Brown v. City of Montgomery
Brown v. City of Montgomery
Opinion
Appellant, Rufus T. Brown, was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (D.U.I.), in violation of §
In Moore v. State,
"[T]here are two methods by which the results of a photoelectric intoximeter test can be placed into evidence. Either it must be shown that the test was administered in conformity with the statute, or the traditional evidentiary foundation used to admit results from scientific tests must be laid."
Appellant argues that the prosecution was required to establish the "traditional evidentiary foundation" because it failed to establish that the test was conducted "in conformity with the statute," §
In Boyd v. City of Montgomery,
At trial, Officer Reynolds testified that he followed the rules and regulations of the Alabama Department of Public Health in conducting the G.C.I. test in the present case. The prosecution also introduced into evidence the "OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE" card followed by the testing officer, Reynolds. On the reverse side of this card are set forth the "RULES *Page 750
AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH RELATING TO THE ALABAMA TEST FOR INTOXICATION ACT." These rules are certified by the state board of health officer and records custodian, Ira L. Myers. Appellant argues that this "is nothing more than an operational card, for the use of the officer, and does not comply with any definition of the Rules and Regulations of that agency." All that is required by Boyd is that the prosecution offer evidence that the test was conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state Board of Health, which was established by Officer Reynolds's testimony. In Patton v.City of Decatur,
Appellant contends that the computer generated printout from the Department of Public Safety, which is in the record and indicates that appellant's driving license was revoked on the date in question, was insufficient to justify conviction. We agree, for the computer generated printout is not in compliance with our decision in Norton. While this document is certified, it is not certified by the custodian of records at the Department of Public Safety, as required by Norton; rather, it is certified by the clerk of the municipal court of the City of Montgomery. This certification is clearly insufficient under our ruling in Norton.
However, appellant's case is not due to be reversed on the ground of insufficiency, for the prosecution introduced an affidavit from the custodian of records of the Driver's License Division of the Department of Public Safety, denominated as City's Exhibit One. This clearly establishes that, on the date appellant was charged with driving while license revoked, his license was actually in a state of revocation. This affidavit is properly sworn to by the custodian of records of the Driver's License Division, Department of Public Safety. This document, which was properly before the court, clearly establishes that appellant was guilty of the offense charged.
Based on the foregoing, this case is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All Judges concur. *Page 1210
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Rufus T. Brown v. City of Montgomery.
- Cited By
- 10 cases
- Status
- Published