Court Opinion

ID: 9770400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 16:03:47.131127+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:37:16.669540
License: Public Domain

DAVIDSON, Judge,
(dissenting).
This case was tried under Art. 802, Vernon’s P. C., which makes it unlawful for one to drive and operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this state while “intoxicated or under the influence of intoxicating liquor.”
The evidence relied upon by the state is that appellant was intoxicated from the combined and synergistic effect of the use of both alcohol and barbiturates. It is not contended that the intoxication was the result solely of the use of intoxicating liquor. In fact, the blood test to which appellant submitted failed to show such alcoholic content in the blood as would authorize the conclusion that he was intoxicated from the use of intoxicating liquor. It was the barbiturates together with the intoxicating liquor that brought about the intoxication, but for which there would have been no intoxication on the part of the appellant.
It is this fact situation that distinguishes this case from that of Kessler v. State, 136 Tex. Cr. R. 340, 125 S. W. 2d 308, which the state relies upon to sustain the conviction. In that case it was held that one who had taken amytal along with whisky was not entitled to have the jury instructed that if the intoxication was brought about by such combined use the accused would not be guilty. The contention was held untenable, in the following language:
“ * * * We are of the opinion that she [appellant] was not *409entitled to any such instruction. If she indulged in the use of amytal to such an extent that she thereby made herself more susceptible to the influence of intoxicating liquor than she otherwise would have been and by reason thereof became intoxicated from the recent use of ardent spirits, she would be in the same position as though her intoxication was produced by the use of whisky alone. A person who gets himself in the condition whereby he may become intoxicated from a lesser quantity of whisky than it would ordinarily take to produce intoxication is nevertheless intoxicated from the use of whisky" (Emphasis, supplied)
The distinction between the Kessler case and this case is apparent. In the Kessler case the evidence showed intoxication from whisky without necessarily the immediately preceding use of amytal. In the instant case the intoxicating liquor, of and within itself, did not produce intoxication.
If it is a violation of the law to drive a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state while one is under the influence of barbiturates, it becomes so by reason of Art. 6701d, R. C. S.
Barbiturates are hypnotic drugs and are dealt with by special legislation in Art. 726d, Vernon’s P. C.
The correctness of my position is demonstrated by the fact that under the holding of the majority the state would be authorized to convict without an affirmative finding by the jury that the intoxication was caused by the use of intoxicating liquor.
All that would be required would be a finding that appellant’s intoxication was caused by a narcotic or barbiturate taken in connection with a small or non-intoxicating amount of liquor.
So, also, under such holding, in a case where intoxication was caused by the use of narcotics with the proof showing the use of some intoxicating liquor, the accused would not be entitled to have the state’s case restricted to a prosecution for intoxication by the use of intoxicating liquor.
If the state charges, as here, that the accused was intoxicated by the use of intoxicating liquor, it should have to prove that allegation. I have always understood that to be the law, but it now appears that it is not the law.
I dissent.