Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Joseph Domagala, Respondent
Court: New York County Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1924-10-08
Citations: 123 Misc. 757
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Joseph Domagala, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 123
Pages: 757–758

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Joseph Domagala, Respondent.
County Court, Erie County,
October 8, 1924.
Crimes — operating motor vehicle while intoxicated in violation of Highway Law, § 290, subd. 3 —• starting motor constitutes operation.
The starting of a motor in an automobile constitutes operation of the automobile within the meaning of subdivision 3 of section 290 of the Highway Law, which provides that any person who operates a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, therefore, the defendant was properly convicted under that subdivision since it appears that he, while intoxicated, started the motor in his automobile, which was facing the curb, and attempted to start the automobile but failed to do so because the motor stalled when the automobile came in contact with the curb.
Appeal from a judgment of conviction.
William J. Bullion, for the appellant.
Guy B. Moore, district attorney (William H. Hartzberg, assistant district attorney, of counsel), for the respondent.

Opinion:
Noonan, J.
Prom a judgment of conviction fpr violating section 290, subdivision 3, of the Highway Law, which reads as follows, " Whoever operates a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition shall be guilty of a misdemeanor," an appeal has been taken to this court.
About three-thirty p M. two police officers found the respondent, in an intoxicated condition, in his automobile, which was parked directly across the street, with the front wheels squarely against the curb.
It is obvious that the judgment of conviction must stand or fall upon the construction given to the word " operate." Having in mind the meaning given to " operate " in similar cases, the following definitions are applicable in this case; " To put in action and supervise the working of: as to operate a machine " (29 Cyc 1496; Standard Diet.); " cause to move or perform the acts desired; as to operate a machine " (Cent. Diet.); " to bring about a specified result." 29 Cyc. 1496.
The respondent started bis motor six different times, and every time, when he attempted to throw it into gear, the motor stalled. Counsel for the respondent insists that the law was not violated until or unless the automobile was moved along the street. This claim is clearly untenable. Under any of the above definitions, the respondent began to violate the law the instant he began to manipulate the machinery of the motor for the purpose of putting the automobile into motion. The fact that the motor was not powerful enough to force the automobile over the curb without stopping is no defense.
The judgment of conviction is affirmed. Let an order be entered accordingly.
Ordered accordingly.