Case Name: BROWN v. STATE OF FLORIDA
Court: Florida Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1989-03-28
Citations: 33 Fla. Supp. 2d 130
Docket Number: Case No. 88-1043-AC (County Court Case No. 32924-87)
Parties: BROWN v STATE OF FLORIDA
Judges: Before McNEAL, PETERSON, TOMBRINK, JJ.
Reporter: Florida Supplement Second
Volume: 33
Pages: 130–131

Head Matter:
BROWN v STATE OF FLORIDA
Case No. 88-1043-AC (County Court Case No. 32924-87)
Fifth Judicial Circuit, Marion County
March 28, 1989
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Flem K. Whited, III., Whited & Johnson, for appellant.
S. Ray Gill, State Attorney and Steve Rothenburg, Assistant State Attorney, for appellee.
Before McNEAL, PETERSON, TOMBRINK, JJ.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
PER CURIAM.
AFFIRMED. The trial judge correctly instructed the jury regarding defendant's refusal to submit to an approved breath test that:
When a person is suspected of committing the offense of driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent his normal faculties are impaired and refuses to take an approved chemical test, such a fact may be shown in evidence as a circumstances from which guilt may be inferred.
Now, while evidence of refusal to take a chemical test does not raise a presumption of guilty, it is a circumstances which the jury may consider along with all the other evidence and circumstances in this case.
See Fla. Stat. 316.1932(l)(a) (1987), South Dakota v Neville, 459 U.S. 553, 103 S.Ct. 916, 74 L.Ed.2d 748 (1983), Minor v Williams, 640 F.Supp. 360 (M.D. Tenn 1985).