Opinion ID: 874394
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Wheeler failed to preserve the issue of good cause for appeal.

Text: Wheeler also argues the Department's interpretation of good cause, as set forth in IDAPA 16.03.03.604, is unduly restrictive. Wheeler argues that a license suspension proceeding under the FLLSA is a quasi-contempt proceeding, and therefore, a hearing officer must find that a licensee willfully disregarded his duty to pay child support before taking away his license. In support of his argument, Wheeler cites to Butler v. Goff, 130 Idaho 905, 950 P.2d 1244 (1997). Wheeler argues in that case the Court interpreted Idaho's contempt statute as requiring a court to find an individual in willful disobedience of a court order before holding the individual in contempt. Wheeler argues that since the Department's interpretation of good cause under IDAPA 16.03.03.604 fails to recognize many of the non-deliberate reasons for failing to pay court ordered child support, such as the financial inability to pay, the Department's interpretation is contrary to judicial precedent and should be struck down. Although the district court went on to consider Wheeler's arguments regarding good cause below, [8] we find that Wheeler failed to preserve the issue for appeal. Idaho Code § 7-1410(1)(c) requires that evidence of good cause be brought forth at the hearing for license suspension. During his license suspension hearing, Wheeler deliberately chose not to present any evidence establishing any statutory or alleged good cause. [9] Yet, Wheeler appeared to argue for the first time on appeal before the district court that his financial inability to pay was his reason for not paying child support. Therefore, we decline to consider the issue of good cause on appeal.