State v. McCoy
State v. McCoy
Opinion
[1] Defendant, Eloise O. McCoy, was charged by bill of information with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a violation of LSA-R.S.
[2] Defendant raises four assignments of error:
[3] (1) Whether the trial court erred in allowing introduction of a certificate certifying the proper functioning of a photoelectric intoximeter and the good condition of ampules used with it when the State had not given defendant prior notice of its intention to introduce the certificate into evidence.
[4] (2) Whether the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the results of a photoelectric intoximeter test when defendant had not been informed of the consequences of a refusal to submit to the test or the consequences if the test was conducted and indicated a blood alcohol level of .10 percent or above.
[5] (3) Whether the trial court should have excluded testimony regarding the "field sobriety" test as being opinion evidence with suspect probative weight.
[6] (4) Whether defendant's right against self-incrimination was violated by allowing testimony concerning a "field sobriety" test which the arresting officer administered to defendant before advising her of her right against self-incrimination.
[7] FACTS
[8] Defendant was driving down Highway 71 in Grant Parish, Louisiana, when a Montgomery police officer detected her speeding. The officer, who was headed in the opposite direction, turned his patrol car around and proceeded after defendant with *West Page 889 his lights flashing. Close behind defendant, the officer saw her car weave into the left-hand lane, return to her lane and then go off onto the right-hand shoulder of the road. At that point, the officer turned on his siren and defendant's car came to a stop. The officer testified that when defendant exited her automobile, she was wobbly and had to hold on to her car to steady herself. He observed a half fifth of 100 proof Old Forester in plain view on the seat of her car, along with a cup.
[9] The officer proceeded to give defendant a "field sobriety" test which required defendant to touch her hands to her nose, to stand on one foot, and to pick up a coin from the ground. At the conclusion of the test, the officer arrested defendant and advised her of her "rights".
[10] The arresting officer took defendant to Colfax, Louisiana, where a state trooper, certified to do so, was to administer a photoelectric intoximeter (P.E.I.) test to defendant. The testimony of the arresting officer and that of the state trooper who administered the P.E.I. test conflicted with regard to who informed defendant of the consequences of her refusal to take the test. Each officer testified that he had not informed defendant, but that the other officer had1. Defendant did sign a standard form which advised her of the consequences of her refusal to take the test and of her constitutional rights (all in accordance with LSA-R.S.
[11] ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
[12] By this assignment, defendant contends that a certificate which certifies the proper functioning of a photoelectric intoximeter and the good condition of the ampules used in its operation fall within the purview of LSA-R.S.
LSA-R.S.
Certificates certifying the proper functioning of alcohol testing equipment like the photoelectric intoximeter are governed by LSA-R.S.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2
By this assignment of error, defendant argues that the results of the P.E.I. test were inadmissible due to the law enforcement officers' failure to inform defendant of the consequences of a refusal to take the test or of the consequences if the test was conducted and the results indicated a blood alcohol concentration of .10 percent or above. We disagree.
the test results were not inadmissible due to the officers' failure to inform defendant of the consequences if the test was conducted and the results indicated a blood alcohol level of .10 percent or above since, at the time of defendant's arrest, there was no requirement that defendant be so informed. As a result of a 1983 amendment, effective January 1, 1984, R.S.
Although it does appear that the officers did not inform defendant of the consequences of a refusal to take the test, we find that their failure in this regard did not cause the test results to be inadmissible. Since defendant, did submit to the P.E.I. test, any question concerning the officers' failure to inform her of the consequences of a refusal to take the test is moot.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3
The defendant contends that the trial court erred in allowing evidence of the "field sobriety" test since it was opinion evidence and only had suspect probative value.
A careful examination of the testimony of the arresting officer indicates that the officer only testified as to defendant's demeanor and actions. He testified that defendant was "wobbly", that she could hardly stand up, and that when she attempted to pick a coin up off the ground she nearly fell against him. At no point in his testimony did he offer the opinion that defendant was intoxicated.
Even if the officer had testified that defendant was intoxicated, such testimony would not have been infirm. Witnesses are allowed to draw reasonable inferences from personal observations. State v. Prestridge,
The testimony of the arresting officer with respect to defendant's "field sobriety" test was not barred as opinion evidence. Furthermore, it was clearly relevant, its probative value far outweighing any possible prejudice that may have resulted from its admission. *West Page 891
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 4
In this assignment of error, defendant complains that her right against self-incrimination was violated when the arresting officer conducted a "field sobriety" test without first advising her of her right to remain silent.
It is a well settled rule that the right against self-incrimination is not implicated in the gathering of physical evidence and that defendant's Fifth Amendment rights cannot be used to bar demonstrative evidence. State v. Allen,
DECREE
For the reasons assigned, defendant's conviction and sentence are affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Louisiana v. Eloise O. McCoy
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published