Court Opinion

ID: 9693139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 16:24:58.972758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:03:03.773265
License: Public Domain

ANNETTE KINGSLAND ZIEGLER, J.
¶ 37. (concurring). I join the majority opinion's conclusion that Wis. Stat. § 343.303 "expressly bars" preliminary breath test (PBT) results in trials in which the charge is operating under the influence of an intoxicant in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1) (a) (OWI) or operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration in violation of § 346.63(l)(b) (PAC). See majority op., ¶ 4. As the majority opinion aptly states, "[T]he legislature's policy decision regarding the absolute inadmissibility of the PBT results under these circumstances simply could not be clearer." Majority op., ¶ 25. However, I write separately and concur because unlike the majority opinion, which concludes that the reliability of the PBT results is not dispositive, see majority op., ¶ 7, I conclude that as a matter of law PBT results are neither reliable nor admissible for the purpose of confirming or dispelling a defendant's specific alcohol concentration *294in an OWI or PAC trial. In such a trial, an expert cannot reasonably rely on PBT results for that purpose, and thus, PBT results are not admissible to prove or disprove a specific level of alcohol concentration. See Wis. Stat. § 343.303 ("The result of the preliminary breath screening test shall not be admissible in any action or proceeding except to show probable cause for an arrest, if the arrest is challenged, or to prove that a chemical test was properly required or requested of a person under s. 343.305(3)."). Finding an expert who wishes to rely on the PBT results to form an opinion does not transform the inadmissible and unreliable evidence into admissible evidence in an OWI or PAC trial, and such testimony would only confuse rather than assist the jury and would completely undermine the presumption afforded to proper chemical testing.
¶ 38. While there are other scenarios in which PBT results may be admissible, the circumstances of those cases do not involve PBT results being utilized to prove specific alcohol concentration as an element of the crime. See State v. Doerr, 229 Wis. 2d 616, 622-25, 599 N.W.2d 897 (Ct. App. 1999) (agreeing with the circuit court that PBT results were admissible at trial to assist the jury in evaluating the defendant's charges of battery to a law enforcement officer in violation of Wis. Stat. § 940.20(2) and resisting an officer in violation of Wis. Stat. § 946.41); State v. Beaver, 181 Wis. 2d 959, 969-71, 512 N.W.2d 254 (Ct. App. 1994) (concluding that PBT results may be admissible at trial as evidence of the defendant's comprehension of his Miranda rights or his ability to intelligently waive them). In contrast, in OWI and PAC cases, proving a specific alcohol concentration is often a hotly contested issue; a specific alcohol concentration is an element of *295the crime (PAC)1 and serves as statutorily relevant or prima facie evidence of an element of the crime (OWI).2 In these cases, PBT results are not deemed reliable for purposes of confirming or dispelling a defendant's specific alcohol concentration and thus are not admissible at trial to prove or disprove the defendant's alcohol concentration, even though PBT results are admissible at the probable cause hearing. Wis. Stat. § 343.303; State v. Faust, 2004 WI 99, ¶ 26, 274 Wis. 2d 183, 682 N.W.2d 371. PBT results are utilized preliminarily for the purpose of determining whether a suspected drunk driver should be arrested and required to submit to further chemical testing. See County of Jefferson v. Renz, 231 Wis. 2d 293, 313, 603 N.W.2d 541 (1999) ("[T]he language that the legislature chose to describe *296the test confirms that it intended the PBT to function as a screening tool to be used prior to arrest. . . . [W]hen it described the test as 'preliminary,' the legislature clearly indicated that it intended the test to be a preparation for something else. It seems obvious that something else — the main matter — is the arrest itself."). Unlike the PBT, such chemical testing is subject to certain safeguards to ensure reliability.
¶ 39. Essentially, Fischer's argument is that the statutory prohibition of PBT evidence is unconstitutional. Since the plain language of the statute precludes admissibility in the case at issue, Fischer would have the burden to prove the statute unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt. Simply stated, Fischer has not met that burden.
¶ 40. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Just as the defense should not be allowed to admit PBT results in an underlying OWI or PAC trial, the State should not be able to rely on those test results either. Merely because an expert may opine that he or she relied upon PBT results in order to form an opinion does not render the underlying test results admissible. As we have seen in other scenarios, an expert's opinion does not transform inadmissible evidence into admissible evidence. For example, if an expert were to review polygraph test results or voice stress analysis test results to form a basis for an opinion, would the court allow those underlying test results to come in at trial when they are otherwise precluded? See Wis. Stat. § 905.065; State v. Davis, 2008 WI 71, ¶ 20, 310 Wis. 2d 583, 751 N.W.2d 332; State v. Shomberg, 2006 WI 9, ¶ 39, 288 Wis. 2d 1, 709 N.W.2d 370 (citing State v. Dean, 103 Wis. 2d 228, 278-79, 307 N.W.2d 628 (1981)). In other words, otherwise inadmissible evidence is not automatically admissible simply because a party can *297find an expert who says that he or she relied upon that evidence in forming an opinion. In addition, to allow an expert to so opine without introducing the underlying data would tie the opposing party's hands with respect to cross-examination. The judge, as gatekeeper, has the capacity to determine whether certain evidence is admissible and whether certain expert testimony assists the jury in its determination, and PBT results have not been admissible in OWI or PAC trials. Here, admitting PBT results can serve only to confuse the jury and undermine the presumption of accuracy afforded to chemical tests like the Intoxilyzer. See State v. Busch, 217 Wis. 2d 429, 443, 576 N.W.2d 904 (1998) (explaining that approved quantitative breath alcohol test instruments, like the Intoxilyzer, are recognized methods of testing authorized by statute and are thus entitled to a prima facie presumption of accuracy); Wis. Admin. Code § TRANS 311.04 (May 1997); Wis JI — Criminal 230, 232 (When an approved testing device is involved, the jury is instructed that "[t]he law recognizes that the testing device used in this case uses a scientifically sound method of measuring the alcohol concentration of an individual. The State is not required to prove the underlying scientific reliability of the method used by the testing device. However, the State is required to establish that the testing device was in proper working order and that it was correctly operated by a qualified person.").
¶ 41. To admit PBT results in an OWI or PAC trial would unravel the presumption that currently exists with respect to the accuracy of the PBT and create a whole new burden of proof for the State. "The PBT device has not been approved by the [Department of Transportation (DOT)] and does not receive a prima facie presumption of accuracy to establish a defendant's blood alcohol level." Doerr, 229 Wis. 2d at 624-25 (ex*298plaining that because of the DOT's evaluation and approval, the legislature has determined that some breath test instruments are entitled to a prima facie presumption of accuracy; the PBT, however, is not included in the DOT's list of approved instruments and consequently has a limited evidentiary use in motor vehicle proceedings). Admitting PBT results at trial would erode the presumption and lead the jury to confusion rather than clarification when it comes to chemical test results. The legislature recognized that danger when it determined that in this type of trial, PBT results are not admissible to prove a specific level of alcohol concentration.
¶ 42. As a result, I conclude that the legislature has spoken, and PBT results are not admissible in an OWI or PAC trial for the purpose of confirming or dispelling a specific alcohol concentration. Even if an expert were to rely upon PBT results to form the basis of an opinion, the test results are still unreliable and inadmissible for the purpose offered in the case at issue. I agree with the majority, however, that this prohibition does not preclude the defense from offering an absorption curve defense. See majority op., ¶ 6. Still, just as I would not allow the State to introduce this PBT evidence at trial, the defense is precluded from offering an absorption curve defense based upon PBT results. Accordingly, I would conclude as a matter of law that an expert cannot reasonably rely upon PBT results to form an opinion in an OWI or RAC trial.
¶ 43. For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully concur.
¶ 44. I am authorized to state that Justices PATIENCE DRAKE ROGGENSACK and MICHAEL J. GABLEMAN join this concurrence.

 In order to find a defendant guilty of operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(b), the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (1) operated a motor vehicle and (2) had a prohibited alcohol concentration at the time he operated the motor vehicle. Wis JI — Criminal 2660. "Prohibited alcohol concentration" is defined as "an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more" if the defendant "has 2 or fewer prior convictions, suspensions, or revocations, as counted under s. 343.307(1)." Wis. Stat. § 340.01(46m)(a).

 In order to find a defendant guilty of operating while under the influence of an intoxicant in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a), the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (1) operated a motor vehicle and (2) was under the influence of an intoxicant at the time he operated the motor vehicle. Wis JI — Criminal 2663. "[A]n alcohol concentration of more than 0.04 but less than 0.08 is relevant evidence on the issue of intoxication," Wis. Stat. § 885.235(lg)(b), and "an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more is prima facie evidence" that the defendant was under the influence of an intoxicant, Wis. Stat. § 885.235(lg)(c).