Opinion ID: 1834292
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: On January 1, 1993, Abbott was stopped for a traffic violation near 48th and Q Streets in Lincoln. The arresting officer observed that Abbott had glassy eyes and slurred speech and that she smelled of alcohol. Abbott failed field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test. She was then transported to a detoxification center, where an Intoxilyzer test was administered. The test indicated an alcohol concentration of .174 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. Pursuant to § 39-669.15, Abbott was given a Notice/Sworn Report/Temporary License, which indicated she had submitted to a breath test. The notice informed Abbott that her license would automatically be revoked 30 days from the date of the arrest and that if she wished to contest the revocation, she could request a hearing by filing a petition with the department within 10 days. Abbott filed a petition for administrative hearing on January 7, and a notice of hearing dated January 8 notified Abbott that a hearing would be held on January 19. At the January 19 hearing, Abbott objected to the proceeding in its entirety. Abbott contended the hearing was being conducted using rules and regulations that had not yet been filed with the Secretary of State. The hearing officer overruled Abbott's objection and received the testimony of the arresting officer. Abbott was allowed to cross-examine the arresting officer and then testified on her own behalf. The director subsequently issued an order revoking Abbott's driving privileges for 90 days effective January 31, 1993. The order noted that the burden was on Abbott to demonstrate that the administrative revocation should be dismissed and noted that Abbott had argued that the rules and regulations governing the revocation hearing had not been properly promulgated. The director found that the hearing officer's jurisdiction was limited to the issues delineated in § 39-669.15 and stated that [w]hether rules and regulations were properly adopted is not one of the permissible issues. Abbott timely appealed the department's decision to the Lancaster County District Court. The court found that the evidence supported a conclusion that the rules and regulations required by § 39-669.15(7) had not been approved by the Governor or filed with the Secretary of State by January 1, 1993, the date Abbott was arrested, or January 19, 1993, the date of the revocation hearing. Further, the court found that Abbott's right to due process had been violated because the rules and regulations used to conduct the revocation hearing had not been approved and filed, as required by Neb.Rev. Stat. § 84-908 (Reissue 1987), at the time of the arrest.