Opinion ID: 2009063
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Statutory Right to Counsel

Text: Sites maintains that he had a statutory right to consult counsel before deciding whether to submit to a chemical test for sobriety. He contends that § 16-205.1 of the Transportation Article and § 10-309 of the Courts Article mandate that police provide an opportunity to persons apprehended for drunk driving to communicate with counsel before making the decision whether to submit to the test. Section 10-303 of the Courts Article requires that the chemical sobriety test be administered within two hours after the person accused is apprehended. Section 10-309 provides, with certain exceptions not here applicable, that a person may not be compelled to submit to such a test. The section further provides that no inference or presumption concerning guilt arises because of refusal to submit to the test, and that the fact of refusal to submit is not admissible in evidence at the trial. Section 16-205.1(a) of the Transportation Article explicitly states that any person who operates a motor vehicle in this State is deemed to have consented (with exceptions not here pertinent) to take a chemical test to determine alcohol content if apprehended on suspicion of drunk driving. Subsection (b) of this section provides that a licensed Maryland driver, who declines to take the test, shall have his license suspended for not less than 60 days nor more than 6 months for a first offense. Section 16-205.1(b)(2) delineates the formal prerequisites which must be met before a chemical test may be administered. No right is there afforded to confer with counsel prior to deciding whether to take the test. In contrast, § 16-205.1(f)(3) specifically provides that a person refusing a chemical test may be represented by an attorney in subsequent proceedings, indicating that had the legislature intended to provide a pretest right to confer with counsel, it would specifically have so provided. The cardinal rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and effectuate the actual legislative intent. See, e.g., In Re Arnold M., 298 Md. 515, 471 A.2d 313 (1984); Koyce v. State, Central Collection Unit, 289 Md. 134, 422 A.2d 1017 (1980). The primary source of the legislative intent is the language of the statute itself. See, e.g., Blum v. Blum, 295 Md. 135, 453 A.2d 824 (1983); Haskell v. Carey, 294 Md. 550, 451 A.2d 658 (1982). Where the statutory provisions are unambiguous, no construction is required. See, e.g., Hornbeck v. Somerset Co. Bd. of Educ., 295 Md. 597, 458 A.2d 758 (1983); Brown v. Brown, 287 Md. 273, 412 A.2d 396 (1980). Thus, it is manifest that a plainly worded statute must be construed without forced or subtle interpretations designed to extend or limit the scope of its operation. Guy v. Director, 279 Md. 69, 367 A.2d 946 (1977). The trial court found as a fact at the hearing on the motion to suppress that Sites' consent to take the test was obtained in accordance with all statutory requirements. See State v. Moon, 291 Md. 463, 436 A.2d 420 (1981); State v. Loscomb, 291 Md. 424, 435 A.2d 764 (1981). The requirements of the statute having been met, no basis exists for suppressing the breathalyzer evidence based on the claimed denial of the opportunity to consult with counsel. See generally Annot., 18 A.L.R.4th 705 (1982).