Court Opinion

ID: 7822996
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 18:00:37.124392+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:47.380816
License: Public Domain

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.  The appellant was found guilty of a second violation of the Omnibus DWI Act of 1983. The judgment of the prior conviction does not reveal whether appellant was represented by counsel. Appellant contends that the trial court should not have admitted the judgment of prior conviction into evidence. He is correct. A prior conviction cannot be used collaterally to impose enhanced punishment unless the misdemeanant was represented by counsel or validly waived counsel, and waiver of counsel may not be presumed from a silent record. Lovell v. State, 283 Ark. 425, 678 S.W.2d 318 (1984). Accordingly, we reverse and remand. We also address the second point of appeal since it will arise again upon retrial. Appellant contends that the officer administering the breath test did not adequately warn him of his right to have a test in addition to the one administered by the police, and therefore, he argues the test result must be excluded from evidence. The argument is without merit and, upon retrial, the trial court should again allow the result of the test into evidence. Ark. Stat. Ann. § 75-1045(c)(3) (Supp. 1983) provides: The person tested may have a physician, or a qualified technician, registered nurse, or other qualified person of his own choice administer a complete chemical test or tests in addition to any test administered at the direction of the law enforcement officer. The law enforcement officer shall advise such person of this right. The refusal or failure of a law enforcement officer to advise such person of this right and to permit and assist the person to obtain such test or tests shall preclude the admission of evidence relating to the test or tests taken at the direction of a law enforcement officer. The police advised appellant of his right to additional tests with the following written statement: You will be administered a breath test to determine your blood alcohol content. If you take the test you may, at your expense, have a physician, registered nurse, lab technician, or other qualified person administer a blood or urine test. This department will assist you in obtaining such a test or tests.  The appellant contends that the advice was fatally defective and the exclusionary rule must be invoked, because it states only that he may have an additional blood or urine test, but it does not mention an additional breath test. We do not find the argument persuasive. The police substantially complied with the requirements of the statute. Substantial compliance with Ark. Stat. Ann. § 75-1045(c)(3) (Supp. 1983) is all that is required for the result of the test to be admitted into evidence. Spicer v. City of Fayetteville, 284 Ark. 315, 681 S.W.2d 369 (1984); Sparrow v. State, 284 Ark. 396, 683 S.W.2d 218 (1985). Reversed and remanded. Purtle and Newbern, JJ., concur in part, dissent in part.