State v. Ross, Unpublished Decision (12-18-2006)
State v. Ross, Unpublished Decision (12-18-2006)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} Such Trooper, upon stopping Appellant, noticed an odor of alcohol, lack of eye contact and red and glassy eyes.
{¶ 4} Appellant acknowledged the prior consumption of alcohol.
{¶ 5} Field sobriety tests were performed.
{¶ 6} Subsequently, Appellant's breath test indicated 0.084 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
{¶ 7} Appellant raises the following Assignments of Error:
{¶ 9} "II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE TROOPER SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIED WITH THE NHTSA PROTOCOLS IN ADMINISTERING THE FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS.
{¶ 10} "III. THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED THE DEFENDANT'S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS BY AIDING THE PROSECUTOR IN HANDLING THE SUPPRESSION HEARING."
{¶ 11} Each Assignment asserts error in the suppression ruling by the court.
{¶ 12} There are three methods of challenging on appeal a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's findings of fact. In reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether said findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. See: State v.Fanning (1982),
{¶ 14} Ohio Administrative Code Section
{¶ 15} "Permits issued under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this rule shall expire one year from the date issued, unless revoked prior to the expiration date. An individual holding a permit may seek renewal of an issued permit by the director under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this rule by filing an application with the director no sooner than six months before the expiration date of the current permit. The director shall not renew the permit if the permit holder is in proceedings for revocation of his or her current permit under rule 3701-53-10 of the Administrative Code."
{¶ 16} Plaintiff's Exhibit 7 indicates that the permit of Officer Goss was issued October 14, 2004, with an expiration date of October 14, 2005.
{¶ 17} State's Exhibit 8 as to Officer Hedges provides an issue date of February 27, 2005, with the expiration date being the same date in the succeeding year of 2006.
{¶ 18} The permit of Officer Spackey states an issue date of November 18, 2004, with the expiration being November 18, 2005.
{¶ 19} The test was administered on June 7, 2005.
{¶ 20} As the issue date is the date of issuance under Adm. Code 3701-53-09 and not the application date, all three permits were valid on the date the test was conducted.
{¶ 21} In addition, even if the test was conducted outside of their respective validity dates, this would not have negated their admissibility.
{¶ 22} In State v. Miller, 5th Dist., App. No. 2004AP030023,
{¶ 23} "Furthermore, we find that even if such permits had expired, the failure of the officer to have a valid permit issued by Department of Health to perform such testing would not render such test results inadmissible as long as the test was performed by competent, qualified personnel, who used accepted practices. `The lack of a valid permit would only go to weight of test result, not its admissibility.Cleveland v. Haffey (1998)
{¶ 24} "The Fourth District reached the same conclusion in State v.Brunson (Ohio App. 4 Dist., Washington, 05-27-2004) No. 04CA4,
{¶ 25} Therefore the First Assignment is rejected.
{¶ 27} Revised Code §
{¶ 28} However, such case also held:
{¶ 29} "The problem will only truly prejudice a defendant when the state relies exclusively on the HGN test at trial or where there were problems in the administration of the other FST's, or the other FST's otherwise yield inconclusive results."
{¶ 30} Considerable stress is placed in Appellant's brief on the argument that probable cause did not exist for the stop as only swerving in his lane and a lane violation was observed.
{¶ 31} This Court stated in State v. Williams, 5th
Dist. App. No. 2005CA00106,
{¶ 32} "It is well-settled law in Ohio that reasonable and articulable suspicion is required for a police officer to make a warrantless stop.Terry v. Ohio (1968),
{¶ 33} "* * * Any traffic violation, even a de minimis violation, can form a sufficient basis upon which to stop a vehicle. State v.Lambert (August 20, 2001), Stark App. No. 2001CA00089. `The severity of the violation is not the determining factor as to whether probable cause existed for the stop.' State v. Weimaster (Dec. 21, 1999), Richland App. No. 99CA36."
{¶ 34} See also, State v. Bennett, 5th Dist. App. No. 05CAA11069,
{¶ 35} Therefore, the evidence as to the weaving and crossing the marked lane provided probable cause for the stop. Thereafter, the observances of the red and glassy eyes together with the odor of alcohol warranted the field sobriety tests. The arguments as to the lack of a basis for the stop and the tests are without merit.
{¶ 36} Officer Spackey testified as to his training pursuant to the NHTSA Manual (Tr.55) and the conducting of the tests in accordance therewith.
{¶ 37} Officer Spackey further testified as to the Appellant's performance.
{¶ 38} As to the HGN test, Appellant showed four clues out of six as to an indication of alcohol impairment (Tr. 58).
{¶ 39} On the one-leg stand, three out of four clues were exhibited. (Tr. 61).
{¶ 40} Further, deficiencies were exhibited on the walk and turn. (Tr. 62).
{¶ 41} In addition, the trial court and this Court has had the opportunity to view the video of the tests to corroborate this testimony.
{¶ 42} We find compliance with the NHTSA standards and reject the Second Assignment of Error.
{¶ 44} Implementation of the plain error doctrine is to be taken with utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice. Reichert v. Ingersoll (1985),
{¶ 45} See also: State v. Long (1978),
{¶ 46} While the record does reveal that the court, perhaps in the interest of not wasting valuable time, did prod the prosecutor to get to the point, we see no prejudicial effect on Appellant in moving the case as the testimony would indicate whether or not a sufficient case was presented at the suppression hearing. (Tr. 5, 23, 25, 34).
{¶ 47} Also, the prosecutor's statement, "I guess, is there any other, anything else I need to address as far as the actual breath test," (Tr. 34), and Appellant's connection indicating a response by the trial court in the brief even though the court's comment appeared 41 pages later, is difficult for this Court to discern that an intentional assistance to the State was provided.
{¶ 48} As plain error must rise to the level that "but for the error, the outcome of the trial clearly would have been otherwise", State v.Long (1978),
{¶ 49} The Third Assignment is denied.
{¶ 50} The judgment of the Fairfield County Municipal Court is affirmed.
By : Boggins, J., W. Wise, P.J., and Edwards, J. concur
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