Opinion ID: 2570389
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The omitted Rogers factors

Text: One of the omitted Rogers factors for jury consideration was whether the vehicle's engine was running. At trial, Sergeant Cowley testified that the car was not running, which would certainly have weighed in favor of Barnier being found not in actual physical control of the vehicle. The second factor omitted from the jury instruction was whether Barnier was trying to move or did move the vehicle. The record shows that Barnier did not move or try to move the vehicle when approached by the police officer. Again, this factor would have weighed in favor of Barnier not being found in actual physical control of the vehicle. The third and final factor omitted was whether Barnier drove the vehicle to the location where he was apprehended. The record indicates that the original informant reported that a woman was driving the vehicle. Additionally, Cynthia Hunter, the woman found at the scene with Barnier, testified that she drove the vehicle to the location where Barnier was apprehended and that she intended to recommence driving after relieving herself. This evidence would likewise have weighed in favor of Barnier not being in actual physical control of the vehicle. The State argues that this court has not indicated how the Rogers factors should be weighed or whether any of the factors are absolutes. We have, however, reaffirmed the Rogers factors in every subsequent opinion in which we have considered the subject of actual physical control. [14] In Rogers, we stated that a spectrum of cases may arise from those where no actual physical control was present because it was clear that the defendant did not drive his vehicle, [15] to those where the defendant must have driven to the location where apprehended and so must have been in actual physical control. [16] The result will differ based on an application of the Rogers factors to specific factual situations. We, therefore, leave the proper balancing of those factors to the discretion of triers of fact in individual cases.