Court Opinion

ID: 9850220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:53:39.855169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:33.306332
License: Public Domain

BURNETT, J.,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. In my opinion, the issue of whether the circuit erred by determining the City violated S.C-Code Ann. § 56-5-2953 is preserved.
In order to preserve an issue for appellate review, a party must file a motion to alter or amend the judgment when the party raises an issue to the lower court and the court fails to rule upon the issue. E.g., Elam v. South Carolina Dep’t of Transp., 361 S.C. 9, 602 S.E.2d 772 (2004); I'On, L.L.C. v. Town of Mt. Pleasant, 338 S.C. 406, 526 S.E.2d 716 (2000); see also Rules 52(b) and 59(e), SCRCP. However, a motion to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59(e) was not necessary in this case. Appellant’s failure to move to seek a ruling from the lower court on the applicability of S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-2953(B) (2006) does not violate the long-established preservation requirements.
Both parties argued the applicability of subsections (A) and (B) extensively in their briefs and at the hearing before the lower court. The lower court’s determination hinged on whether subsection (B) provided an excuse for the violation of subsection (A). The lower court determined no exception in subsection (B) applied. Although the lower court’s order only addressed subsection (A), the fact that subsection (B) did not apply was implicit in the order and, therefore, preserved for review.
*18A preservation issue did not arise when the lower court implicitly ruled in the negative that no exception applied, as opposed to alternatively ruling in the positive that an exception applied. For preservation purposes, it was unnecessary for the lower court to rule upon an exception when no such exception applied. Hence, despite the fact the entire opinion addressed only subsection (A), Appellant was free to argue on appeal an exception in subsection (B) applied.
Section 56-5-2953(B), states, in pertinent part:
Failure by the arresting officer to produce the videotapes required by this section is not alone a ground for dismissal of any charge made pursuant to Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945 if the arresting officer submits a sworn affidavit certifying that the videotape equipment at the time of the arrest ... was in an inoperable condition, ... or in the alternative ... it was physically impossible to produce the videotape because the person needed emergency medical treatment, or exigent circumstances existed.
(emphasis added). In the instant case, the videotape began upon activation of the officer’s blue lights and recorded two field sobriety tests and the Miranda warnings. The tape stopped before the officer administered a third field sobriety test and a “walk and turn” test, and before Respondent was arrested. The officer testified he assumed the videotape was running as usual and did not know the tape had expired prematurely. The municipal court correctly denied Respondent’s motion to dismiss based on the “exigent circumstances” exception in subsection (B).
Because it was unnecessary for Appellant to make a motion pursuant to Rule 59(e), the issue of whether subsection (B) applied is preserved for review. Accordingly, I would reverse the lower court and reinstate the decision of the municipal court.