Court Opinion

ID: 9623880
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:45:34.184695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:51:24.867395
License: Public Domain

Finney, Justice
(dissenting):
I respectfully dissent. I would hold that a person arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) is entitled to make a reasonable attempt to consult counsel before submitting to or refusing a breathalyzer test.
It is my view that a proper balancing of the state’s duty to prosecute DUI offenders and the right of an accused to consult counsel could be achieved by adopting the “reasonable attempt” test.11 feel that adoption of such a test would not place a prohibitive burden upon the state either in terms of affording the opportunity or establishing effective waiver. By its very nature, the “reasonable attempt” test minimizes the potential for abuse on the part of an accused.
The majority rationalizes that, if adopted, the “reasonable *373attempt” test would interfere with proper administration of the breathalyzer test. The majority opinion is ambiguous as to such interference and articulates no factual basis for prohibiting adoption of the test. However, as I read the rules and regulations for implementing S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2950 (1987), a period of twenty minutes is designated for observation of an accused before the breathalyzer test can be administered. See State v. Parker, 271 S.C. 159, 245 S.E. (2d) 904 (1978). I would suggest, as one option, that this twenty-minute period could be used to afford an accused the opportunity to communicate with an attorney without undue interference with or delay of the orderly police process.
To the extent the majority relies upon Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 86 S. Ct. 1826,16 L. Ed. (2d) 908 (1966), for the proposition that an accused has no constitutional right to refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test, I find such reliance inoperative under our statutory scheme. In Schmerber, the United States Supreme Court found no denial of due process rights nor any violation of the fourth, fifth or sixth amendment rights of the accused, based upon its conclusion that under California law, an accused could not legally refuse to take the test. Conversely, under the South Carolina statute, an accused may legally refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test and suffer the consequences — suspension of driving privileges.
The majority opinion does not elucidate the fact that in State v. Lewis, 266 S.C. 45, 221 S.E. (2d) 524 (1976), the accused was afforded the opportunity to make a telephone call both before and after being offered the breathalyzer test. The Court, in Lewis, said:
We are of the opinion that Lewis was entitled to a reasonable opportunity to obtain a blood test even though he refused to take the breathalyzer test. Although § 46-344 does not expressly give a person this right, we do not construe the statute as depriving a person arrested for driving under the influence, who refuses to take a breathalyzer test, of a reasonable opportunity to obtain a blood test. However, we do not agree that Lewis was not afforded a reasonable opportunity because Harrelson refused to affirmatively assist him. What is reasonable will, of course, depend on the circumstances of each case.
*374Additionally, I would reverse on the ground that the statement of the case reveals appellant was told that in order to obtain an alternative test, she would first have to submit to the breathalyzer test. Such a requirement is contra to the holding of this Court in State v. Lewis, supra.

 Under the “reasonable attempt” test, an accused in a DUI case is afforded a reasonable opportunity to consult counsel before being required to submit to or refuse a breathalyzer test. If, after a reasonable attempt, the accused is unable to obtain the advice of counsel, he may be required to proceed without the aid of counsel. Sites v. State, 300 Md. 702, 481 A. (2d) 192 (1984); People v. Gursey, 22 N.Y. (2d) 224, 292 N.Y.S. (2d) 416, 239 N.E. (2d) 351 (1968).