Case Name: STATE of Louisiana, Plaintiff-Relator, v. Edward GUIDRY, Defendant-Respondent
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1985-04-10
Citations: 467 So. 2d 156
Docket Number: No. K84-971
Parties: STATE of Louisiana, Plaintiff-Relator, v. Edward GUIDRY, Defendant-Respondent.
Judges: Before DOMENGEAUX, DOUCET and KING, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 467
Pages: 156–159

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana, Plaintiff-Relator, v. Edward GUIDRY, Defendant-Respondent.
No. K84-971.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.
April 10, 1985.
David F. Hutchins, Sp. Asst. Dist. Atty., Lafayette, for the State.
Cary Menard, Lafayette, for defendant-respondent.
Before DOMENGEAUX, DOUCET and KING, JJ.

Opinion:
DOUCET, Judge.
On July 18, 1984, the defendant was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The Lafayette Parish District Attorney's office subsequently filed a bill of information charging the defendant with unlawful operation of a bicycle on a public street while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, in violation of the provisions of LA-R.S. 14:98. On September 5, 1984, the defendant made an oral motion to quash the bill of information before the Honorable Michael G. Sullivan, Judge of the City Court of Lafayette, Louisiana.
The defendant's argument in support of his motion to quash was that the bill of information did not state a chargeable offense under LA-R.S. 14:98. It is the State's position that the defendant's operation of a bicycle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages is a chargeable crime under LA-R.S. 14:98.
The trial judge granted the defendant's motion to quash based upon his interpretation of the recent case of State v. Williams, 449 So.2d 744 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1984) writ denied, 452 So.2d 172 (La.1984). The State perfected an application for writ of review.
The State contends that the trial judge erred in granting the defendant's motion to quash based on the premise that operating a bicycle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages is not an offense chargeable under LA-R.S. 14:98.
LA-R.S. 14:98 provides:
"The crime of operating a vehicle while intoxicated is the operating of any motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, vessel or other means of conveyance when: (1) the operator is under the influence of alcoholic beverages."
In interpreting this Statute, it must be remembered that the articles of the Criminal Code must be strictly construed and "cannot be extended by analogy so as to create crimes not provided for herein". LA-R.S. 14:3; State v. Freeman, 411 So.2d 1068 (La.1982). Any doubt as to the extent of the Statutes must be decided in favor of the defendant and against the State. State v. Brown, 378 So.2d 916 (La. 1979).
The State argues that the term "other means of conveyance" as used in LA-R.S. 14:98 includes bicycles.
In the recent case of State v. Williams, supra, this Court had the opportunity to determine what constituted "other means of conveyance" under the language of LAR.S. 14:98. In Williams, supra, this Court was faced with the question of whether a horse was considered a "means of conveyance" in accordance with the provisions of LA-R.S. 14:98. After acknowledging the absence of a statutory definition of "other means of conveyance", the Court began its discussion of the appropriate statutory construction of LA-R.S. 14:98 by pointing out that:
"Words and phrases shall be read with their context and shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language. Technical words and phrases, and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning of the law, shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning. LSA-R.S. 1:3.
Where general words follow the enumeration of particular classes of persons or things, the general words will be construed as applicable only to persons or things of those same general nature or class as those enumerated. The particular words are presumed to describe certain species and the general words to be used for the purpose of including other species of the same genus. State v. Pabst Brewing Co., 128 La. 770, 55 So. 349 (1911)."
State v. Williams, supra.
By applying those rules, the Court found that:
"The words 'motor vehicle', 'aircraft', and 'vessel', refer to inanimate objects of which the operation and control is dependent on the actions of the driver. A horse, on the other hand, is an animate object whose actions may not always be predicted with certainty. Planche v. Consolidated Companies, 235 La. 692, 105 So.2d 269 (1958). A horse is ridden but not always controlled; it is not operated or driven."
State v. Williams, supra.
The Court distinguished the use of animate objects and inanimate objects. In the instant case, a bicycle is an inanimate object whose operation and control is completely dependent upon the actions or inac-tions of its operator or driver. However, this Court in State v. Williams, supra, also found that the term "other means of conveyance" was limited in application to motorized vehicles.
After analyzing the two Louisiana Supreme Court decisions of State v. McAlister, 234 La. 1028, 102 So.2d 444 (1958), and State v. Hightower, 238 La. 876, 116 So.2d 699 (1959), this Court stated that:
"We are persuaded in our decision by the determination of the McAlister and Hightower courts that the use of a motorized vehicle is a pivotal element of the crime of operating a vehicle while intoxicated." [Emphasis added].
State v. Williams, supra.
After noting that criminal laws are not to be extended by analogy but must be strictly construed, this Court went on in State v. Williams, supra, to say that:
"_ had the redactors wished to include non-motorized vehicles in R.S. 14:98 they should have made specific mention of this class of vehicles in the statutory definition of operating a vehicle while intoxicated." State v. Williams, supra, at page 748.
In view of State v. Williams, supra, we find that the trial judge was correct in granting the defendant's motion to quash based upon his interpretation of that case. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's decision.
AFFIRMED.
DOMENGEAUX, J., dissents and assigns reasons.