Opinion ID: 2076369
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Officer Braswell's Direct Examination.

Text: In response to questions posed by the hearing examiner, Officer Braswell testified that at about 12:45 a.m. on December 20, 1988, he observed Mr. Eilers driving north on Wisconsin Avenue near Blues Alley. He related that the light at that location turned red, but that Mr. Eilers proceeded to drive through it. The officer stopped the car and asked Mr. Eilers to step out. He testified that Mr. Eilers' balance was swaying and unsure and that his eyes were bloodshot and watery. Officer Braswell also stated that he detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating both from the driver's breath and from his vehicle. He gave Mr. Eilers several sobriety field tests, directing him to walk heel to toe, to turn, and to place his right and left forefingers on his nose. The officer stated that Mr. Eilers failed all of these tests. Accordingly, he was placed under arrest and advised of his rights. Officer Braswell further testified that he read the entire District of Columbia implied consent form to Mr. Eilers. According to the officer, Mr. Eilers had an opportunity to read the form, and he told the officer that he understood it. Officer Braswell testified, however, that Mr. Eilers refused to submit to a chemical test, saying only that he did not feel like taking the test. The officer produced the implied consent form, which was introduced into evidence. The form was signed by Mr. Eilers. Questions 1, 2, and 3, which deal with whether Mr. Eilers' rights had been read to him and whether he understood them, were answered Yes. The fourth question, Do you consent to take two chemical tests? was answered No. It is not apparent to a lay observer whether these answers were written by the officer or by Mr. Eilers. To the right of the word No appears Mr. Eilers' signature. Immediately to the right of his signature there are the hand-printed words DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT. These words appear to have been inserted after the signature was written, for there is barely enough room for the signature between the word No and the hand-printing. Officer Braswell related that Mr. Eilers was taken to the Traffic Enforcement Branch at 501 New York Avenue, N.W., and that this was where he declined to consent to the tests. Officer Braswell also testified that he completed a Metropolitan Police Department Form 163A (Prosecution Form, DUI) [2] while Mr. Eilers was at that location.