Court Opinion

ID: 9716231
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 06:31:35.488804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:43.097617
License: Public Domain

Supplemental Opinion on Denial of Petition fob Rehearing Upon petition for rehearing the defendant for the first time has attacked the propriety of the consecutive sentences of 120 days at the Vandalia State Farm for the respective offenses of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and of operating a motor vehicle after the suspension of his license. He now contends that each of these offenses arose out of the same act; and that the imposition of consecutive sentences for each of these offenses would violate section 1-7 (m) of the Criminal Code (Ill Rev Stats 1965, c 38, par 1-7 (m)), as well as his constitutional rights. He cites City of Chicago v. Hill (Ill2d), 238 NE2d 403 (1968); In re Hayes (Cal), 442 P2d 366 (1968); and other Illinois cases, in support of his contention. In the following Illinois cases cited by the defendant, the offenses charged arose out of the same conduct: City of Chicago v. Hill, supra, — obstruction of traffic and disorderly conduct — the unlawful blocking of the intersection; People v. Squires, 27 Ill2d 518, 190 NE2d 361 (1963) — burglary and larceny — the unlawful taking of the same merchandise; People v. Duszkewycz, 27 Ill2d 257, 189 NE2d 299 (1963) — rape and incest — the unlawful carnal knowledge of the same person; People v. Schlenger, 13 Ill2d 63, 147 NE2d 316 (1958) — armed robbery and grand larceny — the unlawful taking of the same property; and People v. Weaver, 93 Ill App2d 311, 236 NE2d 362 (1968) — rape and aggravated battery — the unlawful aggression against the will of the victim. In People v. Weaver, supra, the court, while holding that rape and aggravated battery arose out of the same conduct, distinguished rape and burglary as offenses not arising from the same course of conduct, but from two separate and distinct acts which gave rise to separate and distinct substantive offenses though occurring at relatively the same time.  We hold that the two offenses in the case at bar —driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and operating a motor vehicle after suspension of license — do not arise out of the same conduct. The common denominator is not the act of driving a motor vehicle. That act, considered alone, is not unlawful. To render that act unlawful, the concurrence of intoxication in the one instance, and the licensing act violation in the other, are required. The resultant offenses, therefore, arise from separate and unrelated acts of misconduct. This distinguishes this case from the cases cited by the plaintiff.  There would appear to be no common denominator between the two acts involved in the case at bar. The offenses did not result from the same conduct. Rather, the defendant committed two separate and distinct acts of misconduct at the same time, which resulted in the separate and distinct substantive offenses charged. Consequently, section 1-7 (m) of the Criminal Code Ill Rev Stats 1965, c 38, par 1-7 (m)) does not proscribe consecutive sentences and the constitutional rights of the defendant are not violated. In the case of In re Hayes, supra, the majority of the California Supreme Court disallowed separate sentences for a defendant charged with driving while his license was revoked and drunken driving. It held that while the subjective elements both of driving without a license and of drunken driving were present, the defendant committed only one act — that of driving the vehicle. However, we are more favorably impressed by the rationale of the minority opinion which held that the conduct prohibited by the Code was driving without a license and driving while intoxicated; that the subjective element is merely the defendant’s intent to drive or knowledge that he is driving; and that these two offenses do not share a common element of physical conduct within the meaning of the Code.  In his petition for rehearing, the defendant also urges as error that the court’s opinion has completely disregarded the testimony of the defendant and his witnesses. Such assertion is without merit. Under the law, it is the province of the trier of fact to weigh the evidence and determine the credibility of witnesses. Where the evidence on an issue is conflicting but legally sufficient if the State’s witnesses are believed, the question is for the trier of fact to determine. People v. Jennings, 84 Ill App2d 33, 39, 228 NE2d 566 (1967); People v. Ray, 80 Ill App2d 310, 316, 225 NE2d 467 (1967). This determination includes belief or disbelief of a witness’ testimony as well as resolving conflicts in the evidence. The trial court observed the witnesses, their candor or evasiveness, and their demeanor while testifying, and we will not interfere with its findings merely because there were conflicts in the testimony. People v. Castanza, 92 Ill App2d 419, 236 NE2d 251,257 (1968). For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgments of conviction and the consecutive sentences as set forth in our original opinion. Judgments affirmed. MORAN and SEIDENFELD, JJ., concur.