Opinion ID: 2114349
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Decisions of Our Sister States

Text: Our conclusion that HGN testing is generally accepted is consistent with that of other states that have conducted Frye hearings on this question. See Ballard v. State, 955 P.2d 931 (Alaska App.1998) (HGN test results admissible to show that a defendant has consumed alcohol and is potentially impaired); State v. Superior Court, 149 Ariz. 269, 718 P.2d 171 (1986) (holding that with proper foundation, testimony regarding nystagmus is admissible as evidence that a defendant was driving while under the influence of alcohol); People v. Joehnk, 35 Cal.App.4th 1488, 42 Cal.Rptr.2d 6 (1995) (when combined with results of other field-sobriety tests and with the officer's observations, HGN is a useful tool in reaching opinion as to whether a defendant is intoxicated); State v. Klawitter, 518 N.W.2d 577 (Minn.1994) (HGN testing satisfies Frye test); State v. Baue, 258 Neb. 968, 607 N.W.2d 191 (2000) (HGN evidence admissible for limited purpose of showing the defendant had an impairment that may have been caused by alcohol, but not admissible for proving blood-alcohol concentration in excess of legal limit); State v. Baity, 140 Wash.2d 1, 991 P.2d 1151 (2000) (use of HGN as forensic test to determine intoxication satisfies Frye ). Defendant argues that reliance on these cases is misplaced either because the cases have been undermined by later developments or because the Frye issue was not as fully litigated, as it has been in the present case. Because we do not rely on these cases as support for our holding, but merely acknowledge that our conclusion is consistent with them, we reject defendant's argument that our reliance on these cases is misplaced.