Court Opinion

ID: 9575384
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:13:24.963178+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:09.652802
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Judge,
concurring specially.
I agree and believe the following should be pointed out, with respect to Division 3. Here the offense charged is driving under the influence; that is the issue the jury was called upon to decide. The legality of the arrest had nothing to do with whether or not he committed this act. He was not charged with any offense bringing into play the possibility of an illegal arrest which would have justified his act and thus provided a defense to the crime. Even if defendant was illegally arrested here, which the lower court found he was not and we agree, the illegal arrest following the drunk driving and leaving the scene would not justify or present any defense to the drunk driving.
The issue of the legality of the arrest was made by the “motion to suppress” evidence obtained pursuant to the arrest. If it was illegal, the evidence would be suppressed; if not, it would be admissible.1 The question was one for the court to determine prior to the admission of the resulting evidence. It is the court, and not the jury, which decides on the admissibility of evidence. OCGA § 17-5-30. Subsection (b) provides that the hearing shall be outside the presence of the jury. See Peabody v. State, 156 Ga. App. 853, 854 (2) (276 SE2d 47) (1980). The court’s determination is not then subject to the jury’s analysis, but rather to this court’s review. That can be done by review after conviction, as here, or by direct interlocutory appeal by the state if it loses (OCGA § 5-7-1 (4)), or by interlocutory appeal by defendants who lose. Chumley v. State, 160 Ga. App. 619 (287 SE2d 630) (1981), and Wiggins v. State, 249 Ga. 302 (290 SE2d 427) (1982).
Although not as clearly stated as it might have been, hindsight providing a brighter glass for reflection, the trial judge’s statement merely explained this to the jury, saying that the jury was not to decide whether the circumstances of the arrest made it lawful or not because that issue was not to be resolved by it. The court was sub*332stantially correct, as the jury’s function was rather to determine whether defendant was guilty of driving under the influence.
Decided July 8, 1985
Prince A. Brumfield, for appellant.
Ralph Bowden, Solicitor, Bernard J. Rapkin, Assistant Solicitor, for appellee.

 This is assuming something tangible was seized. State v. Sanders, 154 Ga. App. 305, 306 (4) (267 SE2d 906) (1980); Stansell v. State, 174 Ga. App. 511 (330 SE2d 441) (1985); Chumley v. State, 160 Ga. App. 619 (287 SE2d 630) (1981) (intoximeter test results were regarded as suppressible pursuant to motion); Thompson v. State, 164 Ga. App. 104 (296 SE2d 400) (1982); Wiggins v. State, 249 Ga. 302, 303 (1) (b) (290 SE2d 427) (1982) (breath test gained by use of radar speed detection device reviewable pretrial by motion in limine or such motion in form or styled as motion to suppress). In the instant case, it appears we are dealing only with testimony and thus with what in effect was a motion in limine.