Court Opinion

ID: 6345595
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-31 21:17:14.181224+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:14.624477
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                   May 31, 2022
                             STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                                                                                 EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                                SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS                                  OF WEST VIRGINIA

Everett Frazier, Commissioner,
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles,
Respondent Below, Petitioner

vs.) No. 21-0347 (Ohio County 19-C-183)

Richard Hillberry, II,
Petitioner Below, Respondent

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION

       Petitioner Everett Frazier, Commissioner, West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, by
counsel Janet E. James, appeals the Circuit Court of Ohio County’s April 5, 2021, granting
respondent’s petition for appeal, reversing the order of the Office of Administrative Hearings
(“OAH”), and reinstating respondent’s driver’s license and commercial driver’s license.
Respondent Richard Hillberry, II, by Elgine Heceta McArdle, filed a response to which petitioner
submitted a reply.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these reasons,
a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        On January 18, 2013, respondent traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia, after work to attend
a wrestling tournament as a coach. Following the tournament, respondent went with friends to a
restaurant where respondent reportedly acted as the designated driver while his friend consumed
alcohol. At the end of the evening, respondent started the car to allow it to warm up, and he turned
off the headlights that had automatically come on when he started the car. Just after midnight on
January 19, 2013, his friend joined him in the car, and respondent pulled onto the road where he
traveled approximately 300 yards with only his fog lights on. At that point, he turned the headlights
on. When he stopped at a red light shortly thereafter, respondent noticed a police officer behind
him. After he made a turn, with the headlights on, the officer pulled him over. The officer claimed
to smell the “drinker’s breath” of the other occupant of the vehicle, and he noticed that respondent
had blood shot eyes. According to the circuit court’s order, “the arresting officer suspiciously

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turned off the audio of his body camera during the encounter.” 1 Respondent refused to perform
any field sobriety tests or a preliminary breath test. The arresting officer, Officer Hronek, placed
respondent under arrest and transported him to the Wheeling Police Department. 2 At 12:57 a.m.,
Officer Hronek read the West Virginia Implied Consent Statement to respondent and gave him a
copy. However, respondent refused to submit to the secondary chemical test as requested by the
officer. At 1:23 a.m., respondent again refused to perform the secondary chemical test.

        On February 8, 2013, the Division of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) issued orders of revocation
to respondent for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (“DUI”) and refusal to submit to
the designated secondary chemical test. The DMV contemporaneously issued an order of
disqualification of respondent’s commercial driver’s license (“CDL”) for the same offenses. On
April 7, 2016, the OAH conducted an administrative hearing, and on July 22, 2019, the OAH
entered its final order reversing the DMV’s order of revocation and order of disqualification for
DUI but upholding the order of revocation and order of disqualification for refusal. Respondent
appealed the OAH’s affirmation on the grounds of refusal to the Circuit Court of Ohio County.

        On April 5, 2021, the circuit court entered its order reversing the OAH’s final order as to
the revocation and disqualification based upon respondent’s refusal to perform the secondary
chemical test. In that order, the circuit court found that the only evidence in Officer Hronek’s
possession when he stopped respondent was that respondent had his fog lights on, as opposed to
his headlights, for only 300 yards. The circuit court noted that the DUI was dismissed and that the
City of Wheeling paid respondent $7,750 to settle a claim for false imprisonment arising out of
the underlying arrest that the OAH claimed to be “lawful” in its July 22, 2019, administrative
order. The circuit court found that the administrative order

       modifies the revocation of [respondent’s] license finding that insufficient evidence
       exists to revoke his license; instead, imposing its revocation incident to a lawful
       arrest. [] Hence, to permit the administrative revocation under these circumstances
       would be a violation of [respondent’s] constitutional rights. Moreover, under West
       Virginia Code § 29A-5-4(g) (1998), the administrative decision to revoke
       [respondent’s] driver’s license after finding that the arrest for DUI was unlawful is
       a ‘clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion’ and ‘ . . . clearly wrong in view of the
       reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the whole record . . .’ thereby
       meeting the standard of review in this appeal for REVERSAL. [] Accordingly, due
       to the OAH finding that the underlying DUI arrest was unlawful, the decision of
       the OAH to revoke [respondent’s] driver’s license is REVERSED.

The circuit court concluded that, “[a]s conceded by the OAH in the underlying [o]rder,

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         When respondent’s counsel was questioning the officer during the OAH hearing, counsel
indicated that the audio was in and out during the approximately twenty-minute exchange. In
response to questions regarding that system, the officer testified that the audio is connected to the
car dash cam and that signals were often weak, causing the audio to drop out.
       2
         Respondent was arrested for DUI 1st offense, driving with no headlights on, and no proof
of insurance.
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[respondent] was unlawfully arrested for DUI on the night in question as the underlying facts did
not amount to probable cause to arrest [respondent].” It went on to find that the officer’s actions
on the subject night were violative of respondent’s constitutional rights, as there was insufficient
cause to lawfully arrest respondent for DUI. Accordingly, the circuit court granted respondent’s
petition for appeal, reversed the OAH’s order, and reinstated respondent’s driver’s license and
CDL. Petitioner appeals from that April 5, 2021, order.

               “‘On appeal of an administrative order from a circuit court, this Court is
       bound by the statutory standards contained in W. Va. Code § 29A-5-4(a) and
       reviews questions of law presented de novo; findings of fact by the administrative
       officer are accorded deference unless the reviewing court believes the findings to
       be clearly wrong.’ Syl. Pt. 1, Muscatell v. Cline, 196 W.Va. 588, 474 S.E.2d 518
       (1996).” Syl. Pt. 1, Dale v. Odum, 233 W.Va. 601, 760 S.E.2d 415 (2014).

Syl. Pt. 1, Frazier v. Bragg, 244 W. Va. 40, 851 S.E.2d 486 (2020). Further,

              “[i]n cases where the circuit court has [reversed] the result before the
       administrative agency, this Court reviews the final order of the circuit court and the
       ultimate disposition by it of an administrative law case under an abuse of discretion
       standard and reviews questions of law de novo.” Syl. Pt. 2, Muscatell v. Cline, 196
       W.Va. 588, 474 S.E.2d 518 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 2, Reed v. Hall, 235 W. Va. 322, 773 S.E.2d 666 (2015).

        On appeal, petitioner sets forth a single assignment of error: the circuit court erred in
reversing the revocation and disqualification of respondent’s driver’s license and CDL on the bases
that respondent was not lawfully arrested; the companion criminal matter was dismissed; and he
received a settlement for a claim of false imprisonment. Petitioner argues that the circuit court’s
order subverts the public policy considerations behind the intent of the implied consent statutes by
rescinding the revocation for refusal on the grounds that there was not a lawful arrest in this case.
Petitioner argues that the court improperly failed to give deference to the OAH’s order and failed
to realize that probable cause to arrest and lawful arrest can exist even if there is insufficient
evidence to show that the driver was DUI. For those reasons, respondent predicates a revocation
for refusal on the sufficiency of the evidence for DUI when, in fact, refusal is a stand-alone ground
for revocation. Petitioner further contends that the OAH properly found that the investigating
officer had probable cause to arrest respondent and that respondent was lawfully arrested.
However, respondent refused to take the breath test. According to petitioner, without citing the
record, Officer Hronek did not administer field sobriety tests because respondent refused to submit
to them, which does not negate the other evidence of DUI.

       With regard to a reasonable suspicion for the stop, this Court has set forth the following:

                “When evaluating whether or not particular facts establish
       reasonable suspicion, one must examine the totality of the circumstances, which
       includes both the quantity and quality of the information known by the police.” Syl.
       Pt. 2, State v. Stuart, 192 W.Va. 428, 452 S.E.2d 886 (1994).

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Syl. Pt. 4, Dale v. Ciccone, 233 W. Va. 652, 760 S.E.2d 466 (2014). The DUI Information Sheet
indicates that the sole reason for the traffic stop was the fact that the officer observed respondent
driving with only his fog lights on. According to that form, respondent was not weaving, straddling
the center line, breaking erratically, or any of the other things that may indicate that respondent
was DUI. When respondent exited the vehicle, the officer observed that he was “normal” while
exiting the vehicle, standing, and walking to the roadside. The OAH’s factual findings are not in
conflict with the information set forth in the DUI Information Sheet. In the OAH’s final order, it
found that “[n]o observations were made or recorded concerning slurred speech, or any
unsteadiness or staggering. There were no alcoholic beverage containers found within the vehicle.”
Further, before Officer Hronek initiated the traffic stop, respondent recognized that he did not have
his headlights on and remedied the problem. Moreover, contrary to petitioner’s assertions, the
circuit court merely noted that the criminal charge against respondent was dismissed and
respondent received a monetary settlement based upon his false imprisonment related to this arrest.
The circuit court specifically stated that the dismissal of the criminal action was not binding upon
the circuit court in respondent’s appeal from the OAH’s final order. Thus, there is no indication
that the circuit court’s partial reversal of the OAH’s final order was based upon those actions.

         Considering the totality of the circumstances, including respondent’s repeated denials of
the consumption of alcohol on the night in question, we find that the circuit court did not err in
finding that “to permit the administrative revocation under these circumstances would be a
violation of [respondent’s] constitutional rights.” For these reasons, we affirm the circuit court’s
partial reversal of the OAH’s final order and the reversal of the revocation of respondent’s driver’s
license and disqualification of his CDL.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

ISSUED: May 31, 2022

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice John A. Hutchison
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice William R. Wooton

DISSENTING AND WRITING SEPARATELY:

Justice Tim Armstead

NOT PARTICIPATING:

Justice C. Haley Bunn

Justice Armstead dissenting:

               The OAH determined that Respondent was lawfully arrested for driving under the

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influence of alcohol. The OAH’s order notes that the traffic stop was initiated because Respondent
was driving at night without his headlights on; that the arresting officer detected the odor of alcohol
coming from Respondent; and that Respondent’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Respondent
refused to perform any field sobriety or preliminary breath tests. The officer then placed him under
arrest and transported him to the police station. The officer read the West Virginia Implied
Consent Statement to Respondent and gave him a copy. Respondent refused to submit to the
secondary chemical test. While the OAH ultimately determined that the evidence was not
sufficient to establish that Respondent was DUI, it also concluded that Respondent unlawfully
refused to submit to the secondary breath test and upheld the DMV’s revocation on that basis.

                The OAH is required to make a finding that an arrest for DUI was lawful. “To be
lawful, the arrest must be supported by probable cause.” Reed v. Pompeo, 240 W. Va. 255, 262,
810 S.E.2d 66, 73 (2018). This Court has held: “Probable cause to make an arrest without a warrant
exists when the facts and circumstances within the knowledge of the arresting officers are
sufficient to warrant a prudent man in believing that an offense has been committed.” Syl. Pt. 2, in
part, State v. Rahman, 199 W. Va. 144, 483 S.E.2d 273 (1996). Applying the probable cause
standard to this case, it is clear that the OAH’s ruling that the officer had probable cause to arrest
Respondent for DUI is supported by substantial evidence. The OAH assessed the totality of the
circumstances surrounding the arrest which included 1) Respondent driving at night without his
headlights on; 2) Respondent’s glassy, bloodshot eyes, and 3) the odor of alcohol detected on his
breath. We have previously held that glassy eyes and the odor of alcohol are relevant factors in an
administrative hearing concerning a driver’s license revocation. See Syl. Pt 3, White v. Miller, 228
W. Va. 797, 724 S.E.2d 768 (2012). Based on the totality of the circumstances, the officer had
probable cause to believe that Respondent was DUI when he made the arrest.

                In reversing the OAH’s ruling, the circuit court misstated the OAH’s findings and
asserted that the OAH concluded that Respondent “was unlawfully arrested for DUI.” The OAH
did not make such a finding. The circuit court clearly failed to distinguish between the OAH’s
two findings: 1) Respondent was lawfully arrested for DUI and refused to submit to a secondary
breath test; and 2) the evidence did not establish that Respondent was DUI. By misstating the
OAH’s finding on whether Respondent was lawfully arrested, the circuit court has substituted its
judgment for that of the OAH by concluding that Respondent was not lawfully arrested. Based on
this faulty conclusion, the circuit court ruled that the OAH erred by upholding the revocation based
on Respondent’s refusal to submit to the secondary chemical test. The circuit court’s ruling was
erroneous and is not supported by the evidence in the record.

                 This Court has stated that “[s]ince a reviewing court is obligated to give deference
to factual findings rendered by an administrative law judge, a circuit court is not permitted to
substitute its judgment for that of the hearing examiner with regard to factual determinations.” Syl.
Pt. 1, in part, Cahill v. Mercer County Bd. of Educ., 208 W. Va. 177, 539 S.E.2d 437 (2000).
Because the arrest was lawful, the OAH correctly determined that Respondent violated West
Virginia Code § 17C-5-4 (2020) 3 by refusing to submit to the secondary chemical test. The circuit

       3
           It provides, in relevant part:

                                                                                      (Continued . . .)
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court improperly reversed this ruling by substituting its judgment for that of the OAH on the issue
of whether Respondent was lawfully arrested.

                 Based on all of the foregoing, I dissent from the majority’s ruling affirming the
circuit court. I would have reversed the circuit court’s ruling and reinstated the OAH’s order of
revocation based on the undisputed fact that Respondent failed to submit to the secondary breath
test in violation of West Virginia Code § 17C-5-4.

       (a) Any person who drives a motor vehicle in this state is considered to have given
       his or her consent by the operation of the motor vehicle to a preliminary breath
       analysis and a secondary chemical test of either his or her blood or breath to
       determine the alcohol concentration in his or her blood, or the concentration in the
       person's body of a controlled substance, drug, or any combination thereof.
               ....
       (e) Any person to whom a preliminary breath test is administered who is arrested
       shall be advised verbally and given a written statement advising him or her of the
       following:

       (1) That the person's refusal to submit to the secondary chemical test, designated
       pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, will result in the revocation of his or her
       license to operate a motor vehicle for a period of at least 45 days and up to life[.]
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