Opinion ID: 1601462
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Execution of the Implied Consent Forms.

Text: Hemphill complains that the request for body specimens which followed his arrest for driving while intoxicated were improperly executed because an affidavit on the request form was not signed or notarized. He points to wording on the request form itself which included the affidavit form and this statement: IMPORTANT: This affidavit must be attested to by a court notary, or other person authorized under Section 80.9, Section 321.2 or Section 78.1 of the Iowa Code.... The issue is whether failure to complete the affidavit and notary form vitiates the implied consent procedure. Iowa Code section 321B.4(1983) provided: Any person who operates a motor vehicle in this state upon a public highway under circumstances which give reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been operating a motor vehicle in violation of section 321.281, is deemed to have given consent to the withdrawal of specimens of the person's blood, breath, saliva, or urine, and to a chemical test or tests of the specimens for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of the blood, subject to this section. The withdrawal of the body substances and the test or tests shall be administered at the written request of a peace officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been operating a motor vehicle in violation of section 321.281.... (Emphasis added.) It is apparent from a reading of this section that, while it requires a written request, it does not require an affidavit or notarization. Nor does any other section of chapter 321B make such requirements for the request forms. The wording of section 321B.4, insofar as any requirement for notarization is concerned, must be contrasted with the wording of section 321B.13 (1983) which provided for revocation of the operator's license upon the officer's sworn report concerning the driver's refusal of the test. That section provided: If a person refuses to submit to the chemical testing, a test shall not be given, but the department, upon the receipt of a sworn report of the peace officer that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been operating a motor vehicle in violation of section 321.281, that specified conditions existed for chemical testing pursuant to section 321B.4, and that the person had refused to submit to the chemical testing, shall revoke the person's license or permit to drive.... (Emphasis added.) The sworn report required by this section in order to revoke a license was, in Hemphill's case, furnished by the peace officers. Contrary to Hemphill's argument, however, a similar affidavit and notarization form was not required on the request for body specimens under section 321B.4, even though provisions for them were included on the request form itself.