Opinion ID: 1934583
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Driveway as an Occupied Structure.

Text: Although we determined in Baker that a driveway satisfied the definition of occupied structure, we are not prepared to extend Baker beyond the specific circumstances of that case. In Baker, we were asked to determine whether the burglary of a house was elevated to first-degree burglary under section 713.3 when the perpetrator attempted to flee from the house and garage and inflicted bodily injury on the homeowner while she was in the driveway of the home. The homeowner had driven her automobile onto the driveway of the home while the burglary was in progress. While we found a driveway to be an occupied structure, our analysis did not include the same consideration as presented in this case. The same analysis we employed in our determination whether a sidewalk, stoop or other similar appurtenance constitutes an occupied structure should be followed to determine whether a driveway can be an occupied structure. Thus, we must look to see if there was evidence to satisfy one of the alternative tests of the second prong of the occupied structure definition. See Iowa Code § 702.12. In this case, this requires us to first consider any evidence indicating whether the driveway was occupied for the purpose of carrying on an activity. There is no claim it was adapted for the overnight accommodation of persons. As with the sidewalk and stoop, there was no evidence in this case indicating any occupancy of the driveway for the purpose of carrying on an activity. Instead, the evidence revealed the driveway was merely an area of gravel leading to the house and garage. Nevertheless, the State points to the testimony indicating Myers occasionally kept farm vehicles on the gravel driveway. It claims this constituted sufficient evidence the driveway was an occupied structure under the alternative definition of adapted ... for the storage or safekeeping of anything of value. See id. The word adapt means to make fit, often by modification. See Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 13 (10th ed.1998). Additionally, the word storage connotes some degree of permanency, not transience. See State v. Gargiulo, 103 N.J.Super. 140, 246 A.2d 738, 740 (1968); State v. Breidenbach, 5 Ohio App.2d 52, 213 N.E.2d 745, 746 (1964). We believe our legislature selected these words to impart the same considerations we recognized in our determination that the sidewalk and stoop were not occupied structures. It confirms burglary is an offense against the security and repose expected in certain places. In this case there was no evidence the driveway was made or modified as a place for the storage or safekeeping of valuable property. It was merely a lane from the street to the house and detached garage. The occasional presence of a vehicle on a driveway would not satisfy the requirement that the driveway was adapted for the storage or safekeeping of property. We find no evidence in the record to show the driveway constituted an occupied structure.