Court Opinion

ID: 9721558
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:02:19.425023+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:27.185821
License: Public Domain

GARRARD, Judge,
concurring.
I concur with the majority, but feel the need to address an underlying issue. I have no quarrel with the concept of IC 9-80-2-2 or this court's interpretation of it. It seeks to avoid some very real problems involving actual police officers and some who might pretend to be. The legislative determination to subordinate the prosecution of some mine run traffic offenses to the values advanced by the statute is certainly within the legislative prerogative.
On the other hand it seems to me that this policy balance shifts when we are confronted with the case of driving impaired operators. Then the risk to life and limb caused by such driving should outweigh the values recognized by the statute. It also appears to me that a legislative exception for perceived OWI offenses might be enacted while maintaining the interests the statute seeks to protect through maintaining its application to other traffic offenses.
In the case before us Officer Goen may take satisfaction from the fact that he did prevent the further operation of the vehicle at the time in question and the risk of injury or death to others, including Ms. Miller. Yet the end result sends the wrong message. I, therefore, reluctantly concur.