State v. Sykes
State v. Sykes
Opinion of the Court
Defendant contends that the officer violated defendant’s constitutional rights when, prior to giving Miranda warnings, he asked defendant if he had been drinking. We have previously held that under similar circumstances, the rules of Miranda have no application. State v. Tyndall, 18 N.C. App. 669, 197 S.E. 2d 598, cert. den., 284 N.C. 124, 199 S.E. 2d 662. The assignment of error is overruled.
Defendant also argues that because he “never waived his right to counsel and was not informed of his breathalyzer statutory right prior to his consent to the breathalyzer examination,” the results of the breathalyzer test should have been excluded at trial. Defendant argues that “[t]he procedure whereby the arresting patrolman obtained appellant’s consent for a breathalyzer examination was in direct violation of appellant’s constitutional and statutory rights.” (Emphasis added.) Miranda does hot require that an accused subjected to a blood of breath test be warned that the results may be used against him. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 86 Sup. Ct. 1826; State v. Randolph, 273 N.C. 120, 159 S.E. 2d 324.
The statute, G.S. 20-16.2 does, however, require that before the test is administered, an accused must be permitted to call an attorney and to select a witness to observe testing procedures.
No error.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.