United State Supreme Court Revisits 6th Amendment Right To Confront Witnesses. There Will Be State Consequences.
Over the past 10 years the Supreme Court has been interpreting the meaning of confronting a witness. The most recent published analyses was the case of New Mexico v. Bullcoming. That case was specifically a DUI case and the absence of a witness who actually analyzed the blood of the defendant. While this case has had some impact on how the State presents witnesses and subsequent evidence, Judges have not been able to apply the concepts for fear of not knowing where to draw the line at confrontation. In fact the biggest complaint from the Washington Judiciary has been the lack of guidance.
Further clarification is now, again, on its way with Williams v. Illinois. This case was accepted by the USSC for review of People v. Williams, 939 N.E.2d 268 (Ill. 2010). Oral arguments to the USSC were heard on December 6. The ruling is under consideration. The case presents a review of the presentation of expert evidence where the Illinois Supreme Court held: the absent analyst’s report was introduced not for the truth of what it asserted but rather “to show the underlying facts and data [the in-court witness] used before rendering an expert opinion in this case.” In simple English the lab report in a DNA case was not admitted, but examined by an expert in the related field to examine the report and then to render an opinion, but the actual analyst who tested the substance and created the report was not present.
Traditionally an expert can rely on reports of others to render an opinion, but in this case the opinion was sought to avoid the cross examination of the person who prepared the report and did the testing. The case has the potential to impact expert testimony in criminal cases beyond expert forensic testimony. As a result of the nature of this issue, the question to be answered in light of the right to confront witnesses, is now how much an expert may rely on statements and facts of others who do not testify at trial? Under Federal and State Court Rule 703, traditionally an expert may rely upon “facts or data” in which an expert “in the particular field would reasonably rely,” and the facts and data “need not be admissible for the opinion to be admitted.” The question in the case is whether the Confrontation Clause allows this practice and to what extent.
As always is the case with the Court, the impact of the ruling is a concern and this case is no different given the following statement of Justice Stephen G. Breyer:
requiring multiple forensic technicians to testify would result in “a sea change in normal criminal law practices.
He then suggested that an exception to testimonial statements be considered for expert testimony. Such an exception is unprecedented to date. Questions like this from the Justices during Oral Arguments makes one wonder if the case signals another new direction or solidification of the Confrontation Clause and caselaw to date. Currently, the USSC has gone to great lengths to require that when the government presents testimonial statements from witnesses, experts or laypersons, the person making the statement must be subject to cross-examination. Given the use of rule 702, will this Court now relax the bright line recently established and make an accommodation for expert testimony?
The traditional voting lines of the Justices on the recent confrontation cases have been by five to four margins. The make-up of the Court currently is important for the “swing-vote.” The local Judiciary here in Whatcom County, Washington State are paying attention as this new rule will have an impact.
Recently I had the opportunity to test the local courts understanding and use of the Bullcoming decision, and the results were not consistent with the case law to date. In a local DUI case the State sought to use a surrogate breath test technician to rely on records to show that the breath test machine was in proper working order at the time of my client’s case. The surrogate Technician had no knowledge of what was actually done to or with the breath test machine at the time of my clients test as he was not even a technician on the date she was arrested and providing a breath sample. The following argument was made:
Beginning in Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, (2004), our U.S. Supreme court held that the Confrontation Clause could be abrogated “…only where the declarant is unavailable, and only where the defendant has had a prior opportunity to cross-examine.”
In 2007 our state Supreme Court stated that “until the Supreme Court more fully develops precisely what is “testimonial” under the confrontation clause, all courts will be divining the intent of our nation’s highest court.” State v. Mason. Fortunately, 2 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court did just that in their subsequent decision of Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue of confrontation vis-à-vis the chemical testing of drugs being introduced at trial.
The Melendez-Diaz, Court, declined to create a “forensic evidence exception” to Crawford, when they held that “a forensic laboratory report, created specifically to serve as evidence in a criminal proceeding, ranked as “testimonial for Confrontation Clause purposes.” Subsequent to Melendez-Diaz, what can only be considered the most comprehensive analyses and enforcement of a Defendant’s 6th Amendment, and fortunately for this case, analyzed and presented vis-à-vis a DUI trial, is Bullcoming v. New Mexico. In Bullcoming the Court reversed the trial court because blood evidence in a DUI trial was admitted over the Defendant’s objection when the State failed to call the individual who actually analyzed the blood sample. The principal evidence against Bullcoming was a forensic lab report reporting and certifying that Bullcoming’s blood alcohol level was well above the threshold for an aggravated DWI. In lieu of testimony from the analyst who actually did the testing, that State sought to admit the analyst’s report and the results thereof through another analyst who had not tested nor signed the certification. In short the “surrogate” analyst had no personal knowledge as to the actual testing, but was familiar and proficient with respect to the State’s laboratory’s testing procedures. At trial this “surrogate” reviewed the notes made by the actual analyst and testified to the results printed upon the paper.
The State circumvented the Defendant’s 6th Amendment right as proffering this certificate as a business record, and then elicits testimony from this other analyst. The trial Court and the New Mexico Supreme Court were correct in holding that “the blood-alcohol analysis was indeed ‘testimonial,’ but were incorrect in their holding that the “Confrontation Clause did not require the certifying analyst’s in-court testimony because live testimony of another analyst satisfied the constitutional requirements.” As a result, the Bullcoming Court has now provided every subordinate court the guidance they had been seeking since Crawford.
Most importantly is the sum total of the Bullcoming holding: the Clause (confrontation) does not tolerate dispensing with confrontation simply because the court believes that questioning one witness about another’s testimonial statements provides a fair enough opportunity for cross-examination. Furthermore, the purpose of the rights set forth in [the Sixth] Amendment is to ensure a fair trial; but it does not follow that the rights can be disregarded so long as the trial is, on the whole, fair.”
Short and simple is the fact that when the state elects to introduce any testimonial certification, the author of that becomes a witness, and as held in Bullcoming, the defendant has an absolute right to confront. The plea of our State Supreme Court in Mason, for guidance, was answered pre-Bullcoming in Melendez-Diaz, where the Bullcoming Court cites to:
The “certificates of analysis” prepared by the analysts who tested the evidence in Melendez-Diaz, this Court held, were “incontrovertibly . . . affirmation[s] made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact” in a criminal proceeding. Id., at ___ (slip op., at 4) (internal quotation marks omitted). The same purpose was served by the certificate in question here. A document created solely for an “evidentiary purpose,” Melendez-Diaz clarified, made in aid of a police investigation, ranks as testimonial. 557 U. S., at ___ (slip op., at 5) (forensic reports available for use at trial are “testimonial statements” and certifying analyst is a “‘witness’ for purposes of the Sixth Amendment”).
Finally, the Bullcoming Court left us with a clear indication of what is testimony as well as clearly set forth the State’s obligation:
The prosecution, however, bears the burden of proof. Melendez-Diaz, 557 U. S., at ___ (slip op., at 19) (“[T]he Confrontation Clause imposes a burden on the prosecution to present its witnesses, not on the defendant to bring those adverse witnesses into court.”). Hence the obligation to propel retesting when the original analyst is unavailable is the State’s, not the defendant’s. See Taylor v. Illinois, 484 U. S. 400, 410, n. 14 (1988) (Confrontation Clause’s requirements apply “in every case, whether or not the defendant seeks to rebut the case against him or to present a case of his own”).
Recently, the Washington Appellant Courts have held steadfast to Bullcoming notably in the matter of State v. Dash, — P.3d —-, 2011 WL 3433019 (Wash.App. Div. 1)(2011). In Dash, the conviction was reversed on the instructional error, and the Confrontation issue became moot for the appeal “however, because some of these issues may arise on remand, we briefly address these remaining claims of error in order to assist the trial court.” The Dash, trial court improperly, and in violation of the Dash’s 6th Amendment right, admitted a videotaped interview of witness Taylor, who was not subjected to cross-examination neither during the interview nor at trial. As a result Dash asserts that his Sixth Amendment right to confront the witnesses against him was violated. In providing guidance to the lower court(s) due to remand, the Appellant Court held that the proper focus is not on whether the statement is hearsay but, rather, whether the statement is offered “against” the defendant to establish or prove a past event relevant to the criminal prosecution.
Furthermore, the Appellant Court specifically quoted Melendez-Diaz and held that the text of the Amendment (6th) contemplates two classes of witnesses—those against the defendant and those in his favor. The prosecution must produce the former; the defendant may call the latter. Contrary to respondent’s assertion, there is not a third category of witnesses, helpful to the prosecution, but somehow immune from confrontation. Here, (in Dash’s trial) several of Taylor’s utterances, whether directly accusatory or not, were being offered by the State to “prove one fact necessary for his conviction” and as established by the United States Supreme Court, “a witness need not directly accuse the defendant of wrong doing in order to be a witness subject to cross-examination for purposes of confrontation clause.”
In the DUI case i tried here locally, Defendant faced a charge of DUI, in which the State sought to (and were permitted in the end) convict under RCW 46.61.506 (a breath test printout). As a result, a significant piece evidence against Defendant is generated by a machine, yet requires an offering of statement “against” the defendant to in order to establish or prove a past event relevant to the criminal prosecution.
The State has indicated that they will be calling the arresting officer as a witness, a DataMaster Technician who, at the time of the test in this case, was not trained, nor employed as a Breath Test Technician and therefore, has no personal knowledge of the operating condition of the breath test machine at the time of the breath test being offered here. Furthermore, the State 2 days prior to trial has endorsed 3 Toxicologists that did not create the external simulator solution.
Given the 6th Amendment, the creator of the solution is a necessary witnesses, as are those who “certified” either the external simulator solution, or the individual(s) who prepared, tested and certified any of the four simulator solutions used in the mandatory Quality Assurance Procedure (QAP) for the machine used to test Defendant’s breath.
Finally, the State has endorsed a sworn testimonial statement by the State Toxicologist, Fiona Couper. This statement is testimonial and clearly falls under the confrontational case law of Crawford, Melendez-Diaz, and Bullcoming.
The Defendant objects to any use of the sworn statement on 6th Amendment grounds as well as a violation of CrRLJ 6.13.
Defendant further objects to the document since it is a declaration subsequent to the date in question and has no relevance to the breath test in this case. See Ludvigsen v. City of Seattle, 162 Wash.2d 660, 174 P.3d 43(2007)(We conclude the application of the 2004 DWI amendments, redefining a “valid” test, to Ludvigsen’s 2002 criminal conduct violates the ex post facto clause. The 2002 definition governs).
Consider the well-settled law on a breath test. For a Breath test to be admissible in Washington, it must first be valid. State v. Baker, 56 Wn.2d 846 (1960); State v. Straka, 116 Wn.2d 859, at 870 (1991); State v. Watson, 51 Wn.App. 947 (1988); State v. Brayman, 110 Wn. 2d 183, 191, 751 P.2d 294 (1988). The admissibility of breath tests is governed by RCW 46.61.506, and WAC 448-16 et seq and RCW 46.61.506 (3). RCW 46.61.506 (3) states that:
Analysis of the person’s blood or breath to be considered valid under the provisions of this section or RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 shall have been performed according to methods approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the state toxicologist for this purpose. The state toxicologist is directed to approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to supervise the examination of individuals to ascertain their qualifications and competence to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the state toxicologist. (Emphasis added).
Additionally, WAC 448-16-070, reads:
The state toxicologist will review, approve, and authorize such protocols of procedures and methods (of the toxicologist’s own promulgation or submitted by outside agencies or individuals for consideration) required in the administration of the breath test program. These protocols will be updated as necessary to maintain the quality of the breath test program. (Emphasis Added).
Ignoring the issue of whether RCW 46.61.506(3) and WAC 448-16-070 require a preliminary finding of validity by the trier of fact, at a minimum, taken together RCW 46.61.506(3) and WAC 448-16-070 mandate that the State demonstrate, at trial, compliance with the methods, techniques, and protocols established by the State toxicologist in order to establish that a given result is VALID. One such procedure in place, deemed “necessary to maintain the quality of the breath test program,” is the use of “certified” simulator solutions which are to be used in a mandatory annual QAP and in the external standard during a breath test.
The protocol for the Quality Assurance Procedure was written and approved by the State Toxicologist, pursuant to her authority under RCW 46.61.506 and WAC 448-16-070, on December 10, 2010. While describing the QAP procedure in the 2010 WSP Calibration Technical Manual, Dr. Couper states that
The Quality Assurance Procedure (QAP) ensures the accuracy, precision and forensic acceptability of the DataMaster breath test instrument for the purpose of quantitative evidential measurement of the alcohol concentration of a person’s breath. The procedure evaluates critical systems within the instrument to ensure their compliance with strict predetermined criteria. When complying with the standards required in the QAP, the DataMaster can be confidently placed in the field for evidential use. (Emphasis Added).
One of the “standards required in the QAP” is what is referred to as a CALIBRATION PROCEDURE which consists of calibrating the machine with a 0.08 QAP solution. The protocol requires that this QAP solution be “certified” among other technical requirements related to the calibration of the machine.
Another one of the “standards required in the QAP” is referred to as a CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE. This protocol also requires the use of “certified solutions” wherein the machine tests certified simulator solutions at 0.04, 0.08, 0.10, and 0.15. There are likewise additional technical requirements that must be followed relating to this process.
While a BAC Technician is typically the one to perform a QAP, only those analysts who are employed, trained, and certified by the State Toxicologist may prepare and certify the simulator solutions (including those that are required for a QAP). However, before the solution can be certified it MUST exist, it must have been created by someone and the creation of the solution is found in Chapter 3 of the 2010 WSP Calibration Technical Manual, and is entitled PREPARATION OF THE EXTERNAL STANDARD SOLUTION. This section describes the procedures that must be followed in order to prepare and certify an external standard solution.
Dr. Couper has approved a protocol for both creation and certification of the solution. This protocol, for this particular solution created in 2010 (in fact it is the 24th solution created). The creator is to follow specific steps in making the solution and then “once mixing is complete, purge the spigot then remove an aliquot of the solution for certification (refer to 4.0 Certification of Simulator Solutions).”
This protocol for certification is found in Section 4, and is referred to as CERTIFICATION OF SIMULATOR SOLUTIONS. It states at the end of the creation that:
Each external standard and QAP solution must be certified by forensic scientists prior to its distribution to breath test technicians. The forensic scientists must have a valid Blood Alcohol Analyst Permit issued by the State Toxicologist. A minimum of three (3) analysts shall test each solution before the average solution concentration can be calculated. Typically, three (3) analysts certify each set of QAP solutions, and seven to eight (7-8) analysts certify the external standard solution. Each analyst who has results included in the final computation of the average solution concentration has certified the batch. (Emphasis Added).
Just as certified solutions are required for any QAP, so too are certified solutions required for use an “external standard.” The external standard test is perhaps the most important function of the Datamaster and Datamaster CDM, as it provides the contemporaneous testing of a known and predetermined quantity of alcohol at the time of a subject’s breath test.
The specific protocol approved by the RCW 46.61.506 (4)(a)(iv) requires evidence that “Prior to the start of the test, the temperature of any liquid simulator solution utilized as an external standard, as measured by a thermometer approved of by the state toxicologist was thirty-four degrees centigrade plus or minus 0.3 degrees centigrade. According to WAC 448-16-030(8) and (11):
(8) ‘External Standard Test” means the process by which the accuracy of the instrument is verified, using a simulator containing a certified simulator solution or a compressed gas standard containing a known alcohol concentration. (11) ‘Simulator‘ means a device which when filled with a certified simulator solution, maintained at a known temperature, provides a vapor sample of known alcohol concentration.
Therefore the plain meaning of the statute requires a showing, by testimony that the solution was certified. Certification is a process and has been established by the State Toxicologist. As stated throughout this text, the procedure is found in Chapter 3, and chapter 4 of the Washington State Patrol Toxicology Laboratory Division technical manual - Breath Alcohol Calibration, chapters 3 – Preparation of the External Standard Solution AND Chapter 4 – Certification Of Simulator Solutions. Section 6, entitled, EXTERNAL STANDARD SOLUTION CHANGING PROCEDURE, mandates that that “[o]nly certified external standard solutions are to be used” and that these must be changed every 60 days. (Emphasis added).
Given the above referenced protocols, Statutes, and WAC provisions, it is clear that if the State is to establish that a breath test is valid under RCW 46.61.506(3), and admissible under RCW 46.61.506, they must first elicit testimony from witnesses that can attest to personally doing the things necessary to demonstrate the various preconditions necessary to admit the test.
As stated above, every step of the process involves the offering of statement(s) “against” the defendant to in order to establish or prove a past event relevant to the criminal prosecution. Absent productions of witness with personal knowledge an attempt to prove compliance with RCW 46.61.506, by either producing documentation of testimonial declaration or certifications, the Defendant’s 6th Amendment right properly demanded under CrRLJ 6.13 (See Defendant’s NOA and DEMAND Number 36, 37, 39) and therefore NOT waived.
Consequently, this Court must adopt the rulings of our U.S. Supreme Court in Crawford v. Washington, in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, and the recent opinion of Bullcoming v. New Mexico, as well as the Washington case law subsequent thereto.
Despite all this law, the Court held that the only right to confront held by my client was to cross examine the arresting officer! This ruling ignored the USSC and all State Court authority above the trial court, and was also was a result of RCW 46.61.506(4) which ignores subsection (3) of the same requiring the machine to be found in proper working order such that it produces a valid test. With this type of ruling despite the case law to date, every citizen accused of DUI, and their lawyers need to be watching for the ruling to be issue in Williams.
Jonathan Rands is an experienced, dedicated, and tenacious DUI lawyer with proven DUI defense success. Confronting all witness and exposing the limitations of their proffered evidence is an important right that effects each and every DUI case where there is a breath or blood test measuring alcohol concentration, or simply based on officer observations. If you or someone you know is facing a DUI or alcohol related arrest, contact Jonathan Rands. | http://www.jrandslaw.com | Email: jrands@jonathanrands.com | Phn. 360.306.8136 | Jonathan Rands is Focused On Your DUI Defense. | Serving Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties. | Jonathan Rands regularly discusses DUI issues with (AM 790 ) KGMI every other Sunday on the Legal Docket.
Jonathan Rands Completes Annual DUI Defense Advanced Training To Ensure Fair Trial And Use Of Best Evidence.
Late this past summer as well as last month I attended 2 annual 3 day seminars and conference dedicated to trial skills and techniques, as well as advanced understanding and challenging various types of advanced evidence issues in DUI cases.
The first of these two was presented by The National College Of DUI Defense, an organization I have been a General Member of since 2005. The conference was held at Harvard Law School and keynote speaker was F.Lee. Bailey. College General Members represent the most experienced DUI defense attorneys in the country and are the backbone of the college—capable, experienced attorneys who dedicate a portion of their practice to the defense of DUI cases throughout the country. Training always embraces the most innovative and creative methods of DUI defense as well as polishing the corner stone of trial work like cross examination.
The second seminar was and advance evidence seminar. The previous year I attended this same conference, but also lead a specialized breakout session on roadside sobriety tests. These training session are important because as a DUI defense attorney, my clients freedom and driving privilege (to name only 2) depends on my skills and knowledge that are accumulated and practiced to the point where they are instinct and second nature. Spending time with other attorneys from around the nation who have likewise dedicated their legal careers and practices to the defense of citizens accused of DUI creates a scholastic environment where we are all dedicated to the same cause, and share our success and failure in the courtroom. Believe it or not, defense attorneys, secure less Not Guilty verdicts than Guilty verdicts, but it is usually the cases we fight hard and lose that are our best teaching aids.
This annual conference allows a lawyer student to choose their own schedule of lectures and breakout sessions so that the lawyer can sharpen their skills, or gain a greater understanding of procedures, protocols, and highly technical areas of science that DUI prosecutions are steeped in. The program is also designed to allow DUI defense lawyers to practice in front of other lawyers and thereby receive constructive criticism and share ideas and concepts that enhance the lawyers skill set.
At this years program I choose to revisit blood testing and the Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE) protocol for Drug based DUI prosecutions.
The science of blood testing is “regulated” by national scientific standards, but even so, one should never under estimate the power of human error and the fallibility of machines that are programmed by the human hand. Blood testing uses Headspace Gas Chromatography. This is a type of testing where a vial of blood is shaken and mixed for a period of time and then the blood itself is NOT actually tested. Rather, what is tested is the airspace above the blood level (the “Headspace”) as it is sealed in a “vacutainer” tube. The tube is a vacuum sealed space with suction helping to fill the tube from the subjects body when blood is drawn. To analyze and test the head space above the blood after it has been shaken, the machine doing the analysis injects a small needle into the top of the soft rubber tube (stopper) and a small bit of gas is sucked out and then ran through a machine. The gas substance is injected into another know gas and then forced to travel through a tubular line where at the end of this journey the substance is quickly burned up in a actual flame. It is this end process that results in the analysis of the substance and the alcohol concentration.
This is a very rudimentary description of the process, but suffice it say, most do not understand that the blood content itself is NEVER actually tested. Furthermore, many do not realize that the machine is used to test all sorts of other fluids and compounds and the cross contamination potential is huge. Add to that fact that the machine is an automated one and most times the analysis is done without human oversight. As a result of these and other issues, a complete understanding of the process is necessary to adequately challenge, not only the end result, but the process itself, because what is generated is a number. What is presented is nothing more than a number to which the prosecution points to as guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. However, in Washington State, and most other States, the accuracy and the reliability of that final number is always a critical issues that must be addressed in arriving at a final decision.
While this overview is not intended to be comprehensive, but instead an brief review of a complicated process fraught with potential error and to show that the net result of spending time learning from other attorney’s who excel in this and other scientific areas where it intersects with the law, benefits not only future clients, but helps a defense attorney explain to a jury the limitations of the testing utilized in any given case.
The difference between exposing error by pulling back the curtain on pseudo-scientific, and unreliable evidence can mean the difference between lockup or liberty. While this may seem dramatic, consider how many recent cases there have been where legitimate science has exonerated previously convicted persons who were convicted by the use of evidence that was of poor quality, and was either misunderstood, or presented as infallible, and was not challenged by an advocate with adequate knowledge? The fact that the charge of DUI is “unpopular” is no reason to allow less than adequate evidence to untested, unscrutinized, and unchallenged if it fails to be collected and analyzed properly.
The other practice area i choose to spend more time on was the Drug Recognition Program, or DRE. This is an area of law that is NOT based upon science, NOR supported by rigorous peer reviewed research, NOR endorsed by any agencies other than the those law enforcement agencies that promote the circular reasoning of: “the program works because we say it works.”
While I have previously completed a 16 hour course on the DRE program overview, it had been a while since I represented a citizen accused of a Drug-DUI, so a close review of the materials presented, and the companion workshops where a critique of courtroom skills was done was a welcome review and challenge.
The DRE program is a book unto itself and a short blog will not adequately capture the program, but from a brief overview perspective, the program starts with ruling out alcohol suspected impairment and then runs a subject through a series of “sobriety” tests that are not related to drug impairment. This entails, a physical examination that requires monitoring of blood pressure, physical inspection of the subjects arms, a dark room examination, and a custodial interrogation of the person that usually leads to a disclosure of a substance the person previously ingested. Final steps are the rendering and recording of an officer’s opinion of what category of drug the person ingested as well as the actual drug the officer suspects. For example, category could be “Cannabis,” and actual drug being “Marijuana.” Guess what?- The officer’s typically render an opinion that the suspected substance ingested is the same as that confessed to! Brilliant detective work! The final step in the process is the drawing of a subjects blood and an analysis of the blood as described above.
This is not the whole procedure, but the suffice it to say, it is the “meat and potatoes” of the program. Pulling back the curtain on false assumptions, coercive procedures, and the close examination of the blood analysis itself is critical and exactly why rigorous training and experiences in these cases is paramount to be a successful DUI defense attorney.
Recently, two newsworthy and related events have come to pass; First – Amanda Knox verdict was over turned due to a showing that the investigation was less than adequate, in fact scientific evidence was processed incorrectly and failed to support the allegations; Second- the Seattle Times reported on unlawful and abusive Police Behavior, with respect to preservation of exculpatory evidence, failure to turn over such evidence, destruction of this evidence,and a denial that it even exits!
These may be extreme examples, the fact of the matter remains that they gained notoriety because the evidence was challenged, because the defense lawyers dared to pull back the curtain and say, “look at this with a critical eye!” We live in a country where proof beyond a reasonable doubt means something, but all to often jurors, judges, and prosecutors settle for what they think is simply “good enough” as a result of the type of charge the accused person is facing. If defense attorneys fail to to educate and then use that education to examine the evidence with the legal tools provided by the Constitution and State Court rules then they have failed their client, the system which requires them to be critical, and their oath as a defense attorney.
Jonathan Rands is an experienced, dedicated, and tenacious DUI lawyer with proven DUI defense success. Confronting all witness and exposing the limitations of their proffered evidence is an important right that effects each and every DUI case where there is a breath or blood test measuring alcohol concentration, or simply based on officer observations. If you or someone you know is facing a DUI or alcohol related arrest, contact Jonathan Rands. | http://www.jrandslaw.com | Email: jrands@jonathanrands.com | Phn. 360.306.8136 | Jonathan Rands is Focused On Your DUI Defense. | Serving Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties. | Jonathan Rands regularly discusses DUI issues with (AM 790 ) KGMI every other Sunday on the Legal Docket.
Washington D.U.I Arrest Now Gets Mandatory Vehicle “Lock-Up!”
Unlike your driver’s license, which may not be suspended, revoked, or otherwise “lost” when you are arrested for a DUI, your car is not so lucky as of July 22, 2011.
An Arrest for DUI (RCW 46.61.506) or Physical Control (RCW 46.61.504) now require a mandatory 12 hour impound at the owner’s expense. The discretion formerly held by the arresting officer has been removed with only 2 exceptions: the vehicle is a commercial vehicle or is a farm transport vehicle and the registered owner was not a occupant of the vehicle when the stop occurred.
Many commercial vehicles are not owned by the driver’s who are hired to drive them so the law seems to respect their ownership interest in the vehicle as well as the trailer or load it may be carrying. The statute commands the officer that he or she SHALL provide and invest a reasonable amount of time and energy to arrange for the owner of the vehicle to take possession of the vehicle. The problem, however, is that the statute uses the specific language of owner and there is no authority to permit the owner to send or arrange a suitable driver. Consider the owner who cannot get from his residence in New Jersey to retrieve a fleet vehicle of his. He is not permitted to have anyone else take possession of the vehicle. The same may be said for farm equipment, except they are also in addition likely hard to find proper transport for so an exception can be made.
The mandatory impound is for 12 hours from the time the vehicle arrives at the tow storage yard, unless there are 2 or more registered owners of the vehicle OR there is a legal owner of the vehicle that was not the arrested driver. Under these circumstances, one of these persons may retrieve the vehicle after it arrives at the impound yard. This means a tow operator must take possession of the vehicle. As a result, contacting the registered owner prior to vehicle being seized by the arresting officer and transported by a tow company while the vehicle is still on the roadside, is no longer possible. As a result, charges for the hook-up, tow, and time in the tow yard in the form of storage will be accrued.
Given this financial gain by every tow company state-wide, it is no surprise that they were a very vocal special interest group and fought hard for this law. While many supporters of the law cite to the case of “Hailey” and the community safety concern, it is important to remember and highlight the fact that the arresting officer previously ALWAYS had the ability to impound the vehicle previously driven by a DUI arrestee. The officer in “Hailey’s” case choose not to. He choose not to even though that arrestee (who later returned to her car after her DUI processing) had a pending DUI,had a suspended license, and did not have the ignition interlock that was required due to her restricted driver’s license. This now mandatory law was always a possibility but it was the negligence of one arresting officer (as determined by a jury) and the multimillion dollar verdict that was the spark of this legislation.
While the community safety justification is one that cannot be disagreed with, there is no such practical problem in Whatcom County for DUI arrests. This is because the Whatcom county jail has a policy of mandatory booking of DUI arrestees. The arrested driver will not be released until a sober driver can be arranged to pick them up who must meet face to face with that driver and the arrested person proves a breath sample on a portable device that is .04 or lower. As a result of this, justification of this new impound law is less persuasive and the apparent influence of the tow truck lobby is in fact a reality.
While many other jails have a similar policy, many do not. In a Mount Vernon DUI, or Anacortes DUI, or any Skagit County DUI arrest, the jail will accept a DUI arrested driver, but only when space allows as the dangers of overcrowding have to be considered. In those counties, the officer can call the jail and see if the person will be accepted. If not, then the impound can move forward. Nevertheless, while the spirit of the law is a good intention, the practical effect of the law can be unforeseen and undesired such that the law requires an amendment.
It should be kept in mind that vehicle impound is not a seizure and forfeiture of the vehicle forever, unless the vehicle becomes abandoned, but rather, the law only permits a hold for a 12 hour period unless one of the previously described circumstances exists.
The law also removes liability for any damage or loss the vehicle sustains post-arrest of the driver, even if the officer departs the scene before a tow truck driver arrives to take possession of the vehicle. The statute permits the officer to simply lock the vehicle with the notice of tow and impound form inside the vehicle and leave the scene if, or when: the officer has waited 30 minutes since requesting the tow truck/impound; the officer is presented with “exigent” circumstances that are defined in the statute as “being called to another incident or due to limited available resources being required to return to patrol.”
To the average citizen who is unfamiliar with the nightly occupation of a officer conducting “emphasis” patrols the statute is essentially the officers to not remain with the vehicle because they are always short handed such that they are operating under “limited resources.” Sure it is just a car, but we tend to keep many valuable and important items in our vehicles and this opens them up to loss or destruction and the driver has no recourse. In a county where the driver will not be returning to the vehicle anyways due to mandatory booking, the complete waiver of liability may serve as a extra punishment for the DUI arrestee who happens to use their vehicle as a mobile office.
Finally, this statute may also punish an owner, who never really uses the vehicle as it is typically in possession of an employee for work. However, only a registered owner(s)s or legal owner(s)s may retrieve the vehicle from the impound lot, either early or post-12 hour hold. As a result, the only person who can practically get the vehicle, after the 12 hour hold or longer, is the former driver/arrestee, but has no ability to do so. This could be another extra expense in the form of longer storage time, therefore longer fees and travel expenses for an absentee properly owner.
This is not intended to suggest that this law should not have been passed, but rather, it is an example of good intentions affecting various unintended citizens and is the result of rushing legislation to appease the lobbying party at the expense of logical and measured thoughtfulness before stamping an effective date on a bill.
Jonathan Rands is an experienced, responsive, and dedicated DUI trial lawyer with proven DUI defense success. The impound of a driver’s car will also trigger a hearing to contest the impound legality and fees but this is a time sensitive matter and you must act within 10 days. If you or someone you know is facing a DUI or alcohol related arrest, contact Jonathan Rands | http://www.jrandslaw.com | Email: jrands@jonathanrands.com | Phn. 360.306.8136 | Jonathan Rands is Focused On Your DUI Defense. | Serving Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties. | Jonathan Rands regularly discusses DUI issues with (AM 790 ) KGMI every other Sunday on the Legal Docket.
