Opinion ID: 1275347
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: breath test

Text: The defense counsel claims that the evidence regarding the breath test was improperly admitted into trial because oral notice of the implied consent advisory had not been properly provided to Bishop, as required by K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1001; because an interpreter had not been properly provided to Bishop, as required by K.S.A. 75-4351; and because there had not been a proper evidentiary foundation laid for the test. The defense counsel objected to the evidence regarding the breath test at trial, based on each of these grounds. All of these objections were overruled by the trial court. On appeal, Bishop adds a fourth challenge to the admission of evidence at trial regarding the breath testBishop claims that the proper protocol required in administering the breath test was not followed by the officers who conducted the test.
K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1001 provides that before a breath test is administered, the person being requested to submit to the test must be given oral and written notice of the statutory language set forth in 8-1001(f)(1). Subsection (3) also provides: It shall not be a defense that the person did not understand the written or oral notice required by this section. Under this statute, before a breath test is administered, oral and written notice shall be given to the accused. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1001(f); see Meigs v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue, 251 Kan. 677, Syl. ¶ 1, 840 P.2d 448 (1992); State v. Luft, 248 Kan. 911, 912-13, 811 P.2d 873 (1991) (statutory provisions, which require notice of certain rights be given to a person before a breath test is administered, are mandatory, not merely directory; failure to provide such notice requires suppression of the test results). The defense counsel concedes that the trooper tried to comply with 8-1001 in administering the breath test by giving Bishop a written copy of the notice required and by reading the notice to Bishop out loud before the test was conducted. Even though the trooper knew that Bishop could not hear the oral notice required by 8-1001, the trooper subjectively believed that Bishop understood his rights before he consented to the breath test. The defense counsel claims that the trooper could not and did not provide Bishop with oral notice of his rights, since he was deaf, and that this violated the mandatory notice requirements in 8-1001. In Kim v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue, 22 Kan. App.2d 319, 916 P.2d 47, rev. denied 260 Kan. 994 (1996), the defendant's driver's license was suspended for 1 year by the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDR), pursuant to 8-1001, for his refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test. The defendant was a Korean immigrant, and he claimed to have a problem understanding English, including the oral notice which was provided before the test was conducted. The defendant asked the trial court to review the KDR's decision, but the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the KDR. The defendant appealed to the Court of Appeals. On appeal, the defendant argued that he did not understand the officer who read him the implied consent advisory, which informed the defendant that the refusal to take an alcohol test could result in suspension of his driver's license for at least 1 year. See K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1001(f)(1)(F). According to the defendant, his lack of understanding in regards to the oral notice and the officer's failure to give such notice in Korean amounted to a failure to provide him with the oral notice required by 8-1001. The Court of Appeals rejected the defendant's argument and upheld the KDR's license suspension. 22 Kan. App.2d at 322. In so holding, the Court of Appeals stated: Our research has found no Kansas cases addressing a plaintiff's failure to understand the required notices because of a language barrier. Nevertheless, KDR cites to several cases from other jurisdictions which are persuasive. See State v. Webb, 212 Ga. App. 872, 443 S.E.2d 630 (1994) (hearing- and speechimpaired defendant); State v. Tosar, 180 Ga. App. 885, 350 S.E.2d 811 (1986) (Spanish-speaking defendant); Warner v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 498 N.W.2d 285 (Minn. App. 1993) (deaf plaintiff); Yokoyama v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 356 N.W.2d 830 (Minn. App. 1984) (Japanese-speaking plaintiff); Com. v. Mordan, 419 Pa. Super. 214, 615 A.2d 102 (1992), aff'd 534 Pa. 390, 633 A.2d 588 (1993) (deaf-mute defendant). In those cases, each court held that the failure to understand the warnings is not a defense and does not render the results of any tests inadmissible. Conversely, Kim cites to no authority which has held that a defendant must understand the warnings given. Furthermore, K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 8-1001(f)(3) states that `[i]t shall not be a defense that the person did not understand the written or oral notice required by this section.' See Buchanan v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue, 14 Kan. App.2d 169, 171, 788 P.2d 285 (1989). 22 Kan. App.2d at 322-23. Based on the Kim case, we hold that the officer properly provided Bishop with the oral and written notice required by 8-1001(f), regardless of whether Bishop understood the notice or not. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1001(f)(3). This issue fails.
K.S.A. 75-4351 provides, in pertinent part: A qualified interpreter shall be appointed ... for persons ... who [are] deaf.... (e) prior to any attempt to interrogate or take a statement from [persons] who [are] arrested for an alleged violation of criminal law of the state or any city ordinance. At the time Bishop's breath test was administered, he had been arrested for an alleged violation of criminal law of the State. According to Bishop, the breath test amounted to an interrogation. Since a sign language interpreter was not provided for him during such interrogation, Bishop claims that the breath test/interrogation violated K.S.A. 75-4351 and should have been suppressed. In arguing that the breath test amounted to an interrogation, the defense counsel points to the following facts: The trooper stopped Bishop's car, arrested him, and handcuffed him. The trooper transported Bishop to the county jail and elicited information from him through the use of a breath test. Since Bishop was in custody (i.e., he was not free to leave), and information (his blood-alcohol concentration) was being requested from him, the defense counsel asserts that Bishop was being interrogated during the breath test. Thus, the defense counsel claims that a qualified sign language interpreter should have been appointed for Bishop prior to the breath test/interrogation, in order to interpret the implied consent advisory for Bishop, pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4351. In response, the State argues that there is no evidence in this case that Bishop was being interrogated or even that a statement was being requested from him during the administration of the breath test. As such, the State asserts that K.S.A. 75-4351 did not apply to Bishop's breath test situation and did not require an appointment of an interpreter. According to the State, the trooper properly provided written and oral notice of the implied consent advisory to Bishop as required by 8-1001(f). Thus, the State argues that the breath test and its result were properly admitted into evidence at trial. This issue revolves around the definition of interrogation. The Court of Appeals addressed the definition of an interrogation and whether a breath test fell into such definition in State v. Leroy, 15 Kan. App.2d 68, 803 P.2d 577 (1990). In the Leroy case, the defendant was arrested for DUI and requested an attorney. The law enforcement officer then asked the defendant to take a breath test. The defendant requested his attorney again, and the officer told him that he had no right to an attorney prior to taking the test. The defendant refused the breath test. At trial, the court suppressed the evidence regarding the defendant's refusal to submit to a breath test because he had not been provided an attorney as he had requested. Upon the State's appeal, the Court of Appeals stated: Communicative testimony is protected by the privileges provided in the Fifth Amendment; real or physical evidence is not protected. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 764, 16 L. Ed.2d 908, 86 S. Ct. 1826 (1966). In distinguishing between communicative testimony and real or physical evidence, the court in Schmerber held that the taking of blood samples for the purpose of determining intoxication was not communicative testimony. 384 U.S. at 765. .... ... Only questions that require suspects to communicate any personal beliefs or knowledge of facts meet the definition of communicative testimony that qualifies as custodial interrogation. Muniz, 496 U.S. [582, 110 L. Ed.2d 528, 110 S. Ct. 2638 (1996)]. .... Based on Miranda and its progeny, it is clear that [the officer's] request that defendant submit to a breath test did not qualify as custodial interrogation. Because the taking of physical evidence to determine intoxication does not classify as custodial interrogation, defendant's Fifth Amendment privileges were not invoked and he had no right to an attorney. Thus, his refusal to submit to the requested test was properly admitted. 15 Kan. App.2d at 71-72. Based on the Leroy case, the request for a defendant to take a breath test or an actual breath test does not amount to an interrogation. Further, in Com. v. Mordan, 419 Pa. Super. 214, 615 A.2d 102 (1992), aff'd 534 Pa. 390 (1993), the Pennsylvania Superior Court held that a deaf mute motorist is not entitled to a sign language interpreter prior to submission to a breathalyzer test so that the defendant can make an informed choice as to whether to take the test and that the breathalyzer results should not be suppressed because the services of an interpreter were not provided before the motorist submitted to the test. Mordan, after his arrest, was informed both orally and in writing of the information he was statutorily entitled to be informed of. The trial court specifically found Mordan could not read lips and could not read well enough to understand that he had a right to refuse the test. Pennsylvania has a statute similar to our interpreter statute. Pennsylvania held that participation in a breathalyzer test is not the equivalent of an interrogation, nor is it a criminal proceeding. The Pennsylvania court stated: The driver's license suspension proceeding by the Department of Transportation for a refusal to take a breathalyzer test is an independent civil proceeding separate and distinct from any criminal charges brought against a motorist. [Citation omitted.] Although the results of the breathalyzer test may be used in a criminal proceeding against appellant, the breathalyzer, itself, is not a criminal proceeding. Since a breathalyzer test is not considered an interrogation or a criminal proceeding within the meaning of 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8701, we cannot hold that deaf persons have a constitutionally protected liberty interest to an interpreter before exercising a refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test. 419 Pa. Super. at 222. For a similar result, see State v. Weishar, 78 Or. App. 468, 717 P.2d 231, rev. denied 301 Or. 338 (1986), and Warner v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 498 N.W.2d 285 (Minn. App. 1993). We hold that K.S.A. 75-4351 does not require the appointment of a qualified interpreter to inform a deaf driver, believed to have driven a motor vehicle while intoxicated, of the consequences of a refusal to take a breathalyzer test as set forth in 8-1001 because the driver's participation in a breathalyzer test is not equivalent to an interrogation or criminal proceeding within the meaning of K.S.A. 75-4351.
The admission or exclusion of evidence, subject to exclusionary rules, is within the trial court's discretion. State v. Coleman, 253 Kan. 335, 344, 856 P.2d 121 (1993). Discretion is abused only when judicial action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or when no reasonable person would adopt the trial court's view. State v. Baker, 255 Kan. 680, Syl. ¶ 9, 877 P.2d 946 (1994). State v. Haddock, 257 Kan. 964, 978, 897 P.2d 152 (1995). To create an evidentiary foundation for a breath test, the State must introduce evidence into trial that the testing equipment was certified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), that the testing procedures were used in accordance with the manufacturer's operational manual and the requirements set out by the KDHE, and that the person who operated the testing equipment was certified by the KDHE to operate such equipment. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1002(a)(3)(A)-(C); see State v. Lieurance, 14 Kan. App.2d 87, 91, 782 P.2d 1246 (1989), rev. denied 246 Kan. 769 (1990). ([T]o introduce the results of a breath test, the prosecution must lay a foundation showing that the testing machine was operated according to the manufacturer's operational manual and any regulations set forth by the Department of Health and Environment.); State v. Rohr, 19 Kan. App.2d 869, 870, 878 P.2d 221 (1994) (`[T]he legislature has expressly found that, for breath test results to be reliable, the testing equipment, the testing procedures, and the operator of the equipment must all be certified.'); K.A.R. 28-32-1. In this case, the State introduced actual documents, indicating certification of the test equipment and the test procedures, into evidence at trial. For instance, the State discussed and introduced into evidence Exhibit 5, an original document indicating that the KDHE had certified the specific breath test machine used for Bishop's test. The State should have made it more clear on the record what this document was and that it was an original document. However, the fact that it was an original equipment certification document can be determined from the record and, thus, it was properly admitted into evidence to lay a foundation for the breath test. If in fact Exhibit 5 was not an original document certifying the Intoxilyzer 5000 machine used in Bishop's breath test, this does not create reversible error. It is the defendant's responsibility to show error based on the record on appeal. The record does not include Exhibit 5, and the defendant did not ask that the exhibit be added to the record. Further, in an attempt to prove that the testing procedures were certified by the KDHE, the State also discussed and introduced into evidence Exhibits 2, 3, and 4. Exhibit 4 was a copy of the certified monthly standard report for the breath test machine used for Bishop's test. The original of this document was sent to the KDHE. Exhibit 3 was a copy of a record indicating that the solution used in calibrating Bishop's breath test machine was certified. Exhibit 2 was the original operator's weekly log record, indicating how many tests had been run on the machine so the operator would know when the calibration solution needed to be changed (after 14 tests). Finally, the trooper who administered the breath test to Bishop testified that he was certified to perform the test at the time it was conducted. The trooper was testifying as to his own personal knowledge that he was certified by KDHE to perform the breath test on Bishop. This testimony amounted to substantial competent evidence which the trial court could use to conclude that the trooper was certified to conduct the test. Thus, this evidence, as a whole, created a proper evidentiary foundation for the breath test so that the breath test results were properly entered into evidence. However, Bishop points out that some of the documents entered into evidence to prove that the test equipment and testing procedures were certified were not original certification documents. Since the documents were not originals, Bishop contends that the required certification was not proven and that a foundation for the breath test and its result was not properly laid. Bishop is incorrect. Without question, the better practice is for the State to produce the original documents of certification for admission into evidence. 19 Kan. App.2d at 871. However, 8-1002(b) specifically allows copies of the certification documents to be entered into evidence to prove that the appropriate certification for the test equipment and procedures existed. (The signed certification or a copy or photostatic reproduction thereof shall be admissible in evidence in all proceedings brought pursuant to this act.... K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-1002[b].) It is true that using copies of documents can sometimes violate the hearsay rule and the best evidence rule. However, both of these rules contain exceptions which apply here and allow copies of documents to be entered into evidence. The best evidence rule allows copies of documents to be introduced into evidence if the trial judge finds the writing is an official record. K.S.A. 60-467(a)(2)(E). All of the copies which were introduced into evidence in this trial were copies of official certification documents that had been sent to the KDHE. Further, the hearsay rule allows copies of documents to be admitted into evidence if the document purports to be a copy of an official record and it has been authenticated to prove the content of the record. K.S.A. 60-460(o). All of the copies of documents that were entered into evidence at trial were copies of official recordsofficial certification records sent to the KDHE. A copy of an official record is authenticated if evidence has been introduced sufficient to warrant a finding that the copy is a correct duplicate of an official record. K.S.A. 60-465(2). The copied documents at issue were discussed and explained by the current custodian of the documents and the person who was the custodian of the documents at the time that Bishop's test was administered. These witnesses testified that these copies of the original certification records were true and accurate duplicates of the original records. Thus, based on these exceptions to the best evidence rule and the hearsay rule, the copies of the certification documents were properly entered into evidence. See Lieurance, 14 Kan. App.2d at 91 (citing K.S.A. 1988 Supp. 60-467[a][5]); 60-465. Relying on the original documents (the original log book of calibrations and the test machine's original certification document), the copied documents (a copy of the certified monthly standard report for the breath test machine and a copy of the document certifying the calibration solution), and the trooper's testimony that he was certified to conduct breath tests at the time he administered Bishop's breath test, the State laid an adequate foundation for admitting the breath test evidence into trial. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence regarding the breath test into trial. Finally, Bishop objects to the results of the breath test (.149) being admitted into evidence at trial because no witness laid an evidentiary foundation for test results by testifying as to what the.149 test results meant. This issue fails for two reasons. First, when the State introduced the results of the breath test, the defense counsel did not specifically object to this evidence on the basis that no witness had testified regarding what .149 meant. Instead, the defense counsel merely objected to the breath test and its result being introduced into evidence because a proper foundation had not been laid for the breath test. An issue not presented to the trial court will not be considered for the first time on appeal. State v. Alderson, 260 Kan. 445, Syl. ¶ 7, 922 P.2d 435 (1996); see also State v. Boyd, 257 Kan. 82, 89, 891 P.2d 358 (1995) (timely objection necessary to give trial court an opportunity to correct alleged errors). Since the defense counsel did not make this objection at trial regarding the State's failure to explain the .149 breath test result, he cannot now raise this issue on appeal. See Lieurance, 14 Kan. App.2d at 93. (Lieurance argues that the Intoxilyzer results, `.234' were not explained to mean grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. Lieurance did not raise this at trial, so it cannot be raised on appeal.) Second, even if the defense had properly objected to this issue at trial and properly raised it on appeal, this issue would fail. The trooper who conducted Bishop's breath test was asked to explain the procedure he followed in conducting a breath best. The trooper testified as follows: [I]n this instance I believe I showed him how to blow into the tube, and the machine will do the rest. It will give a sample which they have to blow long and hard enough for the Intoxilyzer to obtain a sample of the deep lung air, and it will stop and tell what the blood alcohol content is. It does it through a display. Q [By prosecutor]: And does that come out as a printout piece of paper? A: Yes, it does. Q: And do you have that printout here today? Yes, I do. .... Q: Now, I would ask you to go ahead and identify what I have marked there as State's Exhibit Number One. A: This is a printout form, evidence printout form, and it shows the observation time, the subject's name, the Intoxilyzer serial number, shows the air blank, the standardextended standard, and shows the subject's test and another air blank. .... Q: Trooper Zeller, then, what were the results of that test? .... A: The subject's test result was .149. Based on the trooper's testimony, the jury was aware that the.149 result from Bishop's breath test was his blood alcohol concentration. Further, Jury Instruction No. 12 explained to the jury the elements necessary to convict Bishop of driving under the influence. This instruction stated: The defendant is charged with the crime of operating or attempting to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The defendant pleads not guilty. To establish this charge, each of the following claims must be proved: 1. That the defendant drove or attempted to drive a vehicle; 2. That the defendant, while driving or attempting to drive, was under the influence of alcohol to a degree that rendered him incapable of safely driving a vehicle; and 3. That this act occurred on or about the 9th day of August, 1996, in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The defendant is charged in the alternative with operating a vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more or operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. You are instructed that the alternative charges constitute one crime. You should consider if the defendant is guilty of operating a vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more and sign the verdict upon which you agree. (Emphasis added.) Based on this jury instruction, the jury was aware that if Bishop had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more, then he was guilty of DUI. Relying on the trooper's testimony and jury instruction No. 12, the jury had enough information to figure out what Bishop's breath test result meant. The jury did not need a full medical explanation of how blood alcohol concentration is determined or a full technical explanation of exactly how the machine determines this content. This issue fails.
As previously mentioned, prior to the trial, the defense counsel filed a motion in limine asking the trial court to suppress the evidence regarding the breath test and its result because the test was not conducted according to police protocol. The trial court held a hearing on the motion on February 27, 1997, and denied it. At trial, when evidence of the breath test and its results were introduced, the defense counsel objected to the evidence because oral notice of the implied consent advisory was not provided to Bishop, pursuant to 8-1001; because an interpreter was not provided, pursuant to 75-4351; and because there was not a proper evidentiary foundation laid for the test. All of these objections were overruled by the trial court. However, the defense counsel did not object to the admission of evidence regarding the breath test and its result on the ground that the proper protocol had not been followed in conducting the test. On appeal, the defense counsel claims that the trial court erred in denying the motion in limine. According to the defense counsel, evidence of the breath test and its result should have been excluded from trial because proper protocol in conducting the test was not followed. The defense counsel asserts that the trooper did not observe Bishop for 20 minutes or check into Bishop's mouth for foreign substances before the breath test was conducted so as to ensure its validity. Due to this failure to follow protocol, Bishop claims that an adequate evidentiary foundation was not laid for the breath test and its result. Thus, Bishop asserts that the evidence regarding the breath test result was improperly admitted into evidence. If a motion in limine is denied, the moving party must object to the evidence at trial to preserve the issue on appeal. State v. Johnson, 255 Kan. 252, Syl. ¶ 1, 874 P.2d 623 (1994). At trial in this case, the defense counsel did not object to the evidence regarding the breath test and its result on the ground raised in the motion in liminethat the trooper who conducted Bishop's breath test failed to follow the proper test protocol. Thus, this issue was not preserved for appeal. This issue fails.