he accu sed .” 1 4 An d no s i n g l e

fact or i s co n t ro l l i n g

. 1 5 Fu rt h erm o re, co n s en t m ay no t b e “ co erced

, b y ex p l i ci t o r

i m p l i ci t m ean s

, b y i m

pl i ed t hreat o r co v ert fo rce.” 1 6 Si g n i fi can tl y

, Geo rg ia co u rt s

o m it t ed )).

1 3 Y o u n g

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 1 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S t at e v. Ju n g

, 3 3 7

Ga. Ap p . 7 9 9 , 8 0 2 (7 8 8 SE2 d 8 8 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

1 4 Y o u n g

, 3 39 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 1 (p u n ct u at i on o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ju ng

, 3 3 7 Ga.

Ap p

. at 8 0 2 ; s ee Dea n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 0 Ga. 7 7

, 8 0 (2 ) (a) (2 9 5 SE2 d 3 0 6 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (“ [T] h e

v o l u n t ari n es s o f a co n s en t to s earch i s d e t e r m i n e d b y l o ok i n g t o t h e t ot al i t y o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, in cl u d i n g s u ch fact o rs as t h e ag e o f t h e accu s ed

, h i s ed u cat i o n

, h i s

i n t el l i g en ce, t h e l en gt h o f d et en t i o n

, wh et her t h e accu s ed was ad v i s e d o f h i s

co n st i t u 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 ti o n in g

, t h e u s e o f p h y s i cal

p u n i s h m en t

, an d t h e p s y ch o l o g i cal i m p act o f al l t h e s e fact o rs o n th e accu s ed .”

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

1 5 See Ju n g

, 33 7 G a

. Ap p

. at 8 0 2 (p u n ct u at i on om i t t ed ); a cco r d S t a t e v. Tye

, 2 7 6 Ga. 5 5 9

, 5 6 0 (1 ) (5 8 0 SE2 d 5 2 8 ) ( 2 0 0 3 ) ; see Dea n

, 2 5 0 G a. at 8 0 (2 ) (a) (“ In

d et erm i n i n g v o l u nt ari n es s [o f co n s en t to a s earch ]

, n o s i n g l e fact or is co n t ro l l i n g .”).

1 6 Ken d r i c k v

. S t at e

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 6

, 7 69 (7 8 2 SE2 d 8 42 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cco rd S ch n eckl o t h v. Bu st amo n t e

, 4 1 2 U.S. 2 1 8

, 22 8 (II) (B)

(9 3 SCt 20 4 1

, 3 6 LEd 2 d 8 5 4 ) (1 9 7 3 ); Ket t l e v. S t a t e

, 33 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 2, 6 1 4 (1 ) (7 9 4

SE2 d 2 3 8) (2 0 1 6).

9h av e rep eat ed l y h el d th at “ [w] h i l e k n o wl ed g e o f th e r i g h t t o r efu se co n s en t i s o n e

fact or to b e t ak en i n t o a c c o u n t

, t h e g o v ern m en t n eed no t es t ab l i s h su ch k n o wl ed g e

as t h e si n e q u a n o n o f an effect i v e co n sen t .” 1 7 Rat h e r, t h e co u rt s h o u ld co n s i d er

wh et h er “ a reas o nab l e pers o n wo u l d feel free t o d ecl in e t h e o ffi cers ’ req u es t to s earch

o r o t h erwi s e t erm i n at e t h e en co u n t er.” 1 8 Las tl y

, w e n o te t h at “ [m ] ere acq ui es cen ce to

t h e au t h o ri t y

as s ert ed b y

a p o l i ce o ffi cer can n o t s u b s t it u te fo r free co n s en t .” 1 9

Tu rn i n g t o t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h is cas e, t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t hat

, aft er t h e

o ffi cer s u s p ect ed t h at Jaco b s was t oo i n t o x i cat ed t o d ri v e safel y

, h e s im p l y read t h e

i m p l i ed co n s en t n o ti ce s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 4 0 -5 -3 7 .1 (b ) (2 ) v erb at i m

, b u t i n s t ead

o f des ig n at i n g wh i ch tes t h e w as req u es t i ng

, h e as k ed J aco b s w h et h er h e w o u ld

1 7 Y o u n g

, 3 39 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 1 (p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco rd Tye , 2 7 6 Ga. at

5 6 2 (2 ); McKi b b en v. S t a te

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9

, 9 4 (7 9 6 SE2 d 4 7 8 ) ( 2 0 1 7 ); S t a t e v.

Bo wma n

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 3

, 3 17 (7 87 SE2 d 2 8 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ); Ken d ri ck

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. at

7 6 9

.

1 8 Y

o u n g

, 3 3 9 G a. A p p

. at 3 1 1 (p u n ct uat i on o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ju ng

, 3 3 7 Ga.

Ap p . at 8 0 2

.

1 9 Y o u n g

, 3 3 9 G a. A p p

. at 3 1 1 (p u n ct uat i on o m it t ed ); a cco r d Ju ng

, 3 3 7 Ga.

Ap p

. at 8 02 ; s ee Tye

, 2 76 Ga. at 5 6 0 (1 ) (n o t i n g t h at “ a s h o wi n g o f m ere acq u i es cen ce

i n an o ffi cer’ s au t h o ri t y w i l l no t d em o n s t r a te t h e accu s ed ’ s vo l u n t ary co n s en s u al

co m p l ian ce wi t h t he req u es t m ad e o f h im ”).

10ch o os e w h ich t es t t o t ak e. 2 0 Bu t t h ere w as no ev i d en c e t hat t h e o ffi cer u sed fear,

i n t i m i d at i o n

, t hreat o f p h y s i cal p u n i s h m en t

, o r a l en g t h y d et en t i on t o o b t ai n J aco b s ’ s

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

. Th ere was al s o n o ev i d en ce, an d t he t ri al co u rt d i d n o t fi n d,

t h at t h e o ffi cer u s ed p h ys i c a l fo rce o r t he t h reat o f s uch fo rce t o co erce J aco b s i n to

ag reei n g t o t h e b reat h t es t

. In fact

, t h e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o s u ch t h i n g

, an d

o t h er t h an read i ng t h e i m p l i ed -co n s en t n o t i ce, h e an d J a c o b s h a d n o fu rt h er

d i s cu s s i o n s reg ard i n g h i s co n sen t to t h e b reat h t es t. M o reo v er, t here was no ev i d en ce

t h at J aco b s ’ s ag e, i n t el l i g en ce, o r l ev el o f ed u cat i o n h in d ered h i s ab il i ty t o u nd ers t an d

t h e i m p l i ed -co n sen t n ot ice. To t h e co n t rary

, ev i d en ce s h owed t h at Jaco b s ex erci s ed

h i s ri g h t t o refu s e t o t ak e an y fi el d -s o b ri et y t es t s

, wh i ch i n d i cat es t h at h e was n o t s o

i n t o x i cat ed t h at h e co u l d n ot m ak e an i nfo rm ed deci s i o n reg ard i n g co n sen t

. Las t l y

,

t h e o ffi cer, wh o was t h e s o l e pers o n t o o b s erv e Jaco b s at t h e t i m e, t es t i fi ed t hat wh en

J aco b s co n s en ted t o t h e breat h t es t , h e “ s eem ed t o u n d ers t an d

. . . wh at [t h e o ffi cer]

was as k i ng o f h im [.] ”

2 0 At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f th e i m p l i ed -co ns en t n o t i ce, t h e o ffi cer as k ed

, “ W i l l yo u

s u b m i t t o t h e St at e-ad m i ni s tered ch em i cal t es t of y o u r d es i g n at ed

— d es i g n at e wh i ch

o n e un d er t h e Im

p li ed Co n s en t Law? ” (Em p h as i s s u p p l ied ). Th u s

, co n t rary to t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

, th e q u es t i o n ap p ears t o be as k i n g i f J aco b s wo u l d ch o o s e a tes t

, rat h er

t h an as k i n g h i m

t o an s wer a “ m

u l t ip l e[-] ch o i ce i n qu i ry .”

11Here, wi t h o u t d i s cu s s i n g t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces o r an y o f t h e fact o rs

d el i n eat ed s u

p r a (o t h er t h an J aco b s ’s k n o wl ed g e o f t he ri g h t t o refu se t es t i n g ), t h e

t ri al co urt s u p p res s ed t h e b reat h -t es t ev id en ce s o lel y b ec a u s e t he o ffi cer fai l ed to

d e s i g n at e t h e s p eci fi c t es t th at wo u l d b e ad m in i s t ered

, an d t h e l as t q u es t i o n i n t h e

i m p l i ed -co n s en t n o t i ce “ wo u l d l ead a reas o nab l e p ers o n t o b el i ev e t hat t h e p u rp o s e

o f t h e q u es t i o n i s t o ch o o s e wh i ch t es t o r t es t s wo u l d be ad m in i s t ered

, rat h er t h an to

p ro m p t a y es -o r-n o res p on s e as t o wh et h er t h e t es t wo u l d b e ad m i ni s t ered i n t h e fi rs t

p l a ce.” Bu t n ei t h er o f th o s e b as es req u i re t h e s u pp res s i o n o f t h e b reat h -t es t res u l t s

.

In d eed

, we h av e h el d t h at t h e res u l t s o f ch em i cal t es t i ng were ad m i s s ib le i n cas es in

wh i ch t h e arres t i n g o ffi cer li s t ed t h e ch em i cal t es t s av ai l ab l e, b u t d id n o t des i g n at e

wh i ch t es t wo ul d be co n d uct ed

. 2 1 In d o i n g s o

, we ex p l ai n ed t h at “ [t ] h e det erm i n at i v e

2 1 S ee Jo nes v. S t a t e

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 0

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

(affi rm i n g th e tri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f a m o ti o n t o s u p p res s b reat h -t es t res u l t s w h en t h e

o ffi cer li s t ed t h e ch em i cal t es t s av ai lab l e, req u es t ed an d o b tai n ed co n s en t t o a b l o o d

t es t

, b u t t h e d efen d an t ul t i m at el y s ub m i t ted t o a breat h t es t ); Na g a t a v. S t a t e

, 3 1 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 1 3

, 5 1 5 -1 6 (7 3 6 SE2 d 47 4 ) (2 01 3 ) (h ol d i n g t h at th e o ffi cer’ s fai l ure t o s p eci fy

t h e t es t fo r wh i ch h e was req u es t i n g co ns en t di d n o t i n v al i dat e t h e d efen d an t ’ s

co n sen t t o a b reat h t es t wh en

, as h ere, t h e o ffi cer i n fo rm ed t h e d efen d an t o f t h e

d i fferen t t e s ts av ai l ab l e, i n cl u d i n g a b reat h t es t ); Co l li n s

, 29 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 0 (1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at t h e no t i ce g iv en w a s su ffi ci en t l y accu rat e t o p erm it t h e d efen d an t to

m ak e an i n fo rm ed d eci s io n ab ou t wh et h er t o co n s en t t o ch em i cal t es t i n g wh en t h e

o ffi cer l i st ed al l o f t he t es t s av ai l ab l e an d al l o wed t h e d efen dan t to ch oo s e wh i ch tes t

t o t ak e).

12i s su e wi t h t h e i m p l i ed [-] co ns en t n o t i ce i s wh et h er t h e n ot i ce g i v en was s u b s tan t i v el y

accu rat e s o as t o p er m i t t h e d r i v er t o m ak e an in fo rm ed d eci s i o n ab ou t wh et h er to

c onsen t to t es t i n g .” 2 2 Si m i l arl y

, h ere, w e co n cl u d e t h at “ b ecau s e t he im plie d[

- ] c onse nt

warn i n g b eg in s by ad v i s i n g t he d efen d an t th at Geo rg i a law req u i res y o u t o s u b m i t to

s t at e ad m i n is t ered ch em i cal t es t s o f y o u r b lo o d

, breat h

, u ri ne o r o t h er b o d i l y

s u b s t an ces

, t h e [o ffi cer’ s ] fai l u re t o d es i g nat e th e s peci fi c t es t t o b e p erfo rm ed d i d n ot

ch an ge t he s u bs t an ce o r m ean i n g o f t h e i m pl i ed [-] co n s en t warn in g .” 2 3

M o reo v er, as t o J aco b s ’ s p o s s i b le co n fu s i on reg ard i n g wh et h er h e co u l d refu s e

t o co ns en t t o an y ch em i cal tes t in g

, we rei t erat e t h at k n owl ed g e o f t h e ri g ht t o refu s e

co n sen t is on l y o n e f

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

, an d th e St at e n eed n ot

d em o n s t rat e s uch k n o wl ed g e as an ab s o l u t e req u i rem en t t o sh o w effect i v e co n s en t

. 2 4

2 2 Jo n es

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 2 2 (p u n ct u at io n om i t t ed ); a cco r d Na g a t a

, 3 1 9 Ga.

Ap p . at 5 1 5 ; Co l l i n s , 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 0 (1 ).

2 3 Jo nes

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 2 2 (p u nct u at i o n om i t ted ); s ee Na g a t a

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p.

at 5 1 5 ( “ W e d o no t s ee h o w th e o ffi cer’ s fai l ure t o d es i g n at e t h e t es t t o b e t ak en

ch an ged th e s u b st an ce o r m ean i n g o f t h e w arn i n g i n t h e i m p l i ed co n sen t n o t i ce. [Th e

d efen d an t ] was un d er n o t ice t h a t t h e s t at e-ad m in i s t ered ch em ical t es t s wo u l d b e o f

h i s b l o o d

, b reat h

, uri ne o r ot h er b o d i l y s u b s tan ces

. Th e n o t i ce g i v en was s u ffi ci en t l y

accu rat e t o p erm it [t h e defen d an t ] to m ak e a n i n f o r m ed d eci s i o n ab o u t wh et h er to

co n sen t t o tes t i n g.” (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed )); Co l l i n s

, 2 90 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 0 (1 ) (s am e).

2 4 S ee s u p r a n o t e 1 7 & acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

.

13Fu rt h erm o re, co n s i d eri n g t h e i m p l i ed -co ns en t n o t i ce as a wh o l e an d wi t h o u t is o l at i n g

t h e fi n al q u es t i o n

, t h e n o t i ce as read t o J aco b s m ad e cl ear t h at he h ad t h e ri g h t to

refu se t es t i n g

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, aft er i n fo rm i ng J aco b s t h at G eo rg i a l aw req u i red h i m to

s u b m i t a St at e-ad m i n i s t ered ch em i cal t es t o f h i s b l o o d

, b reat h, uri n e, o r o t h er b o d i l y

s u b s t an ce, t h e o ffi cer ad v i s ed h i m o f t h e co n s eq uen ces t h at w o u l d occu r i f h e r ef u s ed

,

s u g g es t i n g t h at refu s al was an o p ti o n. T h e o f f i cer ad v i sed th at i

f Ja co b s r ef

u s ed to

co n sen t t o o ne o f th e t e s t s

, h i s d r i v er’ s l i cen se wo u l d b e s u s p en ded fo r at l eas t o n e

y ear an d t h at h i s r ef

u s a l t o s u b m i t t o th e req ui red t es t i n g co u l d b e u s ed as ev i d en ce

ag ai n s t h i m at t ri al

. Th e o ffi cer al s o ad v i s ed t h at i f Ja co b s a g r eed t o t h e t es t i n g an d

t h e res u l t s i n d i cat ed al co h o l co n s u m p t i o n o f 0 .0 8 g ram s o r m o re, h is l i cen se wo u ld

b e s u s p e n d ed fo r at l eas t a y ear. An d aft er i n fo rm i n g J aco b s o f t he v ari o u s

co n s e q u e n c e s o f h i s ch o i ce t o refu s e o r co n s en t t o t es t in g

, th e o ffi cer d i d n o t ev en

d em an d t h at J aco b s ch o o s e wh i ch t es t t o t ak e. In s t ead , h e as k ed J aco b s i f h e wo u ld

s u b m i t t o t h e St at e-ad m i n is t ered ch em i cal tes t o f h i s ch o i ce. 2 5 No twi th s t an d i n g t h at

t h e i m p l i ed -co n s en t no t i ce rep eat ed l y i n di cat ed th a t J a c o b s h ad t h e ri gh t t o refu s e

t es t i n g an d s u ffer t h e co n s eq u en ces

, t h e t ri al co urt i g n ored al l o f t h e o t h er rel ev an t

fact ors i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er co n sen t was v o l u n t ary an d i m p ro p erl y r e l i e d o n a

2 5 S ee s u p r a n o t e 2 0

.

14s i ng l e rel ev an t fact o r: i t s fi n di n g t h at t he way i n wh i ch t he i m p l i ed -co ns en t n o t i ce

was read wo u l d l ead a “ reas o n ab l e p ers o n ” to b el iev e t h at h e o r s h e di d n ot h av e t h e

ri gh t refu s e t es t in g. Bu t ev en ac c e p t i n g t he co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g i n t hat res p ect

, we m u s t

co n s i d er a ll o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g J aco b s ’ s ag reem en t t o s u b m i t t o t h e

b reat h t es t b ecau se n o s i n g l e fact o r co n t ro ls

. 2 6

In t h i s cas e, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e o ffi cer read th e i m p l i ed -co n s en t n o t i ce

v erb at i m wi t h n o fu rt h er co m m en t s

, th reat s

, o r co erci o n ; J aco bs ap p eared to

u n d ers t an d an d an s wer t h e o ffi cer’ s q u es t i o ns ap p ro pri at el y ; t h ere was n o ev i d en ce

t h at J aco b s ’ s y ou t h o r l ack o f ed u cat i o n i m p ai red h is ab i li t y t o co n s en t ; an d J aco b s

was ad vi s ed o f t h e vari o u s co n s eq u en ces o f h i s r ef us a l to co n s en t t o an y t es t i n g

. As

a res u lt

, we are p ers u ad ed t h at t h e St at e s at i s fi ed i t s b u rd en o f es tab l i s h i n g t h at

J aco b s ’ s co n s en t t o t h e b reat h t es t was v o lu n tary

. 2 7

2 6 S ee s u p r a n o t es 1 2 an d 1 5 & acco m p an y i n g t ex t

.

2 7 S ee M cKi b b en

, 3 40 Ga. A p p

. at 9 4 (affi rm i n g t h e d en i al o f a d e f en d an t ’ s

m o ti o n t o s u pp res s b l o o d -t es t r e s u l t s

, ev en th ou g h th e d efen d an t cl ai m ed t h at t h e

l an g u ag e o f th e i m

p l i ed -co n s en t n o t i ce m ad e h i m feel as t ho u gh h e had n o ch o i ce b ut

t o co n sen t wh en t h e d efen d an t an s wered affi rm at iv el y t o t h e q u e s ti o n po s ed b y t h e

i m p l i ed -co n s en t n ot i ce, h e nev er at t em p t ed t o ch an g e t h at an s wer p ri o r to t es t i n g

, h e

d i d n o t ap p ear t o b e i m

pai red to t h e ex t en t t h a t h e d i d n o t u n d ers t an d t he q u es t i o n,

h e d i d n o t o b

ject t o t h e t es t

, an d t h e o ffi cer d i d no t fo rce h i m t o t ak e i t ); Y o u n g

, 3 3 9

Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 1 -1 2 (rev ers i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u p pres s i o n o f b reat h -t es t ev i d en ce

ev en t h o u g h t he de f

e n d a n t w as i n h an d cu ffs at t h e t i m e co ns en t t o t h e t es t was

15Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

t h e b reat h -t es t ev i d en ce.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Ra y, P. J. a n d S

el f, J., co n cu r

.

req u es t ed

, t h e d efen d an t was no t i nfo rm ed th at t h e t es t was n o t m an d at o ry

, an d t h e

o ffi cer as k ed fo r her co n s en t t o b e t es ted wi t h o u t s p eci fy i n g t h at t h e t es t wo u l d b e o f

h e r b o d il y s u b s t an ces

, wh en t he ev i d en ce d i d n o t s h ow t h at t h e offi cer u sed f e a r

, i n t i m i d at i o n

, t h reat of p h y s i cal pu n i sh m en t

, a l en gt h y d et en t i o n

, or co erci o n t o o b t ai n

co n sen t ; t h e t r i a l c o u rt d i d n o t fi n d t h at h er y o u t h

, ed u cat i o n

, o r l o w i n tel l i g en ce

n eg at ed t h e v o l un tari nes s o f h er co n s en t ; an d t he i m p l ied -co n s en t n o t i ce read t o h er

accu rat el y refl ect ed G eo rg i a l a w ); Ken d r ick

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 6 9 (affi rm i n g t h e

d en ial o f th e d efen d an t ’ s m o t io n t o su p pres s b reat h -t es t res u lt s wh en

, ev en t h o u g h t h e

d efen d an t cl ai m ed t h at s h e was n o t i nfo rm ed o f h er co n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t ag ai n s t

u n reas o nab l e s earch es an d s ei zu res an d th a t b e i n g i n h an d cu ffs m ad e h er feel as

t h o u g h s h e h ad to co n s en t t o t es t i n g

, t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce th at th e o ffi cers u s ed fear,

i n t i m i d at i o n

, t h reat o f p h y s i cal p u n i s h m en t o r a l en g t h y d et en t i on t o o b tai n co n s en t ;

t h e o ffi cer an d t h e d efen d an t co n d u ct ed th em s el v es cal m l y d uri n g t he en co u nt er; an d

t h ere was n o al l eg at i o n t hat h er y o u th

, l ack o f ed u cat i o n

, or l o w i n tel l i g en ce n eg at ed

t h e v o lu n t ari n es s o f h er co n s en t ); s ee a l s o no t e 2 1 s u

p r a

.

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