Court Opinion

ID: 9847599
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:02:50.667234+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:22.490021
License: Public Domain

TYSON, Judge
dissenting.
The majority’s opinion holds the trial court properly denied defendant’s motion to dismiss the charge of driving while license suspended. I disagree.
I. Driving While License Suspended
To sustain a conviction of driving while license suspended, the State must show: “(1) [defendant] operated a motor vehicle, (2) on a public highway, (3) while his operator’s license was suspended or revoked, and (4) had knowledge of the suspension or revocation.” State v. Woody, 102 N.C. App. 576, 578, 402 S.E.2d 848, 850 (1991) (emphasis supplied) (citing State v. Chester, 30 N.C. App. 224, 226 S.E.2d 524 (1976)).
A. Knowledge
The State must prove the defendant had knowledge that his driver’s license was suspended. “[T]he burden is on the State to prove that defendant had knowledge at the time charged that his operator’s license was suspended or revoked; the State satisfie[s] this burden when, nothing else appearing, it has offered evidence of compliance with the notice requirements of G.S. 20-48[.]” Chester, 30 N.C. App. at 227, 226 S.E.2d at 526.
*146B. Required Notice
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-48(a) (2005) states:
Whenever the Division is authorized or required to give any notice under this Chapter or other law regulating the operation of vehicles, unless a different method of giving such notice is otherwise expressly prescribed, such notice shall be given . . . by deposit in the United States mail of such notice in an envelope with postage prepaid, addressed to such person at his address as shown by the records of the Division.... Proof of the giving of notice in either such manner may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of the Division or affidavit of any person over 18 years of age, naming the person to whom such notice was given and specifying the time, place, and manner of the giving thereof.
(Emphasis supplied).
The State presented no evidence that the post office box address to where the Division of Motor Vehicles’ (“DMV”) sent notices of suspension was the street address shown on defendant’s driver’s license record. The only address shown on defendant’s DMV’s driver’s license record was his street address. All notices DMV sent to defendant were addressed to a post office box. The State presented no evidence tending to show defendant ever provided DMV with a different address from his street address contained on the certified driver’s license report, or that the report contained any other address. DMV failed to prove it provided defendant with the required statutory notice in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-48. The warrants for defendant’s arrest reflect his street address, not a post office box.
O. Presumption
“In North Carolina, as elsewhere, there is a prima facie presumption that material which is marked, postage prepaid, and correctly addressed, was received in due course.” In re Terry, 317 N.C. 132, 136, 343 S.E.2d 923, 925 (1986). Because the notices were not correctly addressed and sent to defendant’s address appearing on his DMV record, no presumption arises that defendant received the required statutory notices. Defendant is not obligated to present any evidence to rebut the presumption that he received notice when the State’s evidence failed to raise such a presumption.
The majority’s opinion holds the certificate signed by a DMV employee, Tina Raynor, is sufficient to constitute “proof of giving *147notice” under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-48. The certificate must be “sworn to and signed by an employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles, certifying that the original of the document was mailed to defendant on [a specific date] at his address shown on the records of the Department.” State v. Herald, 10 N.C. App. 263, 264, 178 S.E.2d 120, 121 (1970). The notices were not sent to the address shown on defendant’s DMV driver’s license record as statutorily required, but to another address. DMV’s signed affidavit raised no presumption that defendant received the notices.
The State failed to present any evidence that the address in DMV’s record was the post office box address where the revocation notices were sent, and failed to show that defendant received notice of the suspension of his license. The trial court erred in denying defendant’s motion to dismiss the charge of driving while license suspended.
II. Felony Operation to Elude Arrest
Defendant was also convicted under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141.5 for felony operation of a motor vehicle to elude arrest. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141.5 (2005) states:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on a street, highway or public vehicular area while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer who is in the lawful performance of his duties. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, violation of this section shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) If two or more of the following aggravating factors are present at the time the violation occurs, violation of this section shall be a Class H felony.
(1) Speeding in excess of 15 miles per hour over the legal speed limit.
(2) Gross impairment of the person’s faculties while driving due to:
a. Consumption of an impairing substance; or
b. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.14 or more within a relevant time after the driving.
(3)Reckless driving as proscribed by G.S. 20-140.
*148(4) Negligent driving leading to an accident causing:
a. Property damage in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000); or
b. Personal injury.
(5) Driving when the person’s drivers license is revoked.
(6) Driving in excess of the posted speed limit, during the days and hours when the posted limit is in effect, on school property or in an area designated as a school zone pursuant to G.S. 20-141.1, or in a highway work zone as defined in G.S. 20-14102).
(7) Passing a stopped school bus as proscribed by G.S. 20-217.
(8) Driving with a child under 12 years of age in the vehicle.
The jury found defendant to be guilty of: (1) driving while license suspended; (2) felony operation of a motor vehicle to elude arrest; (3) failure to heed light and siren; (4) reckless driving to endanger; (5) failure to stop for a stop sign; and (6) transporting unsealed spiritous liquor in the passenger area.
Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141.5, the combination of convictions for reckless driving and driving while license revoked supports the felony operation of a motor vehicle to elude arrest conviction. Due to the lack of statutorily required notice by DMV and the absence of any other evidence tending to show defendant knew his license was suspended, defendant’s charge of driving while license suspended should not have been submitted to the jury. In addition, defendant was not convicted of two of the required aggravating factors required to elevate his conviction for operation of a motor vehicle to elude arrest from a misdemeanor to a felony. The only aggravating factor the jury found defendant to be guilty of was reckless driving.
III. Conclusion
I vote to reverse defendant’s conviction for driving while license suspended, vacate the felony operation of a motor vehicle to elude arrest, and remand to the trial court for entry of judgment and resen-tencing for misdemeanor speeding to elude arrest pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141.5(a) and defendant’s other uncontested convictions. Otherwise, I find no error in defendant’s remaining convictions and the judgments entered thereon. I respectfully dissent.