Court Opinion

ID: 9297158
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-29 21:05:12.703682+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:13:24.424162
License: Public Domain

2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U
                                          No. 2-21-0424
                                 Order filed November 29, 2022

      NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except
      in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                             IN THE

                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                           ) of Du Page County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       )
v.                                     ) No. 20-DT-311
                                       )
NATALIE ZINELLI,                       ) Honorable
                                       ) Michael W. Reidy,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE BIRKETT delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Hutchinson and Hudson concurred in the judgment.

                                            ORDER

¶1     Held: The evidence was sufficient to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant
             was incapable of safely driving her vehicle, and her conviction for driving under
             the influence of cannabis is affirmed. The written sentence for disobeying a stop
             sign conflicted with the court’s oral pronouncement and is modified to accord with
             the court’s oral pronouncement.

¶2     Following a bench trial before the circuit court of Du Page County, defendant, Natalie

Zinelli, was found guilty of driving under the influence of cannabis that rendered her incapable of

driving safely (DUI cannabis) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(4) (West 2020)) and disobeying a stop sign

(id. § 11-1204(b)). Defendant was sentenced to a 12-month term of court supervision on the DUI

cannabis charge, and, for disobeying a stop sign, her sentencing order read that she was sentenced
2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

to a 12-month term of conditional discharge. Defendant appeals her conviction for DUI cannabis,

arguing that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was incapable of safely

driving because the evidence was insufficient to support a finding on that element of the offense.

Defendant also appeals her sentence for disobeying a stop sign because it exceeds the maximum

sentence allowed for the offense. We affirm as modified.

¶3                                     I. BACKGROUND

¶4     We summarize the facts relevant to the issues on appeal appearing in the record. At about

11 p.m. on February 10, 2020, defendant was stopped by Glen Ellyn police officer David Gill, a

trained and certified drug recognition expert (DRE), for disobeying a stop sign. After field testing

and interviews at the police station, defendant was charged with various counts of DUI relating to

alcohol and cannabis and a count of unlawfully possessing a “stun gun” (which was eventually

nol-prossed).

¶5     On March 11, 2021, the matter advanced to a bench trial on the various DUI counts and

the count of disobeying a stop sign. The parties stipulated that Gill had received training and

certification in drug recognition, as provided by the International Association of Chiefs of Police

and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Specifically, the parties testified that

Gill was an expert in detecting and identifying individuals under the influence of drugs and in

identifying the category of drugs causing the impairment.

¶6     Gill testified that he had been a DRE for nearly two years and had evaluated 45 persons for

drug influence and drug impairment. In addition to the evaluations, he had arrested a further 20

persons for DUI drugs and had arrested a further 80 to 100 arrests for DUI alcohol or combination

of alcohol and drugs. Gill also had been employed by the Village of Glen Ellyn as a police officer

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for nearly 13 years and had received training in both detection of alcohol impairment along with

the drug recognition training. Regarding the alcohol detection training, he had also received

training in administering and interpreting the standardized field sobriety tests, and he had received

training at the police academy and through the Glen Ellyn police department. Gill briefly

explained that the drug recognition protocol consisted of a 12-step process that included various

tests, observations, and interviews. According to Gill, the drug recognition protocol was a

generally accepted and reliable means of identifying whether a subject was under the influence

and impaired by a class or classes of drugs. Gill also testified that, as the culmination of his drug

recognition training, he was required to perform the protocol on 12 subjects and his opinion and

conclusions had to correctly identify the type of drug or drugs in at least 75% of the 12 test subjects.

¶7      Turning to the February 10 incident, Gill testified that he was on a stationary traffic detail

at the intersection of Main Street and Hillside in Glen Ellyn. At approximately 11 p.m., Gill

observed defendant’s vehicle approach the stop sign. The vehicle did not slow and proceeded

through the intersection. After defendant drove through the intersection without obeying the stop

sign, he initiated a traffic stop. Gill identified defendant as the driver, and he testified that she

pulled into a parking lot adjacent to a restaurant.

¶8      Gill engaged defendant in discussion about the reason for the stop. When defendant rolled

down her window, Gill detected a strong odor of freshly burnt cannabis and a faint odor of alcohol

from the interior of her vehicle. Defendant told him she had left her job at a bar in Roselle at

around 9 p.m., and defendant did not tell him she had made any stops between Roselle and Glen

Ellyn. Defendant admitted to Gill that she had consumed a single margarita earlier, but Gill could

not recall that defendant mentioned a specific time that she had the drink. Defendant denied that

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

she had smoked cannabis that day but admitted that another person had smoked cannabis in her

car. Defendant admitted, however, that she had smoked cannabis the previous day. Defendant did

not fumble passing her driver’s license or insurance card to Gill. Gill observed that defendant’s

eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and he believed that her pupils were dilated. Gill explained that

dilated pupils suggested that an individual had consumed cannabis or alcohol. Based on his

observations, Gill decided to administer field sobriety tests to defendant as part of a drug

recognition evaluation to determine whether defendant was impaired.

¶9     Gill asked defendant to exit her vehicle, and defendant did not appear to have any difficulty

exiting the car, and she did not stumble or fall once she had exited. Additionally, no alcohol or

drugs were found in defendant’s car, and no warrant for toxicology testing or for a urinalysis was

sought. As part of the drug evaluation protocol, Gill asked defendant to take a Breathalyzer test,

but she declined. Gill then conducted preliminary questioning about what defendant had to eat or

drink, and whether she had medical conditions. AS the next step of the protocol, Gill took

defendant’s pulse, determining it to be elevated. Gill explained that cannabis and alcohol use can

cause an elevated pulse.

¶ 10   Gill performed the field sobriety tests at the scene of the stop and again at the station as

part of his drug recognition evaluation, except for the alphabet test, which he performed only at

the scene of the stop. Gill explained that the field sobriety tests are standardized to indicate alcohol

intoxication but are not calibrated to determine intoxication from other drugs. Nevertheless, the

field sobriety tests could show impairment from any category of drug, including alcohol. The tests

are not 100% accurate to show alcoholic intoxication or other impairment.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

¶ 11   During the walk-and-turn test at both the scene and the station, defendant showed six of

eight total clues, which indicated impairment. During the one-leg-stand test administered at the

scene, defendant showed one clue out of a possible four clues, and this did not indicate impairment.

However, when the one-leg-stand test was repeated at the station, defendant showed three of the

four clues standing on her right leg and two of the four clues standing on her left leg, indicating

impairment.

¶ 12   Gill administered a modified Romberg test which allows the administering officer to

observe the subject for telltale tremors, swaying, and inability to follow directions as well as to

measure the subject’s ability to determine the passage of time. Gill explained that time distortion

can impact the subject’s ability to drive safely. The administering officer instructs the subject to

stand with her hands at her side, feet together, and to tell the officer when 30 seconds have passed.

A difference of five seconds or more (i.e., less than 25 seconds or more than 35 seconds) indicates

subjective time distortion. At the scene, defendant exhibited eyelid tremors, body tremors, and

was swaying an inch from side to side, which were indicative of cannabis use. Defendant also

stopped the count at 21 seconds, which showed her time-sense was distorted. At the repeat of the

test at the station, Gill observed eyelid tremors and a one-inch sway, and defendant stopped the

test at 18 seconds. Gill explained that the station test “could indicate that somebody is feeling the

effects” of the drug at the time of the second modified Romberg test.

¶ 13   Gill next administered the finger-to-nose test. This test is a divided attention test and shows

if the subject can follow directions and concentrate, and whether the subject is experiencing

memory loss. To perform the test, the subject closes her eyes and tilts back her head, while holding

her hands at their sides. The administering officer will give a command of “left” or “right,” and

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

the subject will touch the tip of the index finger of the corresponding hand to the tip of her nose

and immediately return it to her side. Forgetting the rules of the test is a general indication that

the subject could be under the influence of cannabis.

¶ 14   When Gill administered the finger-to-nose test to defendant at the scene, she missed the tip

of her nose with the tip of her index finger multiple times, opened her eyes, brought her head

forward, had eyelid tremors, and had difficulty in following his directions for the test. When

defendant performed the test at the station house, she again missed the tip of her nose with the tip

of her index finger “several” times, brought her head forward, exhibited eyelid tremors, and had

difficulty in following his directions. In addition, during the station test, defendant swayed and

exhibited body tremors. Defendant’s performance, her tremors, lack of concentration, and the

memory lapses were all indications of possible cannabis consumption.

¶ 15   Gill next administered the convergence test, which consisted of moving stimulus in two

circles before the subject’s eyes to determine if they are tracking the stimulus. After the circles,

the administrating officer moves the stimulus directly toward the subject’s nose, stopping about

an inch away, to determine if the subject’s eyes can both converge on the stimulus. If the subject’s

eyes cannot converge, this result would be consistent with possible cannabis consumption.

Defendant exhibited a lack of convergence, which was consistent with cannabis and alcohol

consumption.

¶ 16   Gill administered the alphabet test at the scene but omitted it from his testing at the station.

Defendant was instructed to recite the alphabet from C to M, but she recited the alphabet from C

to P and, after she realized that she had passed M, apologized. Gill explained that defendant’s

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

recitation showed a lack of attention to the directions and such a result is consistent with being

under the influence of cannabis.

¶ 17   As part of his protocol, Gill examined the inside of defendant’s mouth. He observed a

green and white film or “sludge” on defendant’s tongue, raised taste buds, and a green leafy

substance on her molars. He also smelled the faint odor of alcohol and the odor of freshly burnt

cannabis on defendant’s breath as he was conducting the test. Based on his observations, he

concluded that they were consistent with the recent consumption of cannabis. Gill repeated the

test at the station and made similar observations. Also at the station, Gill shined an ultraviolet

light into defendant’s mouth, and he observed a fluorescent glow on defendant’s tongue. Gill

explained that chlorophyll will fluoresce under ultraviolet light and, because it was present on

defendant’s tongue, was consistent with the possible consumption of cannabis.

¶ 18   The trial court also watched the recordings admitted into evidence. Specifically, the court

observed the recording of the scene and of the administration of the testing in the station. At the

station, Gill asked defendant the date, and defendant thought it was February 7 or 9. At the time

he asked the question, it was in the early morning hours of February 11. Defendant also mistook

the time to be 10 or 11 p.m. when the correct time was shortly after midnight. Gill took defendant’s

blood pressure, which was elevated.

¶ 19   Gill administered the darkroom test at the station. The darkroom test is designed to

measure how the subject’s pupils respond to light. Gill also used a card with various pupil sizes

on it and was held up to defendant’s eyes to measure the size of her pupils. Defendant’s response

to light was consistent with cannabis use as was the resting size of her pupils, which were dilated

above the norm.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

¶ 20    As part of his evaluation, Gill asked defendant to rate her level of impairment on a scale of

1-10, with 1 being completely sober and 10 being the most impaired she had ever been. The

purpose of the self-rating test is to ascertain whether the subject understands that he or she is

impaired. Defendant responded that her level of impairment was a four. Defendant appeared

drowsy, which could have been from fatigue. When asked, however, defendant reported that she

had slept for 11 hours the previous night, that she took a sleeping pill every night at 8 p.m., and

that she had not taken the pill yet that night.

¶ 21    Defendant was asked to submit to a Breathalyzer test, a blood draw, and to a urinalysis.

She declined to undergo all the tests.

¶ 22    Gill opined that, based on defendant’s elevated blood pressure, the various tremors he

observed, her elevated pulse, his observations, and the totality of the circumstances, she was under

the influence of drugs and alcohol. Gill further opined that defendant could not safely operate a

motor vehicle.

¶ 23    Gill was the only witness for the State. After his testimony was concluded, defendant

moved for a directed finding, arguing that defendant was not under the influence of alcohol or

cannabis or both, only that there was a possibility that defendant had consumed alcohol or

cannabis.

¶ 24    The trial court first considered the evidence regarding alcohol. Based on the testimony

regarding the field sobriety testing at the scene and the court’s own observations of defendant in

the recordings, particularly her lack of slurred speech, the court concluded that the State had failed

to prove that she was under the influence of alcohol, and that failure also applied to the combined

influence of alcohol and other drugs.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

¶ 25   The trial court proceeded to consider the charge of DUI cannabis. We reproduce the court’s

comments because, in rendering its verdict at the close of the proceedings, the court relied on these

remarks and incorporated them in its decision:

       “[W]e have a driving component, which is always of most interest to the Court. This was

       not a simple situation where the defendant did a California stop at a stop sign. From the

       Court’s view of it, it looks like the vehicle was going about 20 miles an hour through the

       stop sign. It didn’t even look like it was fazed by the stop sign, and it went through at a

       dangerous clip through that stop sign.

               Now that always—a traffic offense in and of itself, as [defense counsel] correctly

       points out isn’t always indicative, but I believe in this case does show impaired driving.

       There were other—there was—obviously from that driving, it appeared either as if the

       defendant was oblivious to the stop sign or didn’t care. In either case, that was a dangerous

       situation. I would note that when the officer had an encounter with the defendant, the

       defendant at one point said well, it was the other officer that showed me this, and it was

       the same officer that had performed the [horizontal gaze nystagmus test] in the car.

       [Defendant] wasn’t even aware that she was talking to the same officer.

               Now there was the denial of consumption of cannabis on that night. That is not the

       only issue or the only thing that was said. The exact statement was he asked her about the

       odor in the car, but she did state that someone else—or she said—I’m sorry. I want to

       quote this exactly. The officer asked because of the strong odor of cannabis, did somebody

       just smoke in the car, and [defendant] responded yes. She’s the only occupant in the car.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

      The Court doesn’t have to necessarily believe that statement. The Court could find that to

      be a false exculpatory statement.

              In addition there, the defendant later, when confronted about whether she smoked,

      denied again, but then when told by the officers look, be honest with us, she then admitted

      that she consumed or smoked cannabis the previous Saturday. It also would indicate that

      her denial of consuming cannabis was belied by the facts. There was a very strong odor of

      cannabis—burnt cannabis in the car, there was a strong odor of burnt cannabis on her

      breath, she had green, leafy substance in her teeth, she had green sludge on her tongue.

              And again, I want to be clear on this with respect to the—how the Court has

      interpreted this other evidence. Most of these were just simply observations. The elevated

      pulse, the white cotton mouth, and the spittle in the corner of the mouth, and the tremors,

      and the rebound dilation. The Court is not saying that that indicated to the Court

      impairment. It indicated to the Court possible consumption of cannabis, which again,

      belies the defendant’s statement that she had not consumed cannabis on that evening.

              And again, as I stated, her statement was did you smoke? She says no. The officer

      says well, there’s a really strong odor in the car and asked her if someone just smoked in

      the car. Her response was yes. And then again, we have an admission that at least at some

      point she did smoke cannabis. So it’s not a complete denial, but it is a denial as it relates

      to the recency of it.

              Again, I find that to be false exculpatory statement. There were not other occupants

      in the car. There was circumstantial evidence of the odors and no other occupants. The

      Court didn’t find her statement of her denial to be truthful. And this was a significant factor

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      in [People v. McPeak, 399 Ill. App. 3d 799 (2010)]. And in that case it reversed a

      conviction for any amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, breath, or urine and noted for the

      record that in that case that the officer did not note any odor of cannabis on the individual’s

      breath. That was noted here. The officer noted that it was—the odor of burnt cannabis on

      her breath.

             Now again, as it relates to the field sobriety tests, again, there was a lot made of the

      fact of whether the standard field sobriety tests [versus] non-standardized field sobriety

      tests. The Court is more interested in the observations that come with that. And as all the

      parties are aware, I look at a number of other factors when I’m determining whether the

      person is under the influence of alcohol. We even take from the officer’s testimony these

      field sobriety tests aren’t gauged necessarily for cannabis.          But I can still make

      observations—or I’m sorry, he can still make observations, and I can make conclusions

      from those observations. So again, that is—as it relates to the Romberg test and as it relates

      to the finger-to-nose test and the alphabet test.

             And again, as I indicated, I’ll refer to them generally as the eye tests. All that

      showed to the Court was possible consumption of cannabis. And remember, I think that

      the Lenz case points out where we have a situation where his foundation of his expertise is

      stipulated to. He can get into what he’s observed in the past and what his experience is,

      his anecdotal evidence of what he has done to come to those conclusions, and that he’s got

      the qualifications based upon this DRE expertise to render that opinion. And again, the

      Court only permitted it as it related to the possible consumption of cannabis.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210424-U

              As it relates to the walk and turn test on the scene, there was no doubt she didn’t

      follow the instruction. She raised her arms. And I would have considered that a failure,

      and that could indicate impairment—or that did indicate impairment.

              The one-leg stand on the scene, I think even the officer qualified that as a pass.

              The Romberg test, I’m not even as concerned—and I wasn’t necessarily

      considering it as far as the time distortion, but the observations of the tremor of the eyelids.

      The Court did notice a sway when she was closing her eyes. In fact, whenever she was

      asked to close her eyes, she began to sway.

              And again, the near point convergence was consistent with marijuana use was the

      testimony—or the possible use of marijuana.

              Finger-to-nose, again, it was those same observations. Her eyes were closed, she

      begins to sway. I would note that again with her inability to follow instructions was that

      time where she puts her finger to her nose and kept it there. And even at the time he

      instructs her, the officer says what did I tell you to do when I tell you to touch your finger

      to your nose, and then she finally realizes and moves her hand off. That’s an inability to

      follow instructions, which we all know as—if he’s [sic] driving a vehicle is a—he’s [sic]

      splitting divided attention task, and she’s not able to get instructions and then perform those

      instructions, which is similar to the task of driving a motor vehicle.

              She also messes up the one time when he does the right-left, right-left, left-right,

      and she starts to move her hand. Now she doesn’t touch her nose, but it does show that

      she’s not following instructions. She also was moving her head forward on those tests

      again, not listening to instructions.

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              The alphabet, just—again, it’s a pretty simple test. It’s not a situation where I’ve

       heard evidence with respect to a language barrier. It’s an inability to follow instructions.

       She has a delayed response and then acknowledges she went too far. Again, that’s almost

       like the stop sign. When she was initially stopped, she asked the officer why did you stop

       me. She had no clue whatsoever that she had basically blown through a stop sign. Again—

       that again shows—with her inability to keep her head tilted back, not closing her eyes as

       instructed on the finger to nose and the Romberg test that she is not following instructions,

       and she had to be repeatedly told to do so.

              Throughout all those tests, if I’m just—I’m not looking at them as a standard field

       sobriety test or as something scientifically based, but I’m basing observations—or

       conclusions off those observations. I think it showed a lack of attention, a lack of

       concentration, and also a lack of coordination.       She was slow and lethargic in her

       movements, and there was that time distortion. I think it was more telling when it was

       asked about the date when she thought it was February 7 or February 9, and it was actually

       February 11. I noted it went over to midnight, but she was anywhere from a day to three

       days off. She didn’t know what time it was. And again, it wasn’t an outrageous amount

       of time, but again, it does show that her faculties were impaired. Finally, in the defendant’s

       refusal of all chemical testing shows her consciousness of guilt.”

¶ 26   The court denied defendant’s motion for a directed finding on the charges of DUI cannabis

and disobeying a stop sign and granted the motion regarding the DUI alcohol and DUI combination

of alcohol and drugs.

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¶ 27     Defendant testified on her own behalf. Defendant testified that, on February 10, 2020,

from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., she worked at her job as a bartender in Roselle. Defendant amended her

answer and explained that, actually, she left her workplace at 7 p.m., after she had clocked out at

5 p.m., spending the extra time cleaning up. She then drove to Oak Lawn to have dinner with her

boyfriend at a Mexican restaurant with the trip from her job to the restaurant taking 54 minutes to

drive. She and her boyfriend drove separately and met at the restaurant. She did not recall what

she ate at the restaurant. Defendant had a margarita before the meal and ate the meal after her

drink.

¶ 28     After the dinner, defndant sat in her car with her boyfriend for 30-40 minutes. Defendant

let her boyfriend smoke cannabis in her car, which accounted for the odor of freshly burnt cannabis

reported by Gill. Defendant explained that she let him smoke in her car instead of his own car

because her car had tinted windows and her boyfriend’s car did not. According to defendant, she

“made out” with her boyfriend which could have accounted for the presence of cannabis debris in

her mouth.

¶ 29     Defendant testified that she experienced anxiety and had been diagnosed with that and

depression. Defendant explained that her conditions made it difficult for her to understand and to

follow strict instructions. Defendant did not share these conditions with the officers because “they

didn’t really ask.” However, defendant did tell Gill that she took medication for depression, and

it was in her car at the time of the stop.

¶ 30     Defendant testified that she was tired from working that day and then going out for dinner.

Defendant maintained that she was not impaired by drugs or alcohol and was safe to drive to her

home. Defendant admitted that she failed to stop at a stop sign in Glen Ellyn. When Gill informed

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defendant that she had failed to stop a stop sign, she replied, “Sorry, I was at work all day and I’m

just trying to get home.”

¶ 31   On cross-examination, defendant agreed that she “probably said” to Gill that she was

returning home from work. She did not recall telling Gill the time she finished work, but conceded

she “probably told” him it was 9 p.m. Defendant did not remember Gill asking her to quantify her

level of impairment on a 10-point scale, and explained that, because she was frustrated, she

probably just gave Gill a number.

¶ 32   Defendant explained her refusal to submit to toxicology testing. Defendant refused to

undergo the Breathalyzer because she had been told it did not work accurately, and she refused a

blood test because she did not believe in needles. Regarding a urine test, she admitted that, because

she had smoked cannabis, she knew the urine test would return a positive result. Nevertheless,

defendant did not refuse on that ground, but for personal reasons. Defendant elaborated that she

had been raped previously, and during the field sobriety testing, she was uncomfortable with

having to close her eyes in the presence of male police officers.

¶ 33   The trial court found defendant guilty of DUI cannabis and disobeying a stop sign. In

explaining its decision, the court expressly noted that “[t]here was nothing about the defendant’s

testimony that” changed its mind from the analysis given in denying defendant’s motion for a

directed finding. In addition, the court determined that defendant was not “really believable at

all,” and it noted that defendant’s own testimony was inconsistent and contradictory. Specifically,

the court noted defendant’s changing testimony about ending work at 5 p.m., changing that during

her testimony to 7 p.m., and then telling the officer that she worked until 9 p.m. The court reasoned

that her testimony was tantamount to an admission that she lied to the police officer when she

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stated she was returning home from work even though she had been out with her boyfriend. The

court also noted that defendant’s testimony was little more than “[coming] up with one convenient

excuse after another.”

¶ 34   The trial court determined Gill “to be entirely credible.” It was also impressed with the

thoroughness of Gill’s drug recognition examination. The court highlighted that, unlike the

ordinary case in which field sobriety testing is performed “in like two or three minutes,” Gill spent

“several hours” to make sure he accurately assessed her condition.

¶ 35   On July 29, 2021, the trial court passed sentence. The court stated orally:

       “the defendant on [the DUI drug count] will be placed on one-year court supervision, level

       II-S counseling, Victim Impact Panel, $75 fine plus the assessment. I do not find her to be

       an appropriate candidate for supervision on [the disobeying a stop sign count] based upon

       her driving history. Conviction and $75.”

Notwithstanding the court’s oral pronouncement, the written orders state that, for the DUI cannabis

conviction, defendant was sentenced to a 12-month term of court supervision, and for the

disobeying a stop sign conviction, defendant was sentenced to a 12-month term of conditional

discharge.

¶ 36   Defendant timely appeals.

¶ 37                                      II. ANALYSIS

¶ 38   On appeal, defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence regarding her DUI

cannabis conviction. She specifically argues that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable

doubt the element that she was incapable of safely driving her vehicle. Defendant also argues that

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her sentence for disobeying a stop sign exceeded the maximum permissible sentence for that

offense. We address each contention in turn.

¶ 39        A. Sufficiency of the Evidence—Inability to Safely Operate Her Vehicle

¶ 40   Defendant first argues on appeal that the State failed to prove her guilty of the offense of

DUI cannabis because it did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was incapable of safely

operating a motor vehicle. A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence requires the reviewing

court to determine whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the

prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond

a reasonable doubt. People v. Jackson, 2020 IL 124112, ¶ 64. This standard apportions to the trier

of fact the responsibility of fairly resolving any conflicts in the testimony, weighing the evidence,

and drawing reasonable inferences from the evidence. Id. The reviewing court does not substitute

its judgment for that of the trier of fact on issues involving the weight of the evidence or witness

credibility. Id. A reviewing court will not set aside a criminal conviction due to a challenge to the

sufficiency of the evidence unless the evidence is so improbable or unsatisfactory that it creates a

reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt. Id.

¶ 41   The DUI statute provides: “A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any

vehicle within this State while: *** under the influence of any other drug or combination of drugs

to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving.” 625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(4) (West

2020). We initially note that the offense charged here, DUI cannabis, has the following elements:

a person is prohibited from (1)(a) driving or (b) being in physical control of a vehicle; (2) while

under the influence of cannabis; (3) to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving.

Id. Defendant does not challenge the first element of driving or being in control of a vehicle.

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Defendant purports to challenge the second and third elements, namely of being under the

influence of cannabis and being incapable of safely driving. A careful review of her argument,

however, reveals it is directed only at the third element of being incapable of safely driving, and

she provides no argument regarding the second element of being under the influence of cannabis.

Specifically, defendant contends that: “it was not enough for the State to prove that [defendant]

had consumed [cannabis] sometime prior to driving her vehicle; it had to show that the

consumption caused her to be unable to safely drive the vehicle.” As a practical matter, the second

and third elements may not be as easily separated as they are distinctly set forth in the statute. To

the extent that they can, however, defendant has argued only that the State failed to prove her

incapability of safely driving, thereby forfeiting any separate challenge to the element of being

under the influence of cannabis. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020), People v. Dabbs,

239 Ill. 2d 277, 294 (2010) (party forfeits review of an issue not argued on appeal). We therefore

focus on the sufficiency of the evidence regarding whether defendant was incapable of safely

driving her vehicle.

¶ 42   The evidence showed that defendant did not stop for the stop sign. The trial court, after

viewing Gill’s dashboard camera recording, estimated that defendant traveled through the stop

sign at about 20 miles an hour. Regardless of the accuracy of the court’s estimate, defendant

proceeded through the stop sign without slowing, either while approaching the stop sign or after

she had passed it. Defendant herself admitted that she “blew” the stop sign and rolled through it.

The court reasonably inferred that defendant’s driving led to “a dangerous situation.”

¶ 43   Gill testified that he detected the odor of freshly burnt cannabis and observed that

defendant’s eyes were bloodshot, and her pupils were dilated. Based on his observation, Gill

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proceeded to conduct a full drug recognition evaluation. Gill conducted field sobriety tests at the

scene and at the station, explaining that, while the standard field sobriety tests are calibrated for

alcohol consumption, they can also indicate that a subject has consumed other drugs. For example,

on the walk-and-turn test, defendant had difficulty in following Gill’s instruction and in

performing the test. Likewise, when defendant performed the modified Romberg test, Gill

observed tremors, swaying, and defendant could not accurately gauge the passage of time, all of

which corresponded to cannabis use. Defendant’s performance on the finger-to-nose test and the

convergence test were also consistent with cannabis usage. Likewise, defendant did not follow

the directions of the alphabet test, which indicated a lack of concentration and possible impairment

from cannabis usage.

¶ 44   Gill also performed physical tests. Gill observed a green and white film on defendant’s

tongue, raised tastebuds, and green leafy matter in defendant’s mouth and the odor of burnt

cannabis on her breath which, he testified, was consistent with recent cannabis use. Gill measured

defendant’s pulse and blood pressure, both of which were elevated above the norm. Gill observed

that the dilation of defendant’s pupils persisted throughout his observations from the scene to the

station, and he observed that, when exposed to light, her pupils reacted in a fashion consistent with

cannabis usage. Based on his expertise and observations, Gill opined that defendant was under

the influence and impaired from cannabis to the extent that she was incapable of safely driving.

¶ 45   The trial court rejected Gill’s conclusion regarding alcohol but, in viewing the recordings

and evaluating the testimony, determined that defendant was impaired from recent cannabis usage.

The court noted that, after the full presentation of evidence in the case, it continued to believe that

the State had proved the essential elements of DUI cannabis beyond a reasonable doubt. The court

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expressly evaluated Gill’s testimony and found him to be credible.           Conversely, the court

determined that defendant’s testimony was not credible, particularly her reasons for refusing

testing. The court further noted that defendant admitted that she allowed her boyfriend to smoke

cannabis in the car as a way to explain the odor of freshly burnt cannabis, and inferred that, along

with the physical indicia of recent cannabis use that Gill observed, she could also have effectively

been “hotboxing” in her car and consuming cannabis as her boyfriend smoked. The court also

observed that defendant’s failure to stop at the stop sign was indicative of impairment as was her

failure to recognize Gill as the same officer who administered various tests while she remained in

her vehicle. The court determined that defendant’s explanation of why she refused to undergo

toxicological testing, like a blood draw or urinalysis, was incredible. Instead, it inferred that her

refusals constituted consciousness of guilt.

¶ 46   We have carefully reviewed the record and find the trial court’s determinations to be amply

supported by the evidence. We conclude that, based on this record, any reasonable trier of fact,

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, could have found that the State

proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was incapable of driving safely.

¶ 47   Defendant disputes the sufficiency of the evidence by emphasizing favorable evidence and

essentially ignoring Gill’s hours of observation and testing during the evening of February 10 and

morning of February 11, 2020. Specifically, defendant highlights the apparent ease with which

she got out of her vehicle at the scene, that she did not stumble, and that she was able to pass Gill

her license and insurance information without fumbling. Defendant then wholly ignores the testing

administered at the scene. Next, defendant skips ahead to her entrance into the police station and

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highlights her ability to exit the police vehicle without assistance and without wobbling or

swaying,

¶ 48   We note that the trial court viewed the recordings at issue, including the particular moments

highlighted by defendant, and we note that defendant has specifically highlighted about two

minutes out of the hours of recordings and was aware of both defendant’s success in completing

the tasks of exiting vehicles as well as her performance on the testing. Indeed, defendant has not

discussed the significance of the on-scene testing and her performance, and defendant has not

discussed the significance of the repeated testing at the station and her performance. Recognizing

this lack, defendant minimizes Gill’s observations and conclusions as only indicative of possible

cannabis consumption, wholly overlooking Gill’s opinion, based on his training, expertise, and

experience that defendant was unable to safely drive her vehicle due to being under the influence

of alcohol and cannabis. Moreover, defendant does not discuss the trial court’s interpretation of

the evidence and its inferences and conclusions drawn from the evidence, including Gill’s

observations and opinions.

¶ 49   We note that the evidence in the record neither unequivocally supports the State nor

unequivocally supports defendant. Some evidence shows defendant having little difficulty moving

about the scene and through the entry to the station. Other evidence, however, shows defendant

struggling to perform the tests as instructed, unable to remember the day, failing to recognize the

officer with whom she just interacted, and, of particular importance, driving at speed through the

stop sign with no indication that she realized the stop sign was there. Our determination that there

was sufficient evidence from which to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was

incapable of safely driving does not mean that the evidence was completely one-sided; it means

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that, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could find

beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was incapable of safely driving. In other words, it means

that there is ample evidence in the record to support the conclusion that defendant was incapable

of safely driving even though in the couple of minutes out of the hours of recordings that defendant

specifically highlights, she successfully exited vehicles and moved short distances.

¶ 50   Defendant argues that the evidence showed only that she consumed cannabis, not that she

was impaired or unable to safely drive her vehicle. We agree with defendant that it is long and

well settled that evidence of consumption does not equate to evidence of impairment or inability

to drive safely. See, e.g., People v. Shackles, 44 Ill. App. 3d 1024, 1026 (1977) (evidence of

consumption alone is insufficient to prove impairment). While it is true that the evidence strongly

rebutted defendant’s claim that she had not consumed cannabis that day, considered in its totality,

it was ample to conclude that defendant was also impaired to an extent that rendered her incapable

of safely driving. While each individual test performed by Gill was indicative of consumption of

cannabis, there were also observations made during the testing and interpretations of the testing

results that supported the conclusion of impairment. For example, in the divided attention testing,

like the alphabet test or the one-leg stand, defendant did not follow the directions Gill had given.

Gill also observed, and the trial court noted that it also observed from the recordings, that defendant

appeared drowsy and lethargic throughout the encounter. The court also emphasized defendant’s

passage through the stop sign and noted the danger it posed. From the testing, the results of the

testing, the observations made during the testing and throughout the interaction, there was ample

evidence to support the trial court’s conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was

incapable of safely driving.

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¶ 51   Defendant argues that the cases discussing consumption versus impairment seem to require

more obvious impairment than she exhibited. For example, defendant cites People v. Lenz, 2019

IL App (2d) 180124, ¶ 118, in which the defendant was found to be incapable of safely driving

and the evidence showed that the defendant had been involved in two car accidents within a brief

period, and the recordings showed the defendant to be “ ‘struggling with a lot of very basic motor

function skills.’ ” Defendant argues that, in contrast, here, the evidence was much weaker. Even

if we accept defendant’s characterization, we nevertheless conclude that the evidence was

sufficient. Defendant exhibited signs of impairment in the walk-and-turn test, was unable to

reliably follow the instructions given for the various tests, exhibited a lack of attention and

coordination, could not remember the date, and was unable to gauge the passage of time, all of

which factored into the trial court’s determination.

¶ 52   Defendant maintains that “far more” is required before a trier of fact can “find impairment

to such a degree to render a defendant unable to safely operate a car.” In support of this “far more,”

defendant cites People v. Cortez, 361 Ill. App. 3d 456 (2009), in which the defendant was involved

in a one-vehicle rollover accident. Cortez, however, is distinguishable, because the defendant in

Cortez was not convicted of DUI under section 11-501(a)(4) (incapable of safely driving) but was

convicted of DUI under section 11-501(a)(1) (blood alcohol in excess of 0.08) (615 ILCS 5/11-

501(a)(1) (2020)). Id. at 458. The defendant’s incapacity to safely drive was not at issue in Cortez,

and the court was not required to consider whether the defendant was incapable of safely driving.

Cortez, therefore, is wholly inapt.

¶ 53   As a second example of “far more,” defendant cites People v. Hewitt, 212 Ill. App. 3d 496,

504 (1991), in which the police observed that defendant’s vehicle “weaved between the center line

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to the curb four to seven times.” Rather than providing “far more,” the defendant’s “weaving”

within his lane in Hewitt seems at least on par with defendant here approaching and driving through

the stop sign without slowing or reacting once she passed through it. Moreover, while the

defendant in Hewitt stumbled exiting his vehicle, leaned against it for balance, and swayed (all of

which was disputed by the Hewitt defendant), here, defendant exhibited tremors, lack of

coordination in the testing administered by Gill, swaying, time distortion, and confusion. Further

in Hewitt, the police witnesses concluded, based on their experience, that the defendant was under

the influence of alcohol; here, similarly, Gill opined, based on his training, experience, and

expertise, that defendant was under the influence of cannabis. The primary difference between

Hewitt and this case is that defendant here did not stumble or need to balance herself against her

car. Otherwise, the “far more” demanded by defendant is present in this case, too: defendant

exhibited tremors, lack of coordination, lack of attention and focus, and dangerous driving. Hewitt,

then, supports, rather than rebuts, the conclusion that the evidence was sufficient to prove beyond

a reasonable doubt that defendant was incapable of safely driving. In other words, to the extent

that Hewitt is properly interpreted as exemplifying the “far more” that is required to prove the

incapacity to safely drive, the types of evidence relied on in that case are also present here.

¶ 54   Defendant disputes the soundness of Gill’s opinion that she was impaired because,

according to her, it was based only on indicia of consumption. However, defendant overlooks

indications of impairment, like being unable to reasonably gauge the passage of time, not knowing

the date, not recognizing Gill moments after he administered testing as the officer who

administered the testing, and overtly dangerous driving, along with persistent drowsiness and

lethargy. Moreover, Gill made observations during the testing, such as tremors, swaying, and the

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like, that, based on his training, expertise, and experience, he used in formulating his opinion

regarding impairment. We reject defendant’s argument that Gill’s conclusion must be discounted

because he testified only about consumption. When we consider all of Gill’s testimony and the

totality of the evidence presented, it includes much more than only testimony about possible

consumption of cannabis.

¶ 55   Defendant also disputes Gill’s and the trial court’s reliance on her self-evaluation of

impairment. Gill testified that he asked defendant to rate her impairment on a scale of 1 to 10 with

1 being completely sober and 10 being the most impaired she had ever been. Defendant responded

with a self-rating of four. Defendant argues that Gill did not testify about what number indicates

an inability to safely drive and that she could have believed the “four” was below the line for

impairment, while “five” could have represented impairment. The trial court specifically, and

reasonably, inferred that, had defendant believed that she was not impaired, she would have

reported a rating of zero or one. Defendant’s argument here ignores the directions given by Gill

for the self-reporting of impairment. Moreover, defendant’s report of an impairment level of 4 out

of 10 indicates, consistent with Gill’s testimony, that she understood she was at some level of

impairment at that time. It is not an unreasonable inference, especially considering the court’s

credibility determination, that she was edging her self-report downward, and, in any event, it

demonstrates she was aware that she was at least somewhat impaired. We emphasize that the trial

court did not find the self-report entirely conclusive, and neither do we. It is instead an indication

of impairment and defendant’s contemporaneous awareness that she was, at least, somewhat

impaired despite her denial of any cannabis consumption that night. As such, it supports the trial

court’s determination rather than rebuts it.

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¶ 56   Defendant next argues that the trial court’s credibility assessment of Gill’s testimony and

her testimony begs the question of whether the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that she

was incapable of safely driving. While this contention is true to an extent, defendant’s testimony

tried to explain why she would not close her eyes when instructed, which went to her ability to

comprehend and follow instructions and to divide her attention among tasks, which served as a

proxy for driving a car. Likewise, defendant’s testimony attempted to explain why there was a

strong odor of cannabis in her car, and why she reported that she was impaired at a level of 4 out

of 10. The court assessed credibility and did not accept defendant’s explanations as to why Gill

was able to make some of his observations and why she was unable to successfully perform some

of the tests Gill administered. Thus, while defendant’s credibility compared to Gill’s does not

answer the question of whether she was impaired and could not safely drive her vehicle, it certainly

sheds light on that ultimate question. We reject defendant’s contention.

¶ 57   For the foregoing reasons, therefore, we find the evidence in the record sufficient and ample

to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was incapable of safely driving. See 625 ILCS

5/11-501(a)(4) (West 2020). We therefore affirm defendant’s conviction for DUI cannabis.

¶ 58                                  B. Improper Sentence

¶ 59   Next, defendant contends that the written order on her conviction for disobeying a stop

sign imposed an excessive 12-month term of conditional discharge when the maximum sentence

is only a 6-month term. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-75 (West 2020). It is well settled that the written

judgment is evidence of the trial court’s judgment, but it is the court’s oral pronouncement that is

the judgment of the court. People v. Carlisle, 2015 IL App (1st) 131144, ¶ 87. When the court’s

oral pronouncement conflicts with its written order, the oral pronouncement controls. Id.

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¶ 60   Here, the trial court stated orally:

       “the defendant on [the DUI cannabis count] will be placed on one-year court supervision,

       level II-S counseling, Victim Impact Panel, $75 fine plus the assessment. I do not find her

       to be an appropriate candidate for supervision on [the disobeying a stop sign count] based

       upon her driving history. Conviction and $75.”

The written order, by contrast, stated that defendant was sentenced to a 12-month term of

conditional discharge, which conflicts with the oral pronouncement.          Therefore, the oral

pronouncement controls, and the court entered conviction for disobeying a stop sign and imposed

a $75 fine. Accordingly, we vacate that part of the written order imposing the 12-month term of

conditional discharge. The remainder of the order stands.

¶ 61                                    III. CONCLUSION

¶ 62   For the foregoing reasons, we affirm as modified the judgment of the circuit court of

Du Page County.

¶ 63   Affirmed as modified.

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