Opinion ID: 1906096
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: admissibility of breathalyzer results

Text: The sole issue regarding the admissibility of the Approved Method to Conduct Breath Test with Breathalyzer (State's Exhibit No. 7) is whether or not the Approved Method had to be filed with the clerk of the Morton County District Court at the time of Schneider's arrest in order to be admitted in evidence. This case, which considers the question of when filing must occur, is one of first impression before our court. Subsection 5 of § 39-20-07, N.D.C.C., provides:  Interpretation of chemical tests.  Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, evidence of the amount of alcohol in the person's blood at the time of the act alleged as shown by a chemical analysis of his blood, breath, saliva or urine is admissible. For the purpose of this section: . . . . . 5. The results of such chemical analysis shall be received in evidence when it is shown that the test was fairly administered, provided that a test of a person's blood, urine, breath, or other bodily substance and the result thereof is further shown to have been performed according to the methods and/or with devices approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a certificate of qualification to administer the test issued by the state toxicologist. The state toxicologist is authorized to approve satisfactory techniques, devices, and methods of chemical analysis and to determine the qualifications of individuals to conduct such analysis, and shall issue a certificate to all qualified operators who shall exhibit the certificate upon demand by the person requested to take the chemical test. The state toxicologist may appoint, train, certify, and supervise field inspectors of breath testing equipment and its operation, and the inspectors shall report the findings of any inspection to the state toxicologist for appropriate action. Upon approval of the methods and/or devices and techniques required to perform such tests and the persons qualified to administer them, the state toxicologist shall prepare and file written record of such approval with the clerk of the district court in each county within the state which shall include: a. A quarterly register of the specific testing devices currently approved including serial number, location, and the date and results of last inspection. b. A quarterly register of currently qualified and certified operators of said devices stating the date of certification and its expiration. c. The operational check list and forms prescribing the methods and techniques currently approved by the state toxicologist in using such devices during the administration of the tests. Copies of the above records certified by the clerk of the district court shall be admitted as prima facie evidence of the matters stated therein. State v. Ghylin, 248 N.W.2d 825 (N.D.1976); State v. Ghylin, 222 N.W.2d 864 (N.D.1974), and State v. Salhus, 220 N.W.2d 852 (N.D.1974), require the State to show, before the test results can be admitted into evidence, that a breathalyzer test was fairly administered in compliance with § 39-20-07, N.D.C.C. Fair administration of the breathalyzer test requires, at the minimum, a showing that the test was performed according to the methods and/or with devices approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a certificate of qualification to administer the test. § 39-20-07(5), N.D.C.C. See Ghylin, supra 248 N.W.2d at 829; Ghylin, supra 222 N.W.2d at 869; and Salhus, supra 220 N.W.2d at 857. The foundational requirements needed to show that a breathalyzer test was fairly administered and that the results, therefore, are admissible may be met by testimony of the state toxicologist. In his absence, such proof may be made by the introduction of certified copies of records filed by the state toxicologist with the clerk of the district court relating to the approval of devices and methods, and the certification of test operators. § 39-20-07(5), N.D. C.C. See also Ghylin, supra 222 N.W.2d at 869; Salhus, supra 220 N.W.2d at 857; and State v. Fuchs, 219 N.W.2d 842, 847 (N.D. 1974). Once these records have been filed with the clerk of the district court, certified copies of the records shall be admitted as prima facie evidence of the matters stated therein to prove that the breathalyzer test was fairly administered. § 39-20-07(5), N.D.C.C. The state toxicologist authorized the use of the Approved Method to Conduct Breath Test with Breathalyzer on June 3, 1976; Schneider was arrested on June 4, 1977; the Approved Method to Conduct Breath Test with Breathalyzer was filed with the clerk of the Morton County District Court on October 14, 1977; and a certified copy of the Approved Method (State's Exhibit No. 7) was admitted into evidence at Schneider's trial on February 2, 1978. The state toxicologist's failure to file the Approved Method prior to Schneider's arrest was not a foundational defect that would result in State's Exhibit No. 7 being held inadmissible. Section 39-20-07(5), N.D.C.C., requires that the Approved Method be filed before a certified copy thereof can be admitted as prima facie evidence of the validity of the breathalyzer test. It does not require that the Approved Method be filed at the time of a defendant's arrest. Lack of filing at the time of arrest has no bearing on the Approved Method's admissibility as long as it was authorized at the time of Schneider's arrest. However, if the Approved Method had not been filed before trial, the exhibit would not have been admissible. We hold that the trial court did not err when it received State's Exhibit No. 7 into evidence. The Approved Method had been authorized by the state toxicologist prior to Schneider's arrest and had been filed with and certified by the clerk of the Morton County District Court before Schneider's trial. Therefore, State's Exhibit No. 7 was admissible as prima facie evidence that the breathalyzer test had been fairly administered.