Opinion ID: 2213080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: As pertinent here Code section 321B.3 provides:

Text: Any person who operates a motor vehicle in this state upon a public highway, under such circumstances as to give reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, shall be deemed to have given consent to the withdrawal from his body of specimens of his blood, breath, saliva, or urine, and to a chemical test or tests thereof, for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his blood, subject to the provisions hereinafter set out.    [I]f such person refuses to submit to any chemical testing, no test shall be given, and the provisions of section 321B.7 shall apply.   . (Emphasis added). In pertinent part Code section 321B.7 provides: If a person under arrest refuses to submit to the chemical testing, no test shall be given, but the commissioner of public safety, upon the receipt of a sworn report of the peace officer that he had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person to have been operating a motor vehicle upon a public highway    while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage    shall revoke his license or permit to drive    for a period of not less than one hundred twenty days nor more than one year;   . (Emphasis added). In Shellady v. Sellers, supra, 208 N.W.2d at 13, we considered the second issue presented here in light of the following principles:   . Our review and that of the district court is de novo. Section 321B.9. Proceedings under chapter 321B are administrative and not criminal. Severson v. Sueppel, 260 Iowa 1169, 1176, 152 N.W.2d 281, 285. A motorist who appeals from an order revoking his driver's license has the burden to prove the material allegations of his petition by a preponderance of the evidence. Buda v. Fulton, 261 Iowa 981, 985, 986, 157 N.W.2d 336, 338, 339. The question of whether plaintiff was in fact operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, the major issue in a criminal prosecution for O.M.V.U.I. under Code section 321.281, is not an issue in this civil proceeding under the above quoted provisions of Code sections 321B.3 and 321B.7. Shellady v. Sellers, supra, 208 N.W.2d at 14, and citations. The issue presented here is whether Officer Wooten had reasonable grounds to believe plaintiff was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. The reasonable grounds test is met where the facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time he was required to act warrant a prudent man in believing the offense has been or is being committed. Shellady v. Sellers, supra, 208 N.W.2d at 14, and citations. See also, Severson v. Sueppel, 260 Iowa 1169, 1174, 152 N.W.2d 281, 284 and Code section 755.4. Upon observing plaintiff's vehicle weaving across the center line of the street Officer Wooten was justified in stopping the vehicle and conducting an investigation. Shellady v. Sellers, supra, 208 N.W.2d at 14, and citations. Plaintiff's erratic driving, the smell of alcohol on his breath, his difficulty in producing his driver's license and his unstable walk lead us to conclude Officer Wooten had reasonable grounds to believe plaintiff had been operating his motor vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and reasonable ground for requesting plaintiff to submit to chemical testing. We agree with the order and judgment of the trial court. The record discloses plaintiff has retained his license under an injunction issued by the trial court. This case is remanded for order setting aside the injunction. A period of revocation as originally ordered by the commissioner of public safety should now be enforced. Affirmed and remanded.