Opinion ID: 1219093
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Jeopardy in earlier proceeding

Text: Gusman also failed to establish that she was placed in jeopardy. Gusman argues that because she lives in a rural part of Idaho the loss of her license for 180 days is so potentially devastating that she was placed in jeopardy. We disagree. In Powell, we noted that collateral estoppel is a facet of Fifth Amendment protection against double jeopardy. Id. at 708, 819 P.2d at 562 ( citing Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436, 90 S.Ct. 1189, 25 L.Ed.2d 469 (1970)). We explained that courts must look at the focus and purpose of the two proceedings to determine if the defendant was placed in jeopardy. Id. 120 Idaho at 709, 819 P.2d at 563. Further, we embraced the definition of jeopardy espoused by the United States Supreme Court: that jeopardy denotes risk; the risk traditionally associated with criminal prosecution and with actions authorizing criminal punishment to vindicate the public justice. Id. at 709, 819 P.2d at 563 ( citing Breed v. Jones, 421 U.S. 519, 95 S.Ct. 1779, 44 L.Ed.2d 346 (1975)). (Emphasis added.) In Powell, we concluded that a Child Protective Act hearing does not place the parent in jeopardy. Id. 120 Idaho at 709, 819 P.2d at 563. The loss of one's license for failing to take an evidentiary test consented to when a driver's license was issued, although potentially devastating to a person living in rural Idaho, is a civil penalty separate and apart from any other suspension imposed for a violation of other Idaho motor vehicle codes, and does not place the defendant in jeopardy. There is no punishment designed to vindicate the public justice. The loss of the driver's license for declining to submit to an evidentiary test is the individual's choice and is a consequence of failing to comply with a previously assumed civil obligation upon being issued a driver's license. Simply because the BAC hearing focuses on the driver's ability to show cause why the driver did not submit to the evidentiary test does not change the fact that the risk associated with the BAC hearing is not similar to that associated with a criminal prosecution.