Opinion ID: 2569850
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: statement of the facts and procedure

Text: On February 26, 2006, Kyle J. Reisenauer drove to the 6th and Main intersection in Moscow. Officer Dustin Blaker pulled over Reisenauer and observed that Reisenauer's eyes were red and that his vehicle emitted the odor of burnt marijuana. Officer Blaker then instructed Reisenauer to perform several field sobriety evaluations and Reisenauer subsequently was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and transported to the Latah County Jail. At the jail, Officer Rodney Wolverton performed a Drug Recognition Evaluation on Reisenauer and concluded that Reisenauer was not safe to drive, as he was under the influence of cannabis and depressants. Reisenauer also was tested through breath samples on the Intoxilyzer 5000 breath machine, which revealed two breath samples of .000. Officer Blaker discovered marijuana inside the vehicle Reisenauer was driving, and after receiving his Miranda warnings Reisenauer eventually admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the night. Later, Reisenauer submitted to a urinalysis, from which the Idaho State Police Forensic Services detected Carboxy-THC in Reisenauer's urine. Due to the test results, the Idaho Transportation Department notified Reisenauer of its intention to suspend his driving privileges. He requested an administrative hearing, and on May 9, 2006 a telephone hearing was held regarding this matter. The suspension of Reisenauer's driving privileges was sustained in the subsequent FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND ORDER. Reisenauer appealed to the district court, which set aside the suspension, holding that Carboxy-THC does not constitute substantial evidence of `the presence of drugs or other intoxicating substances in violation of section 18-8004, 18-8004C or 18-8006, Idaho Code.' The district court also held that the Department was collaterally estopped from litigating the issue of whether detection of Carboxy-THC may serve as substantial competent evidence of the presence of drugs or other intoxicating substances in violation of section 18-8004, 18-8004C or 18-8006, Idaho Code. In rendering its collateral estoppel decision, the district court relied on Walterscheid v. Idaho Transportation Department [1] , wherein the court held that the presence of Carboxy-THC did not meet the requirements of the suspension statute. The district court held that a test indicating the presence of Carboxy-THC was not sufficient evidence to satisfy the suspension statute. From that decision, the Department appeals to this Court.