Court Opinion

ID: 9879088
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-27 17:56:40.532763+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:45.000834
License: Public Domain

Aarons, J. I respectfully dissent. In my view, the evidence was insufficient to demonstrate that the state trooper had probable cause to initiate a traffic stop of petitioner’s vehicle. Accordingly, I would annul respondent’s determination and grant the petition. A police officer has probable cause to initiate a traffic stop of a vehicle when he or she observes the driver committing a traffic violation (see People v Guthrie, 25 NY3d 130, 133 [2015]; People v Driscoll, 145 AD3d 1349, 1349 [2016]; People v Rasul, 121 AD3d 1413, 1415 [2014]). As relevant here, a driver must operate his or her vehicle’s headlights “so that dazzling light does not interfere with the driver of the approaching vehicle” (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375 [3]). A violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375 (3) requires “the use of high beams when an approaching vehicle is within 500 feet” and “interference with the vision of [the approaching] driver by reason of such high beams” (People v Meola, 7 NY2d 391, 395 [1960]). “The interference contemplated [is] plainly hampering or hindering the vision of the approaching motorist” (id. at 397). I agree with petitioner’s sole contention that the trooper’s hearing testimony was insufficient to establish that he violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375 (3). In this regard, the trooper testified that the high beams were “glaring]” and, because of the glare, he “adjusted” his eyes. Other than this vague and conclusory testimony, however, there were no factual circumstances provided by the trooper demonstrating how there was a “hampering or hindering” of his vision as a consequence of the high beams illuminated by petitioner’s vehicle (id.). The Court of Appeals in Meóla found that the element of “interference with the vision of [the approaching] driver by reason of. . . high beams” was established based upon the approaching driver’s testimony that the high beams of the offending vehicle required him to slow down (id. at 395). While facts showing how the operation of a vehicle has been affected as a consequence of oncoming high beams is illustrative of a driver’s vision being interfered with, the Court of Appeals did not state that such proof was necessary to demonstrate a violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375 (3) (see id.).* Nevertheless, there must be some factual proof in the record giving context from which it can be gleaned how a driver’s vision has been affected to the point that it has been hampered or hindered due to the illumination of high beams from an oncoming vehicle (see e.g. id. at 395-396; People v Rorris, 52 AD3d 869, 870 [2008], lv denied 11 NY3d 741 [2008]; People v Hines, 155 AD2d 722, 724 [1989], lv denied 76 NY2d 736 [1990]). Indeed, the hampering or hindrance of a driver’s vision “is certainly susceptible of factual proof” (People v Meola, 7 NY2d at 397). Because such factual proof is lacking in the record, thereby leaving nothing but speculation to discern how the high beams on petitioner’s vehicle interfered with the trooper’s vision, in my view, the traffic stop was unlawful. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.   For this reason, I do not subscribe to the position, as petitioner urges, that for such a violation to be found, there must be “a tangible manifestation of interference with the driver’s operation of the motor vehicle” (People v Allen, 89 AD3d 742, 743 [2011], appeal dismissed 19 NY3d 993 [2012]).