Court Opinion

ID: 9785613
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 22:14:02.308561+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:36:30.481238
License: Public Domain

ROBINSON, Judge (specially concurring). {33} I agree with the result reached by the majority. I do not agree with the way it was reached. {34} The majority bases its affirmance of Defendant’s DWI conviction on so-called behavioral evidence alone, forsaking the BAC evidence. I am troubled by that. {35} I have no doubt that the reason the legislature passed the Implied Consent Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 66-8-105 to — 112 (1978, as amended through 1993), was to give some consistency, objectivity, and standardization to DWI enforcement and prosecution. {36} If we rely upon field sobriety tests alone as the majority does here, administered by different police officers in each and every case, we sacrifice objectivity, consistency, and standardization. What may seem to be a “strong” odor of alcohol on a driver’s breath to one police officer, may not be strong to another police officer. What may seem to be “bloodshot” eyes to one officer, may look less so, or not at all, to another officer. What may seem to be “slurred” speech to one officer, may not to another officer, especially if the individual speaks with a foreign accent, or if for any reason whatsoever it is difficult to understand what he is saying. {37} This Court considered a DWI case where a police officer testified that the defendant refused to participate in the field sobriety tests requested by that officer, thus imputing consciousness of guilt to the defendant. The officer did not tell the court, as was later evidenced by a videotape taken by the officer, that the defendant had a brace on his leg. So much for objectivity! See State v. Sanchez, 2001-NMCA-109, 131 N.M. 355, 36 P.3d 446. {38} For many years, one of the most often used field sobriety tests was the Horizontal Eye Gaze Nystagmus Test, commonly referred to as the HGN Test. Recently, this Court has questioned its scientific validity under a Daubert analysis. See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993); see also State v. Munoz, 2004-NMCA-103, 136 N.M. 235, 96 P.3d 796. {39} The arresting officer testified that he cheeked the logs to determine that the machine had been calibrated within five days prior to his administration of the test and that the logs showed that the machine was in working order. He also explained that the machine appeared to be in working order, that he was trained in using the machine, and that he administered the test according to his training, thus satisfying the foundational requirement of State v. Smith, 1999-NMCA-154, ¶ 10, 128 N.M. 467, 994 P.2d 47. {40} State v. Onsurez, 2002-NMCA-082, 132 N.M. 485, 51 P.3d 528, was decided several months after this case. It held that the State must show that a breathalyzer machine has been certified by the State Laboratories Division “in cases where the defendant properly preserves the objection.” Id. ¶ 13. In order to preserve an issue for appeal, a party must make a timely objection that specifically apprises the trial court of the error that is claimed and invokes an intelligent ruling thereon from the court. See State v. Jacobs, 2000-NMSC-026, ¶ 12, 129 N.M. 448, 10 P.3d 127. Here, Defendant did not properly preserve her objection. {41} I agree with the State that the breathalyzer machine was properly used, and the evidence of the breath test, while not reliable to show aggravated DWI, does show at least a BAC 0.08 level for simple DWI. I do not feel confident resting a conviction on field sobriety tests alone. I would rely also on the BAC results. {42} The majority relies on Gutierrez for a conviction in our case based upon behavioral evidence. But, in Gutierrez, there was evidence that Defendant was weaving into other traffic lanes, and Defendant narrowly missed hitting a truck. Defendant smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes; Defendant also failed three field sobriety tests; and Defendant admitted drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. From this evidence, the officers concluded that Defendant was intoxicated. 1996-NMCA-001, ¶ 4, 121 N.M. 191, 909 P.2d 751. In our case, the behavioral evidence is not as strong or convincing as in Gutierrez. {43} Under the facts of this case, there are essentially two ways for Defendant to be convicted of simple, not aggravated, DWI. One way that Defendant could be convicted of DWI is to be in violation of Section 66-8-102(A), which states that “[i]t is unlawful for a person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor to drive a vehicle within this state.” Id. This violation could be demonstrated by behavioral evidence of the physical appearance, actions, and mannerisms displayed by Defendant at the time of arrest. The second way that Defendant could be convicted of DWI is for a violation of Section 66-8-102(C)(l), which states that it is unlawful for “a person who has an alcohol concentration of eight one hundredths or more in his blood or breath to drive a vehicle within this state.” Id. {44} I would first note that if the majority found a level of at least 0.08, no behavioral evidence is necessary to support it since that constitutes a presumption of guilt for DWI. However, Section 66-8-110 states: B. When the blood or breath of the person tested contains: (2) an alcohol concentration of more than five one-hundredths but less than eight one-hundredths, no presumption shall be made that the person either was or was not under the influence of intoxieating liquor. However, the amount of alcohol in the person’s blood may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. § 66-8-110(B)(2). We have a different situation here. If Defendant had a breath alcohol test result of 0.04 to 0.08, there is no presumption one way or the other. But, under this subsection, “the amount of alcohol in the person’s blood may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor.” Id. (emphasis added). {45} So, when a defendant is in that middle range of BAC, 0.04 to 0.08, the statute invites us to add other kinds of evidence, like slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, stumbling, or the results of field sobriety tests, to the BAC results, in order to determine if Defendant was driving while intoxicated. There is nothing in the statutes that would prevent us from adding behavioral evidence to a BAC of 0.08, especially if Defendant has presented evidence to challenge the level of intoxication. Furthermore, there was neither a refusal to take the breathalyzer test, nor an accident which could justify an aggravated DWI. {46} Since the majority has reduced the level or degree of conviction from aggravated, down to simple DWI based upon blood/ breath alcohol (BAC) level, it seems to me that they cannot disregard BAC evidence and analyze the case only on behavioral evidence. {47} A BAC level of at least 0.08 for simple DWI is indeed a lesser included offense of aggravated DWI, which requires a BAC of at least 0.16. There cannot be any aggravated DWI based upon behavioral evidence alone. How can we then conclude that simple DWI based upon behavioral evidence is a lesser-included offense of aggravated DWI based upon a specific BAC level of at least 0.16? {48} I would not rely upon behavioral evidence alone, which is just too subjective to receive my stamp of approval. I, therefore, combine the behavioral evidence with the “reduced” BAC level of 0.08 to reach an affirmance of Defendant’s conviction of the lesser included offense of simple DWI.