Opinion ID: 1292001
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Period of Revocation

Text: This civil administrative proceeding was brought pursuant to Iowa Code section 321J.12 because Lee failed a breath test. The relevant portion of that statute states: 1. Upon certification, subject to penalty for perjury, by the peace officer that there existed reasonable grounds to believe that the person had been operating a motor vehicle in violation of section 321J.2, that there existed one or more of the necessary conditions for chemical testing described in section 321J.6, subsection 1, and that the person submitted to chemical testing and the test results indicated ... an alcohol concentration equal to or in excess of the level prohibited by section 321J.2 [(.08)], ... the department shall revoke the person's driver's license ... for the following periods of time: a. One hundred eighty days if the person has had no revocation under this chapter. Iowa Code § 321J.12 (Supp.2003). The administrative law judge in this case found all elements of this civil statute were met and upheld revocation of Lee's license for 180 days. In reversing, the district court looked to Iowa Code 321J.4(3), which provides that If the court defers judgment pursuant to section 907.3 for a violation of section 321J.2, and if the defendant's driver's license ... has not been revoked under section 321J.9 or 321J.12, or has not otherwise been revoked for the occurrence from which the arrest arose, the department shall revoke the defendant's driver's license ... for a period of not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days. Id. § 321J.4(3). The district court, apparently finding Iowa Code section 321J.4(3) more specifically applied to the facts of this case, reduced the period of Lee's revocation in this administrative matter to ninety days. Iowa Code sections 321J.4 and 321J.12 are, at a fundamental level, different statutes in purpose, nature, and consequence. As we stated fifteen years ago in Johnson v. Iowa Department of Transportation, There are three basic methods by which an operator's license may be suspended in Iowa when an individual is arrested for driving while intoxicated. The first of these ... is based upon failure of a chemical test at the time of arrest. Iowa Code § 321J.12 (1987). The second means by which a suspension may be incurred involves a refusal to take a chemical test by the operator. Iowa Code § 321J.9 (1987). In both of these cases revocation is the result of administrative action taken by [IDOT] pursuant to chapter 17A of the Code. A final means by which revocation may be imposed is as the result of a conviction for driving while intoxicated. Iowa Code § 321J.4 (1987). While this revocation too is an administrative action taken by [IDOT], it is based upon a conviction for the offense in a court of law. 446 N.W.2d 778, 779-80 (Iowa 1989). Although Lee's criminal troubles arose from the same set of facts as this administrative proceeding, the two statutes at issue in this case  Iowa Code sections 321J.4 and 321J.12  are distinct and generally proceed independently of one another. See Iowa Dep't of Transp. v. Iowa Dist. Ct., 670 N.W.2d 114, 118 (Iowa 2003); Heidemann v. Sweitzer, 375 N.W.2d 665, 668 (Iowa 1985); Severson v. Sueppel, 260 Iowa 1169, 1176, 152 N.W.2d 281, 285 (1967); Gottschalk v. Sueppel, 258 Iowa 1173, 1180, 140 N.W.2d 866, 870 (1966). But see Iowa Code § 321J.13(6)( b )-( c ) (2003) (mandating that certain trial court rulings are binding in administrative proceedings). IDOT's original notice of revocation to Lee clearly indicated the present matter was an administrative proceeding under Iowa Code section 321J.12. See Iowa Code § 321J.13(1) (requiring notice). The legislature has limited the issues in this administrative proceeding. Id. § 321J.13(2). Here the only issues properly before the agency were (1) whether the police officer had reasonable grounds to believe Lee was driving drunk, (2) whether a breath test was administered, and (3) whether that test indicated an alcohol concentration greater than or equal to .08. See id. Whether Lee was operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated was not an issue in this administrative matter. Cf. Saunders v. Comm'r of Pub. Safety, 226 N.W.2d 19, 22 (Iowa 1975). That Lee received a deferred judgment in his criminal matter does not preclude IDOT from seeking a 180-day revocation for Lee's breath test failure. The outcome of any criminal prosecution is of no consequence in this civil proceeding although they may arise out of the same motor vehicle operation. Shellady v. Sellers, 208 N.W.2d 12, 14 (Iowa 1973). Even though Lee's deferred judgment limits the period of the revocation imposed for his criminal matter to ninety days, IDOT may administratively revoke Lee's license for 180 days for failing the breath test. This proceeding was brought as an administrative matter pursuant to Iowa Code section 321J.12, and no provision in that statute permits a court to reduce the period of that revocation to ninety days upon evidence the driver received a deferred judgment in a related criminal matter. The district court erred when it ruled otherwise. We reverse the district court and reinstate the agency's 180-day revocation of Lee's driver's license.