Opinion ID: 1567587
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Blood-Alcohol Test Results: Use as Presumptive Evidence of Intoxication

Text: Contending this Court has never addressed the issue, the State argues that the defendant had no basis for moving to suppress the results of the blood-alcohol test. Drawing on the language of La.Code Crim. Proc. art. 703(A), which provides that [a] defendant adversely affected may move to suppress any evidence from use at the trial on the merits on the ground that it was unconstitutionally obtained, the State contends the defendant neither alleged in her motion to suppress nor showed at the hearing on that motion any constitutional violation occurred in the taking of the blood samples. In stark contrast to the State's contention, the defendant avers this Court resolved this issue in State v. Tanner, 457 So.2d 1172 (La.1984). She points out that in Tanner this Court held a motion to suppress evidence under La.Crim.Code art. 703(A) provides the appropriate procedural vehicle for challenging the admissibility of blood-alcohol test results, not on the grounds of any asserted constitutional violation, but on grounds the testing did not conform to the exacting standards established by the Department of Public Safety for conducting such tests when the results are used as a basis for applying the presumptive levels of intoxication set out in La.Rev.Stat. § 32:662. Tanner, 457 So.2d at 1174. In Tanner, Justice Marcus writing for the majority, stated: Generally, questions of admissibility, relevance and weight of evidence are properly resolved at trial on the merit s, not by pretrial motions. See State v. Garnier, 261 La. 802, 261 So.2d 221 (1972). However, the evidence in question in this case, the results of a chemical test, can give rise to a presumption that the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages. La.R.S. 32:662. This rebuttable presumption of intoxication can be used to satisfy the under the influence of alcohol element of the state's case in a driving while intoxicated prosecution, La.R.S. 14:98. Also, in negligent homicide prosecutions, the presumption can be used to establish the fact of intoxication from which the factfinder can determine criminal negligence. State v. Green, 418 So.2d 609 (La.1982). Consequently, it has been held that the wrongful introduction of a chemical analysis test result, which by law presumes a defendant to be intoxicated, is so prejudicial to the defendant that a resulting conviction cannot stand, even if there is other evidence of intoxication. State v. Morrison, 392 So.2d 1037 (La.1980); State v. Goetz, 374 So.2d 1219 (La.1979); State v. Graham, 360 So.2d 853 (La.1978). In view of the vital role that the legal presumption plays in determining guilt and the highly prejudicial nature of chemical test results if wrongfully introduced, it would serve the orderly administration of justice and further insure the defendant a fair trial if the admissibility of the test results could be determined in a pretrial proceeding. In the present case, defendant sought to raise objection to the admissibility of the chemical test results by way of a motion to suppress. La.Code Crim. P. art. 703 provides that a defendant adversely affected may move to suppress any evidence from use at trial on the merits on the ground that it was unconstitutionally obtained. However, the evidence in the present case was constitutionally seized. Schmerber v. State of California, 384 U.S. 757, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966). Therefore, a literal reading of art. 703 would seem to exclude the use of a motion to suppress to test admissibility. La.Code Crim. P. art. 3 provides that [w]here no procedure is specifically prescribed by this Code or by statute, the court may proceed in a manner consistent with the spirit of the provisions of this Code and other applicable statutory and constitutional provisions. Pursuant to this authority, this court has judicially extended the function of the motion to suppress to testimony alleged to be tainted by improper lineup procedures. State v. Wilkerson, 261 La. 342, 259 So.2d 871 (1972). For the reasons set forth above, we believe that the use of the motion to suppress to question the admissibility of chemical test results is consistent with the spirit of the provisions of this Code and should be permitted in keeping with the procedural guidelines set forth in art. 703(D). The burden of proving the admissibility of the chemical test results would be on the state as in the case of a confession or evidence seized without a warrant. Thus, pursuant to our authority under art. 3 to establish procedural guidelines in the absence of specific legislative procedural rules, we hold that a motion to suppress is available to question the admissibility of chemical test results that can result in the legal presumption of intoxication.