Court Opinion

ID: 2761608
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-17 08:13:10.985728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:08.650980
License: Public Domain

In The

                                  Court of Appeals
                     Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
                               _________________
                                NO. 09-14-00234-CR
                               _________________

                        THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant

                                           V.

                         CODY DYLAN SELPH, Appellee
________________________________________________________________________

                     On Appeal from the 411th District Court
                              Polk County, Texas
                            Trial Cause No. 22,994
________________________________________________________________________

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Appellee Cody Dylan Selph was charged with the offense of possession of a

controlled substance, namely methamphetamine. See Tex. Health & Safety Code

Ann. § 481.115(b) (West 2010). Selph filed a pretrial motion to suppress the

evidence, which the trial court granted. The State filed this interlocutory appeal

from the trial court’s order. In one issue, the State complains that the trial court

erred by finding that the arresting officer in this case did not have reasonable

suspicion to initiate a traffic stop. We reverse the trial court’s order.
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                                   I. Background

      The trial court held a hearing on Selph’s motion to suppress on May 15,

2014. Officer Dallas Early testified at the hearing. While on patrol the night of

March 1, 2013, Early received a call from dispatch regarding a possible reckless

driver. At the time he received the call, Early understood that dispatch had received

a call reporting that a driver of “[a] white Tahoe with rims” was driving recklessly.

Dispatch informed Early that the vehicle was traveling from North Houston Street

in Livingston, Texas toward Z’s Food Mart. Dispatch did not tell Early the identity

of the person that had reported the reckless driver. Dispatch also did not tell Early

what the white Chevy Tahoe was doing that was reckless.

      At the time he received the call, Early was near the reported area of the

reckless driver, so he responded to the call and started looking for a vehicle that

matched the description. About two minutes after receiving the dispatch call, Early

identified a vehicle matching the description he was given. Early did not

immediately activate his lights, but instead followed behind the vehicle. While

following the vehicle, Early observed that it had a temporary registration tag, but

the tag was blurry and he could not read the numbers or other identifying marks.

According to Early, the license plate was visible but not legible. Early later

identified Selph as the driver of the vehicle.

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      While following behind the vehicle Early did not notice any signs of erratic

or reckless driving. However, when “the vehicle went to change into the other lane

. . . the left side of the tires crossed the centerline before [Selph] started signaling.”

Stated differently, when Selph moved his vehicle from the outside lane to the

inside lane of the roadway, the left side of his vehicle was already in the left lane

before Selph activated his signal. According to Early, drivers are required to signal

an intention to change lanes, and when Selph failed to engage his signal before he

started changing lanes, Early initiated a traffic stop. We note that Early’s patrol

vehicle is apparently capable of recording traffic stops; however, there is no video

of this traffic stop in the record. According to Early, his camera system had

malfunctioned.

      During the traffic stop, Early asked Selph if there was anything in the

vehicle Early needed to know about. Selph responded “no” and then told Early he

could search the vehicle. Early searched the vehicle and discovered

methamphetamine. Selph was arrested and charged with possession of

methamphetamine.

      After the evidence was concluded, the trial court heard arguments from

Selph’s counsel and the prosecutor. Following the arguments, the trial court

granted Selph’s motion to suppress. The trial court entered findings of fact and

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conclusions of law. Both the State and Selph adopted the findings of fact filed by

the trial court. In its conclusions of law, the trial court concluded, among other

things, that a driver has indicated an intention to change lanes when he activates

his turn signal in the middle of the process of changing lanes.

                              II. Standard of Review

      We evaluate a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress under a bifurcated

standard of review. Ford v. State, 158 S.W.3d 488, 493 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). In

a suppression hearing, the trial court is the sole trier of fact and judge of the

credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. State v.

Ross, 32 S.W.3d 853, 855 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). In our review of a trial court’s

ruling on a motion to suppress, we afford almost total deference to the trial court’s

determinations of historical facts that are supported by the record, especially when

those determinations are based on an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. State

v. Elias, 339 S.W.3d 667, 673 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). We review de novo the trial

court’s application of law to facts not turning on credibility and demeanor. Ford,

158 S.W.3d at 493. “[T]he prevailing party is entitled to ‘the strongest legitimate

view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from that

evidence.’” State v. Castleberry, 332 S.W.3d 460, 465 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011)

(quoting State v. Garcia-Cantu, 253 S.W.3d 236, 241 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008)).

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We will sustain a trial court’s ruling if it is “reasonably supported by the record

and correct on any theory of law applicable to the case.” Laney v. State, 117

S.W.3d 854, 857 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (en banc). In this case, neither party

challenges the trial court’s findings of fact; therefore, the issues presented are

questions of law of which we review de novo. See Oles v. State, 993 S.W.2d 103,

106 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).

                                  III. Discussion

      In his motion to suppress, Selph argued that his arrest violated the United

States and Texas Constitutions because he was arrested without a warrant or

probable cause. He argued the traffic stop was “without reasonable suspicion

supported by articulable facts that criminal activity may be afoot or a traffic

violation occurred.”1 The State contends that the trial court erred in granting

Selph’s motion to suppress because Officer Early had reasonable suspicion to

initiate a traffic stop for three reasons: (1) Early had an anonymous tip that was

sufficiently corroborated, (2) Early observed that Selph’s vehicle had an illegible

      1
         We note that Selph claims his rights under article I, section 9 of the Texas
Constitution and article 38.23 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure were
violated. However, because Selph does not provide separate authority or argument
for these claims, we decline to address them. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1; Balentine
v. State, 71 S.W.3d 763, 766 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (citing Heitman v. State,
815 S.W.2d 681, 690-91 n.23 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991)).
                                         5
temporary tag, and (3) Early observed that Selph failed to timely signal a lane

change.

      The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

U.S. CONST. amend. IV. When a defendant seeks to suppress evidence because of

an alleged violation of the Fourth Amendment, the defendant bears the initial

burden of producing evidence that rebuts the presumption of proper police

conduct. Torres v. State, 182 S.W.3d 899, 902 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005) (en banc);

Ford, 158 S.W.3d at 492. A defendant meets this burden by establishing that a

search or seizure occurred without a warrant. Torres, 182 S.W.3d at 902; Ford,

158 S.W.3d at 492. Once the defendant has established that a warrantless search

occurred, the burden of proof shifts to the State to prove the search was conducted

reasonably. Torres, 182 S.W.3d at 902; Ford, 158 S.W.3d at 492.

      An officer’s decision to stop a vehicle is reasonable when an officer has

probable cause to believe that a traffic violation has occurred. Whren v. United

States, 517 U.S. 806, 810 (1996); Walter v. State, 28 S.W.3d 538, 542 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2000). A traffic violation committed in an officer’s presence provides

probable cause and authorizes an initial stop and detention. See Tex. Code Crim.

Proc. Ann. art. 14.01(b) (West 2005) (“A peace officer may arrest an offender

without a warrant for any offense committed in his presence or within his view.”);

                                        6
Arizona v. Johnson, 555 U.S. 323, 331 (2009); Garcia v. State, 827 S.W.2d 937,

944 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (running a stop sign); Armitage v. State, 637 S.W.2d

936, 939 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982) (driving with a defective taillight).

      The Texas Transportation Code provides that “[a]n operator shall use the

signal authorized by Section 545.106 to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes,

or start from a parked position.”2 Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.104(a) (West

2011). Selph contends that he signaled his intention to change lanes within the
      2
          Section 545.106 of the Texas Transportation Code provides:

      (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an operator required to give
      a stop or turn signal shall do so by:

              (1) using the hand and arm; or

              (2) lighting signal lamps approved by the department.

      (b) A motor vehicle in use on a highway shall be equipped with signal
      lamps, and the required signal shall be given by lighting the lamps, if:

              (1) the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to
              the left outside limit of the body, cab, or load of the motor
              vehicle is more than two feet; or

              (2) the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to
              the rear limit of the body or load, including the body or load of
              a combination of vehicles, is more than 14 feet.

Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.106 (West 2011).

                                           7
requirements of the law. The trial court made the following relevant findings of

fact:

        12. [Early] followed the white Chevrolet Tahoe from behind and
           watched it start to change lanes. The white Chevrolet Tahoe
           crossed half of the vehicle over the white dashed lane marking
           down the middle of the two westbound lanes starting from the
           officer’s right and moving to the officer’s left. Once the white
           Chevrolet Tahoe had already completed half of the lane change,
           [Early] saw the illuminated turn signal on the white Chevrolet
           Tahoe activate.

        20.The Court finds the testimony of [Early] credible and reliable.

While Selph does not contest these findings, he argues that “[t]here is no

requirement under the law of when the signal to change lanes must be started.” He

argues “[t]he only requirement is the ‘operator shall use the signal[.]” We disagree.

        When we construe a statute, we read words and phrases in context and

construe them according to the rules of grammar and common usage. Tex. Gov’t

Code Ann. § 311.011(a) (West 2013). We give words that are not defined their

plain and common meaning unless a contrary intention is apparent from the

context or unless such construction leads to absurd results. City of Rockwall v.

Hughes, 246 S.W.3d 621, 625-26 (Tex. 2008).

        The plain language of section 545.104(a) requires an operator to signal “an

intention to . . . change lanes[.] Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.104(a) (emphasis

added). Chapter 541 of the Transportation Code does not define “intention.” See id.
                                        8
§§ 541.001-.401 (West 2011 & West Supp. 2014). The word “intention” generally

means “[a] plan of action[,]” or “[a]n aim that guides action[.]” AMERICAN

HERITAGE DICTIONARY 436 (3d. ed. 1994). “Intention” is also defined as “a

determination to act in a certain way” or “what one intends to do or bring about[.]”

WEBSTER’S NINTH NEW COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY 629 (1988). Therefore, it is clear

that for one to signal an intention to change lanes, one must give the signal before

movement into the other lane is initiated. Once a person begins to change lanes,

their intention is clear even without a signal.

      The purpose behind requiring an operator to signal his intent to change lanes

is to alert other drivers and give them an opportunity to react. See Coleman v.

State, 188 S.W.3d 708, 716 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2005, pet. ref’d). Activating a

signal after the vehicle has already entered the adjacent lane, even partially, does

not accomplish that purpose.

      We conclude that section 545.104(a) of the Transportation Code required

Selph to signal his lane change before he began to change lanes. See id. at 716-17

(concluding appellant committed a traffic violation when he did not activate his

signal to indicate he was changing lanes until after he was across the center stripe).

Office Early witnessed a violation of a traffic law. Accordingly, Officer Early’s

stop was proper. Because Early’s observation of a traffic violation justified the

                                           9
stop, we need not address whether the stop was also justified by the anonymous tip

or the illegible temporary license plate. See Tex. R. App. P. 47.1. The trial court

erred in its application of law to facts and in granting Selph’s motion to suppress.

We sustain the State’s sole issue on appeal, reverse the trial court’s order, and

remand this case for further proceedings.

      REVERSED AND REMANDED.

                                             ______________________________
                                                    CHARLES KREGER
                                                         Justice

Submitted on September 15, 2014
Opinion Delivered December 17, 2014
Do not publish

Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger, and Horton, JJ.

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