Case Name: STATE OF NEW JERSEY, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT, v. HENRY KIM, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
Court: New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 2010-03-18
Citations: 412 N.J. Super. 260
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE OF NEW JERSEY, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT, v. HENRY KIM, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Superior Court Reports
Volume: 412
Pages: 260–274

Head Matter:
989 A.2d 840
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT, v. HENRY KIM, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division
Argued January 21, 2010
Decided March 18, 2010.
Before Judges FISHER, SAPP-PETERSON and ESPINOSA.
John Menzel argued the cause for appellant.
Annmarie Cozzi, Assistant Prosecutor, argued the cause for respondent (John L. Molinelli, Bergen County Prosecutor, attorney; Charles Cho, of counsel and on the brief).

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
ESPINOSA, J.S.C.
(temporarily assigned).
Defendant appeals from his conviction for refusal to submit breath samples, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.2 and N.J.S.A 39:4-50.4a, following his arrest for driving while intoxicated (DWI), N.J.S.A 39:4-50. On appeal, he argues that the State cannot convict a defendant of refusing to submit breath samples if the proofs fail to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he understood the standard statement read to him pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.2(e) (the standard statement). We affirm.
On January 29, 2007, Officer Robert Pizzi of the Northvaie Police Department was on patrol when he observed defendant's vehicle pull into the loading dock area of a company, Alliance Foods, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Defendant left his car and walked to a grassy area between Alliance Foods and the Bloomfield Diner. Officer Pizzi passed defendant's vehicle in his patrol car and saw defendant standing by a tree, facing the diner, his legs spread apart. Officer Pizzi pulled into the loading dock area and placed his vehicle behind defendant's car, which was running with the driver's door ajar. Officer Pizzi called out to defendant, who was walking away and appeared to be adjusting his pants. Defendant turned and began to walk unsteadily toward Officer Pizzi.
Officer Pizzi asked defendant why he was urinating in that area. Defendant looked down, "sort of chuckled," and stated that he was sorry. Officer Pizzi detected an odor of alcoholic beverage on defendant's breath and asked him if he had been drinking that evening. Defendant replied that he had been drinking at a friend's house in Norwood. Upon request, he produced his license, registration and insurance card.
Officer Pizzi asked defendant if he could run through some field sobriety tests and defendant agreed. The first test was the heel-to-toe test. Officer Pizzi asked defendant to stand heel-to-toe with his arms by his side while he demonstrated the test. Defendant was unable to maintain that position during Officer Pizzi's demonstration. Officer Pizzi asked defendant if he understood the instructions and he stated that he did. Defendant was unable to connect heel-to-toe on several occasions and, despite raising his arms for balance, stepped off the line.
Next, Officer Pizzi asked defendant to perform the one-leg-stand test, which he explained and demonstrated. He asked defendant if he understood the instructions and defendant replied that he did. As he performed the test, defendant once again used his arms to stabilize himself but was repeatedly unable to keep his foot raised as instructed. Officer Pizzi stated that "his foot was down more often than it was up."
Officer Pizzi testified regarding the third field sobriety test as follows:
A. I attempted to perform the nystagmus gaze test, otherwise known as the HGN,____However, at that point, the language barrier was—difficult, and I was unable to perform that test to completion.
Q. Please describe what you mean by the language barrier was now difficult?
A. I [ ] asked Mr. Kim to keep his head still and follow the tip of my stimulus with—with his eyes only, and he was unable to do that.
Officer Pizzi arrested defendant for DWI, advised him of his Miranda rights and placed him in the patrol car to take him to police headquarters.
A videotape was taken of the pertinent proceedings at police headquarters. Officer Pizzi read the Miranda warnings and the standard statement required by N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.2(e), including the supplemental instruction to be given when a defendant fails to consent to giving a breath sample. On each of the two occasions when defendant was asked if he would submit breath samples, he said, "No." All of defendant's interactions with Officer Pizzi were in English.
Before being released, defendant apologized for urinating in public and stated, "That's my fault."
Defendant was charged with driving while intoxicated, N.J.S.A 39:4-50, refusal to submit to a breathalyzer exam, N.J.S.A 39:4-50.2 and disorderly conduct, N.J.S:A. 2C:33-2(a)(l). Defense counsel submitted a letter dated February 26, 2007 to the court and prosecutor, noting his appearance as defendant's counsel. In that letter, counsel made a demand for a jury trial and represented that defendant would move to suppress "evidence (i.e., Defendant's person, breath, blood, etc.) [that] was seized unlawfully, without a warrant____" Counsel also stated that defendant would make other, unidentified, motions before trial pursuant to Rule 7:7-1.
An evidentiary hearing was conducted to determine whether Officer Pizzi had probable cause to arrest defendant for DWI. No motion was made to exclude evidence of defendant's refusal to give breath samples on the grounds that he did not knowingly refuse to submit such samples. Yet, despite the failure to make such a motion or to offer any evidence regarding defendant's proficiency in the English language, defense counsel raised the specter of defendant's lack of fluency through the officer's acknowledgement that he had some indication that defendant had difficulty with English. In denying the suppression motion, the municipal court addressed this "implication":
The defendant's implication that the defendant isn't totally conversant in English doesn't hold water to this [e]ourt because he cooperated, he understood, he answered questions as to whether he had been drinking. So, therefore, if he's not completely conversant in the English language, he certainly understands.
Prior to the trial on May 29, 2008, defendant made an additional motion—to dismiss the charges on the grounds that defendant had been denied his right to a speedy trial. The motion was denied. Again, no motion was made based upon any alleged inability of defendant to understand English. In his opening statement, defense counsel addressed the refusal charge as follows:
Our contention is that this is not a refusal in the sense that Mr. Kim did have a sufficient understanding of the warnings read to him, that you'll see on the videotape, and that will probably be corroborated by-P-2 for his refusal to be considered a sufficiently knowing and voluntary [refusal] to warrant [ ] conviction.
At trial, Officer Pizzi testified to his observations. He acknowledged that defendant had difficulty with English and said at one point that he did not understand English. Officer Pizzi testified that defendant had a New Jersey driver's license. He did not know in what language defendant had taken the written exam. Defendant did not testify or offer any evidence regarding his ability to understand English. In fact, no evidence was presented to identify defendant's native language.
The court reviewed the videotape of the proceedings at police headquarters, found defendant guilty of refusing to submit a breath sample, and acquitted him on the other charges. The court stated:
With regard to the refusal, this was covered on the video tape. Mr. Kim refused the Breathalyzer. If there had been a Breathalyzer taken, those results might well have determined sobriety or lack of it. But there was no Breathalyzer. Defendant's refusal was made each time he was asked. The court finds that it was a knowing refusal. The defendant's ability to understand English and to respond in English to the questions put to him by the policeman as testified to credibly by the policeman as well as borne out on the video tape including the video tape section on the refusal itself, convinced the court beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Kim understood most of what the officer was saying to him throughout the encounter. It is clear to the court that the defendant understood he was being asked to give a breath test to determine if he was under the influence. He refused to do so. The video tape contained a reading of the required statements about the Breathalyzer and the obligation to take it. The court noticed the defendant clearly indicated by his responses on the video tape and his demeanor that he understood and was responding positively to what was being read to him. While the defendant indicated on the video tape that he did not understand some things at that point, the court was satisfied that with regard to that part of the case involving a refusal charge that the defendant knowingly refused and that was proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the officer's testimony, by the items placed into evidence, including the video tape.
Defendant was sentenced as follows: suspension of driving privileges for seven months; twelve hours at the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center; $300 fine; $100 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund surcharge, and $33 in court costs. The sentence was stayed pending appeal.
Defendant appealed. In the trial de novo, the Law Division judge found him guilty of refusing to submit a breath sample, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.2 and N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a, and imposed the same sentence as that imposed by the municipal court. The sentence was again stayed pending appeal.
On appeal, defendant argues the following:
POINT I
THE ISSUE PRESENTED IS ONE OF FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS: WHETHER THE STATE MUST CONVEY INFORMATION TO A BREATH TESTING SUBJECT IN A WAY THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND UNDERSTANDABLE TO THAT SUBJECT.
POINT II
MODERN NOTIONS OF DUE PROCESS AND FAIR PLAY DICTATE THAT A NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING ARRESTEE SHOULD BE INFORMED OF RIGHTS IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE BEFORE A COURT CAN CONSIDER HIS FAILURE TO SUBMIT BREATH SAMPLES AS PROOF OF REFUSAL BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
POINT III
EVIDENCE THAT DEFENDANT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE STANDARD STATEMENT REQUIRED TO BE READ TO HIM WAS PALPABLE, RAISING DOUBT ABOUT THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE NEEDED TO CONVICT HIM.
The thrust of defendant's appeal is that the State cannot convict a defendant of refusing to submit breath samples if the proofs fail to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he understood the standard statement. We reject these arguments because the issue was not adequately presented at trial and, in any event, lacks merit.
Proof of such understanding beyond a reasonable doubt is not required for a refusal conviction. State v. Marquez, 408 N.J.Super. 273, 280-281, 974 A.2d 1092 (App.Div.), certif. granted, 200 N.J. 476, 983 A.2d 201 (2009). In Marquez, this court upheld the conviction of a defendant who did not understand English for refusing to submit to a breath test, N.J.S.A 39:4-50.2, "because the law does not require a translation of the standard statement under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.2(e) and because defendant gave his implied consent to submit to a breath test when he obtained his New Jersey driver's license." Marquez, supra, 408 N.J.Super. at 275, 974 A.2d 1092; see N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.2(a).
In State v. Cummings, 184 N.J. 84, 875 A.2d 906 (2005), the Supreme Court held that the State must prove all elements of a refusal beyond a reasonable doubt but adhered to the elements of refusal set forth in the statute:
Police officers still must provide defendants the standardized statement of the consequences for the failure to submit to a breathalyzer test .; the police officer must still have had "probable cause to believe that the person had been driving . under the influence of intoxicating liquor .; the police officer must still demonstrate whether the defendant was placed under arrest; and the police officer must still prove that the defendant 'refused to submit to the [breathalyzer] test upon request of the officer.' Save for the burden of proof, nothing has changed. [Id. at 96, 875 A2d 906 (emphasis added) (citations omitted).]
"[A]nything substantially short of an unconditional, unequivocal assent to an officer's request that the arrested motorist take the breathalyzer test constitutes a refusal to do so." State v. Widmaier, 157 N.J. 475, 497, 724 A.2d 241 (1999) (quoting State v. Bernhardt, 245 N.J.Super. 210, 219, 584 A.2d 854 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 126 N.J. 323, 598 A.2d 883 (1991)). The evidence presented at defendant's trial, including his two refusals to submit breath samples, satisfied each of the elements identified by the Supreme Court in Cummings beyond a reasonable doubt.
There is also a procedural bar to defendant's argument. Defendants who seek to exclude evidence on constitutional grounds are required to file a motion to suppress the evidence in accordance with Rule 3:5-7, governing motions to suppress in the Law Division, and Rule 7:5-2, for motions to suppress filed in the municipal court. In State v. Howard, 383 N.J.Super. 538, 550, 892 A.2d 751 (App.Div.) certif. denied, 187 N.J. 80, 899 A.2d 303 (2006) we held that a defendant who "seeks to bar admission of breathalyzer test results because of a police officer's failure to comply with the statute . is obligated to move to suppress the breathalyzer test results and present evidence of the police officer's noncompliance." Ibid. In addition to filing a motion, a defendant must show that there are material facts in dispute to be entitled to an evidentiary hearing. R. 3:5—7(c); State v. Green, 346 N.J.Super. 87, 90-91, 787 A.2d 186 (App.Div.2001); State v. Kadonsky, 288 N.J.Super. 41, 45-46, 671 A.2d 1064 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 144 N.J. 589, 677 A.2d 761 (1996); State v. Hewins, 166 N.J.Super. 210, 213-15, 399 A.2d 343 (Law Div.1979), aff'd, 178 N.J.Super. 360, 429 A.2d 367 (App.Div. 1981). We conclude that the same obligations apply to this defendant.
Here, defendant failed to move to exclude the evidence of his refusal. In Marquez, it was undisputed that the defendant did not understand the standard statement read to him in English. The defendant testified to that effect and also stated that he had taken the written examination for his driver's license in Spanish. Marquez, supra, 408 N.J.Super. at 277, 974 A.2d 1092. Unlike Marquez, defendant here presented no evidence regarding his level of proficiency in the English language. He never testified that he did not understand the statement read to him in English. No evidence was presented regarding how long he has resided in the United States, his education or employment, whether he holds any professional licenses or even in what language he had taken the written examination for the New Jersey driver's license. The mere allegation that defendant did not have sufficient comprehension of the English language to knowingly refuse to submit breath samples does not place a material issue in dispute to require an evidentiary hearing, see Green, supra, 346 N.J.Super. at 91, 787 A.2d 186, let alone void the basis for his conviction.
The practical necessity for defendant to bear the burden of moving forward and presenting sufficient evidence to create a material issue of fact is evident from a review of the evidence of such alleged incapacity here. Essentially, the evidence consists of: defendant's self-serving statements to the police officer that he did not understand; the officer's subjective perception of defendant's language ability; and the videotape.
A review of the videotape is far from conclusive. At the outset, defendant adjusts his clothing and combs his fingers through his hair as he looks directly into the camera, apparently aware that he is about to be filmed. The officer states, "I'm going to advise you of your constitutional rights, sir, okay?" Defendant responds without hesitation, "Yes, sir. Alright." The officer then instructs defendant that he must answer yes or no after each right is given. Again, defendant responds without hesitation, "Okay." As soon as the officer begins to provide the first of the Miranda warnings, 'You have the constitutional right to remain silent, okay?" defen dant raises a hand as if to stop the officer. Although some of his response at this time cannot be understood, due either to his accent or to the quality of the audio recording, he does say, "I don't understand anything right now," and "I have to speak to my lawyer." The officer replied that he just had to "read these rights and you have to sit there, okay?" Defendant answered, "Yes," and did so. He stated "no" after being advised that anything he said could be used against him in a court of law and that he had the right to have an attorney present during any questioning. He was silent when advised of the right to have an attorney appointed for him. When told that he had the continuing right to exercise these rights at any time during questioning, he appears to mumble that he understood that.
The officer then began to review the facts of the arrest, stating that he had arrested defendant for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. Defendant interrupted him, stating, "That's what I don't understand. What's intoxicating?" When the officer completed reading the standard form, he asked defendant, "Will you submit samples of your breath?" Without hesitation or expressing any difficulty in understanding the question, defendant shook his head. The officer stated, "I need you to speak clearly, yes or no." Defendant responded immediately, "No, sir. No."
The officer read the supplemental form to be read when a defendant refuses to give breath samples and stated, "I ask you again. Will you submit samples of your breath?" Defendant answered, "I don't understand that. I don't want to say anything. I say 'no.' "
This videotape was made at a time when the officer had probable cause to arrest defendant for DWI. It is evident that defendant speaks English with an accent. However, that alone is a poor and perhaps even misleading measure of his ability to understand what is said to him in English. It also appears that defendant is familiar with the concept of his "constitutional rights." While his responses to each of the Miranda rights given are somewhat ambiguous, he demonstrates his familiarity with the rights to an attorney and to decline to make a statement. His responses to the specific requests to give breath samples were unequivocal. Without any evidence regarding defendant's education, employment, amount of time in an English-speaking country or any other objective facts, a factfinder can do no more than guess whether any perceived difficulty in comprehension was caused by intoxication, lack of fluency in English, or some combination of factors.
In short, defendant did not move for the exclusion of the evidence of his refusal and did not present any evidence to demonstrate a material issue regarding his alleged inability to understand the standard statement read to him in English. In the absence of such evidence, the record fails to show that such an issue existed here. What the record does show is that each time defendant was asked to provide a breath sample, he said, "No." We therefore conclude that defendant's argument fails on both procedural and substantive grounds.
Affirmed.
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
Because the court's decision could not be retrieved from the municipal court's hard drive, the matter was remanded for reconstruction of the record. This statement is excerpted from the court's written statement of reasons for its decision.