Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/6/757.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 02:04:13+00:00

Document:
Evelle J. Younger, Attorney General, Doris H. Maier, Assistant Attorney General, and Jack R. Winkler, Deputy Attorney General, for Petitioner.
Vizzard, Baker, Sullivan, McFarland & Long and Richard M. Long for Real Party in Interest.
The pertinent facts giving rise to the motion to suppress are as follows: On the evening of June 21, 1970, defendant, accompanied by his sister, was driving a pickup truck along Allen Road in Kern County. At the same time Robert Craig accompanied by his wife and children was driving his station wagon along Rosedale Highway, a through highway. (See Veh. Code, § 600.) Without stopping or slowing down at the stop sign, defendant drove his truck into the intersection and collided with the Craig vehicle. Defendant's sister was killed and Mrs. Craig was seriously injured.
Officers of the California Highway Patrol arrived upon the scene within 10 minutes. They found defendant standing near the station wagon in a dazed condition, eyes bloodshot, shirt off, back and head bloody from injuries. Officer Hernandez testified that defendant's breath smelled of alcoholic beverages and that there were three beer cans in defendant's truck, two full and one empty. Due to defendant's physical condition, he was not given a field sobriety test, but placed in an ambulance along with Mrs. Craig and sent to the Kern General Hospital for medical attention.
At the hospital defendant and Mrs. Craig were transferred to the emergency room. After completing their investigation at the scene of the [6 Cal. 3d 760] accident, the two officers also proceeded to the hospital. While defendant was lying in the emergency room awaiting treatment, Officer Apsit approached defendant and asked that he consent to a blood-alcohol test for intoxication. Defendant apparently agreed and signed a written consent. A blood sample was thereupon taken in a medically approved manner. Several hours later defendant was released from the hospital. At no time was defendant placed under arrest.
The result of the blood-alcohol test showed that defendant's blood contained 203 milligrams percent alcohol. Several weeks after the accident a complaint was filed in the Bakersfield Municipal Court charging defendant with the above-mentioned felonies. Defendant voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. At the preliminary hearing, the magistrate found that defendant had consented to the blood-alcohol test, denied his motion to suppress the results of the test and held him to answer.
The People concede, as indeed they must, that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the trial court's findings that defendant's written consent to the blood-alcohol test was not freely and voluntarily given. They contend, however, that the taking of a blood sample in a medically approved manner but without the consent of the subject is not violative of his right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution where there is probable cause to arrest at the time the sample is taken, even though the taking of the sample is not pursuant to a search warrant or incident to an arrest. We disagree. Accordingly we deny the People's petition for the writ.
In Schmerber, the Supreme Court unequivocally stated that even a lawful arrest would not in itself justify a seizure of blood without a warrant, unless there was in addition a "clear indication" that a blood-alcohol test will reveal intoxication. The court indicated that a more stringent test was applicable because of the great interest in protecting the human body from intrusion. In the light of the clear and consistent holdings of the high court in this area, it would indeed be incongruous to say that absent exigent circumstances an intrusion without a warrant into a person's home is per se unreasonable even though the authorities have probable cause to believe it contains contraband or evidence of crime, and to reason at the same time from the same legal premises that such an intrusion into his physical body is constitutionally permissible merely if they have probable cause to believe it contains evidence of his intoxication.
However, the shocking number of injuries and deaths on the highways caused by drunk drivers has compelled society to adopt extreme measures in response. By its enactment in 1966 of section 13353, the Legislature devised an additional or alternative method of compelling a person arrested for drunk driving to submit to a test for intoxication, by providing that such person will lose his automobile driver's license for a period of six months if he refuses to submit to a test for intoxication.  The effect of this legislation is to equip peace officers with an instrument of enforcement not involving physical compulsion. It is noteworthy that in so doing, the Legislature took pains to condition its use upon a lawful arrest for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and upon the reasonable belief of the peace officer that the arrestee was in fact so driving.
 Since in the light of the foregoing authorities the People have failed to meet their burden of justifying the taking of a blood sample from defendant and since there is substantial evidence in the record to support the trial court's finding that defendant did not freely and voluntarily consent to the taking of his blood, it follows that the trial court quite correctly suppressed the results of the blood-alcohol test as having been obtained by an unlawful search and seizure.
The order to show cause is discharged and the petition for a peremptory writ of mandate is denied.
Wright, C. J., Peters, J., Tobriner, J., and Mosk, J., concurred.
With extreme reluctance I concur in the judgment. In my opinion, contrary to that of the majority, the People's theory for sustaining the taking of the blood sample would have been valid had it been timely presented and the trial court determined the circumstances to be those asserted by the People.
The People's theory is that in the absence of a warrant, consent, or an arrest the taking of Allen Hawkins' blood sample did not violate his right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures. The police officers had witnessed a clear indication of his intoxication at the scene of the accident, and there was probable cause for Hawkins' arrest. Time had already elapsed in taking him to the hospital and there was ample justification for the police to have a blood sample taken by a doctor in a hospital.
Schmerber did not explicitly state whether the emergency doctrine could be used to justify blood tests independent of an arrest, but courts in this state and others have expressly or implicitly employed that doctrine to justify such tests where the defendant was not arrested and neither a warrant nor consent was obtained. (People v. Glass, 266 Cal. App. 2d 222, 228-229 [71 Cal. Rptr. 858]; McDonald v. Justice Court, 249 Cal. App. 2d 960, 963-964 [58 Cal. Rptr. 29]; People v. Huber, 232 Cal. App. 2d 663, 666 et seq. [43 Cal. Rptr. 65]; People v. Pack, 199 Cal. App. 2d 857, 864-865 [19 Cal. Rptr. 186]; State v. Mitchell (Fla.) 245 So. 2d 618, 621-623; State v. Findlay, 259 Iowa 733 [145 N.W.2d 650, 654-656]; see also People v. Bustos, 247 Cal. App. 2d 422, 424-426 [55 Cal. Rptr. 603] [wherein court assumed that the custody necessary to the taking of blood amounts to an arrest].) In some of the cited cases the defendant was semi-conscious or unconscious, but no less an emergency exists in a case such as this where the defendant has regained consciousness.
It is for these reasons that I join in the judgment.
FN 2. Defendant also moved to dismiss the count of vehicle manslaughter on the ground that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of gross negligence and moved in the alternative that the felony-manslaughter proceedings be reduced to a misdemeanor. The trial court denied both motions.
FN 3. "Mr. Vander Noor [Prosecutor]: Your Honor, I can shorten this up considerably. I will concede that when you take a blood test you are intruding into that body and, therefore, you are seizing evidence. So, we have a search and seizure problem. ... [Par.] I will also concede that Mr. Hawkins at no time was placed under arrest at the scene or at the hospital. Consequently, the justification for the admissibility of the blood test does not rest on the search warrant [there being none] and it does not rest on incident to lawful arrest. ... [Par.] The basis under which we are offering this as a product of a legal search and seizure is simply that according to the evidence adduced at the preliminary hearing, this man was asked to take a blood test. He said he would and he signed a consent slip to that effect. ... Since in a nut shell the only basis upon which the prosecution can offer this, since there was no arrest, was no search warrant, is consent. ... [Pars.] So, I submit to the Court that in this case the pivotal decision need only be was there a free and voluntary consent. I will stipulate with counsel that there was no arrest, there was no search warrant ...."
FN 4. The judge stated: "The defendant was in the emergency room being administered first aid from a severe accident which caused the death of his sister, as well as others. He was lying on his stomach with blood all over and had just regained consciousness. He couldn't even read the paper because he had blood in his eyes and thought it was an authorization for treatment; the paper, of course, being the signed consent. Suffering from shock and injury, he does not remember even signing the paper or who talked to him, although he does admit seeing an officer leave the room. Under the facts adduced at the evidentiary hearing in Superior Court, this court finds it as a fact that this was not a free and voluntary consent and, therefore, the motion to suppress evidence, insofar as the results of the blood test are concerned, is hereby granted."
FN 6. Section 13353, subdivision (a) provides: "(a) Any person who drives a motor vehicle upon a highway shall be deemed to have given his consent to a chemical test of his blood, breath or urine for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his blood if lawfully arrested for any offense allegedly committed while the person was driving a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor. The test shall be incidental to a lawful arrest and administered at the direction of a peace officer having reasonable cause to believe such person was driving a motor vehicle upon a highway while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Such person shall be told that his failure to submit to or complete such a chemical test will result in the suspension of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of six months.
"The person arrested shall have the choice of whether the test shall be of his blood, breath or urine, and he shall be advised by the officer that he has such choice. If the person arrested either is incapable, or states that he is incapable, of completing any chosen test, he shall then have the choice of submitting to and completing any of the remaining tests or test, and he shall be advised by the officer that he has such choice.
"Such person shall also be advised by the officer that he does not have the right to have an attorney present before stating whether he will submit to a test, before deciding which test to take, or during administration of the test chosen.
"Any person who is dead, unconscious, or otherwise in a condition rendering him incapable of refusal shall be deemed not to have withdrawn his consent and such tests may be administered whether or not such person is told that his failure to submit to or complete the test will result in the suspension of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle."
FN 7. Indeed it is clear that the factual situation in the instant case does not involve the search for contraband in an automobile as in Carroll v. United States (1925) 267 U.S. 132, 153-159 [69 L. Ed. 543, 551-554, 45 S. Ct. 280] or Chambers v. Maroney (1959) 399 U.S. 42 [26 L. Ed. 2d 419, 90 S. Ct. 1975]; or involve the hot pursuit of a fleeing felon as in Warden v. Hayden (1966) 387 U.S. 294, 298-300 [18 L. Ed. 2d 782, 787-788, 87 S. Ct. 1642]; or the need to stop and frisk for weapons as in Terry v. Ohio (1967) 392 U.S. 1 [20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 88 S. Ct. 1868]. Our esteemed colleague in dissent urges a theory, not presented by the People, that a warrantless, unconsented to seizure of blood not incident to an arrest may be upheld under United States Supreme Court decisions on the basis of an "emergency exception" because the alcohol dissipates rapidly from the blood thereby rapidly reducing the degree of intoxication. Schmerber itself, answers this contention. Since the intoxicated person is of necessity present when the blood is seized, there are ordinarily no exigent circumstances to prevent his arrest. Schmerber recognizes that once the suspect is arrested, a seizure incident thereto may be properly conducted without a warrant, since the rapid dissipation of the alcohol would make the delay involved in obtaining a search warrant unnecessary and unjustifiable. However, the rapid dissipation of the alcohol in the blood would in no way create an "emergency" rendering arrest unnecessary, since the person containing the alcohol is not fleeing nor otherwise unavailable.
The following cases have been brought to our attention: People v. Pack (1962) 199 Cal. App. 2d 857 [19 Cal. Rptr. 186]; People v. Huber (1965) 232 Cal. App. 2d 663 [43 Cal. Rptr. 65]; People v. Bustos (1966) 247 Cal. App. 2d 422 [55 Cal. Rptr. 603]; McDonald v. Justice Court (1967) 249 Cal. App. 2d 960 [58 Cal. Rptr. 29]; People v. Glass (1968) 266 Cal. App. 2d 222 [71 Cal. Rptr. 858]. None of these cases, with the exception of Huber, were relied upon or even cited by the People. The People cited Huber to support their sole argument that probable cause to arrest justified a warrantless, unconsented to seizure of blood not incident to an arrest and not to support the theory proposed by the dissent. To the extent that they are inconsistent with this opinion, the above cases are disapproved.
FN 1. Probable cause is shown if a man of ordinary care and prudence would be led to believe and conscientiously entertain an honest and strong suspicion that the person is guilty of a crime. (People v. Terry, 2 Cal. 3d 362, 393 [85 Cal. Rptr. 409, 466 P.2d 961]; People v. Cockrell, 63 Cal. 2d 659, 665 [47 Cal. Rptr. 788, 408 P.2d 116].) Here it appears or may be inferred that before the blood sample was taken the officers were aware of facts indicating that Hawkins drove the pickup truck onto the highway without stopping or even slowing at the stop sign, a collision ensued resulting in death and injuries to others, Hawkins' breath smelled of alcoholic beverages, his eyes were bloodshot, his speech a little slow, he appeared dazed, and two full beer cans and one empty were in the pickup. The foregoing evidence would be sufficient to show both probable cause for Hawkins' arrest for felony drunk driving (Veh. Code, § 23101) and a clear indication he was intoxicated.
FN 2. The People rely in part upon the destruction of evidence exception to the rule that searches without a warrant are per se unreasonable subject to established exceptions. The majority thus err in stating that the People rely solely on the incident to an arrest exception.
FN 3. Schmerber stated (at p. 771 [16 L.Ed.2d at p. 920]) that the petitioner there was not "one of the few who on grounds of fear, concern for health, or religious scruple might prefer some other means of testing" and that the court therefore need not decide whether such wishes would have to be respected. Here Hawkins makes no claim that he is among that few.
FN 4. In the municipal court at the hearing on the motion to suppress the prosecutor (who was not the same prosecutor who appeared at the preliminary hearing) asserted that under Schmerber "whether the blood-alcohol test is admissible ... depends on ... one thing, only: ... if it's done in a medically approved manner, it is admissible. ... [I]n this case we have consent, that's even better. ... I don't know the facts of this case, because I wasn't here to handle it -- but if there is any suspicion that a man is intoxicated and they have reasonable cause to think possibly there will be an arrest coming forth in a few days ... they have the right to gather that evidence. They did everything correct under the law. They asked him if he consented. He did. They took it in a medically-approved manner. ... It is admissible evidence regardless of the implied consent requirement."
FN 5. Here if the facts are those indicated by the present record the suppression of the blood-alcohol test manifestly frustrates the imperative public interest in combatting the excessive loss of lives and irreparable injuries caused by intoxicated drivers.
A gross miscarriage of justice also could occur, for example, in a first degree murder case where evidence vital to conviction is suppressed at a special hearing in the superior court but was lawfully obtained under a theory presented for the first time by the People in a mandamus proceeding.

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 § 23101