Opinion ID: 1920407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: remaining evidentiary objections.

Text: Pangman challenges several other evidentiary rulings made by the circuit court. As noted above, the decision to admit or exclude evidence will only be overturned on appeal where the circuit court has abused its discretion. Hinz, 121 Wis. 2d at 285. To find an abuse of discretion an appellate court must find either that discretion was not exercised or that there was no reasonable basis for the trial court's decision. Wisconsin Public Service Corp., 104 Wis. 2d at 395.
Pangman contends the circuit court abused its discretion by admitting into evidence without a reasonable basis the result of Pangman's Intoxilyzer 5000 breath test. [18] Breath test results in Wisconsin are entitled to a prima facie presumption of accuracy where, as here, the breath test was administered within three hours of the event to be proved. Section 885.235(1)(c), Stats.; see also State v. Disch, 119 Wis. 2d 461, 472-77, 351 N.W.2d 492 (1984). A breath test result may be excluded, however, where the accuracy of the test is so questionable that its result is not probative, and therefore irrelevant, or is so questionable that its probative value is outweighed by its prejudicial effect. City of New Berlin v. Wertz, 105 Wis. 2d 670, 674-75, 214 N.W.2d 911 (Ct. App. 1981). Pangman argues his breath test result is nonprobative, and therefore irrelevant, because the Intoxilyzer 5000 overestimated his blood alcohol concentration by utilizing a partition ratio greater than Pangman's. We conclude Pangman's argument fails for two reasons, both as discussed above. First, because sec. 346.63(1)(b), Stats., sets forth a per se breath violation, there is no requirement that a direct correlation between breath and blood alcohol concentrations exist. Second, to challenge a breath test result on the basis of a blood alcohol concentration calculated by means of a partition ratio presumes the accuracy of the breath test. Pangman further argues his breath test result is inherently prejudicial because the Intoxilyzer 5000 misleads the jury into believing that a person's total exhalation is measured, when in fact only the last 81 ml. of deep lung air is analyzed. In Disch, this court stated [a]ny contentions that the test result is unreliable or inaccurate goes only to the weight of the evidence as a matter of defense, not to its admissibility. Disch, 119 Wis. 2d at 476. While in Disch we quoted with approval the exceptions set forth in Wertz, we are not persuaded by Pangman's argument that the Intoxilyzer 5000 is so inaccurate or unreliable as to fall within the scope of the Wertz exceptions. We note that the fact the Intoxilyzer 5000 measures only the last 81 ml. of a person's exhalation is one of the primary bases of the breath testing device's reliability. Breath testing devices have been criticized as inadequate indicators of alcohol impairment because their results may overestimate breath alcohol concentration by measuring alcohol in the mouth. For example, a breath test given to a person immediately after he or she uses a mouth rinse containing alcohol could indicate a significant breath alcohol concentration even though no alcohol had been ingested. As Dr. Field testified, however, the Intoxilyzer 5000 is designed to test only deep lung air so that it does not measure mouth alcohol. The amount of alcohol in a person's deep lung air, Dr. Field testified, is representative of the amount of alcohol in the person's entire body. [19] The circuit court's admission of Pangman's breath test result was proper pursuant to sec. 885.235(1)(c), Stats. In accord with Disch, Pangman's argument that the Intoxilyzer 5000 is inaccurate and unreliable because it measures only the last 81 ml. of a person's exhalation was heard by the jury at trial.
Pangman finally contends the circuit court abused its discretion by admitting into evidence without a reasonable basis Dr. Field's testimony as to the degree of impairment caused by a breath alcohol concentration of 0.1 grams of alcohol or more in 210 liters of breath. It is alcohol in the blood which results in impairment, Pangman again asserts, not alcohol in the breath. [20] We find no merit in Pangman's contention. Pangman relies again upon Walstad, but as discussed above, blood alcohol is merely an indicator of brain alcohol and the record amply indicates that breath alcohol is an accurate and reliable indicator as well. The evidence relating Pangman's breath test result to impairment was relevant for several purposes. Dr. Field's testimony supported the accuracy and reliability of the breath test result. As noted above, Dr. Field testified that a person's degree of alcohol impairment could be based upon a breath test result alone. Dr. Field further stated that breath alcohol is an accurate measure of impairment because the breath alcohol is related to the alcohol in the rest of the body including the blood in the brain. The Intoxilyzer 5000 is a reliable indicator of alcohol impairment, Dr. Field continued, because it does not normally give a reading for alcohol which was not deep in the lungs and therefore in whole body. In addition, Dr. Field's testimony corroborated the opinion of the Wisconsin state patrol officer who arrested Pangman that Pangman was under the influence of an intoxicant. The officer testified he observed Pangman driving erratically on an interstate highway. The officer stopped Pangman's vehicle. While explaining to Pangman why he had been stopped, the officer noted an odor of alcohol on Pangman's breath. The officer further observed that Pangman's eyes were red and glassy. The officer asked Pangman to recite the alphabet. Pangman was unable to do so until singing the alphabet on the fifth attempt. The officer then asked Pangman to perform two field sobriety tests. The officer observed that Pangman was unable to perform either test. Dr. Field's testimony established that the actions observed by the officer were consistent with the nature of impairment caused by a breath alcohol concentration of 0.1 grams or more of alcohol in 210 liters of breath. By the Court. The judgments of conviction of the circuit courts in State v. McManus and State v. Pangman are affirmed.