State v. Polk, 07coa007 (1-18-2008)
State v. Polk, 07coa007 (1-18-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On November 15, 2006, appellant filed a motion to suppress, claiming an illegal stop of his vehicle. A hearing was held on November 27, 2006. By judgment entry filed December 13, 2006, the trial court denied the motion.
{¶ 3} On December 20, 2006, appellant pled no contest to the charge. By judgment entry filed same date, the trial court found appellant guilty. By judgment entry filed January 31, 2007, the trial court sentenced appellant to nine months in prison.
{¶ 4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
{¶ 9} 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. State v. Fanning (1982),
{¶ 10} In Terry v. Ohio (1968),
{¶ 11} Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Penny Beatty testified she stopped a vehicle after observing that the window tint was too dark. T. at 11. She described the tinted windows to be so dark that she could not observe the driver, identify the driver's sex or objects in the vehicle, or discern how many occupants were inside the vehicle. T. at 11-12. Trooper Beatty had made the observation after pulling alongside the vehicle on the driver's side and driving directly beside it. T. at 12. She determined the tinted windows were in violation of R.C.
{¶ 12} "(A) The director of public safety, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules governing the use of tinted glass, and the use of transparent, nontransparent, translucent, and reflectorized materials in or on motor vehicle windshields, side windows, sidewings, and rear windows that prevent a person of normal vision looking into the motor vehicle from seeing or identifying persons or objects inside the motor vehicle.
{¶ 13} "(C) No person shall operate, on any highway or other public or private property open to the public for vehicular travel or parking, lease, or rent any motor vehicle that is registered in this state unless the motor vehicle conforms to the requirements of this section and of any applicable rule adopted under this section.
{¶ 14} "(D) No person shall install in or on any motor vehicle, any glass or other material that fails to conform to the requirements of this section or of any rule adopted under this section."
{¶ 15} Following the stop, the driver provided a driver's license bearing the name "Davell Gardener" and an illegible insurance card, but was unable to produce the vehicle's registration. T. at 14. Trooper Beatty intended to cite the driver for the window tint violation. Id. After running the driver's license through the LEADS program, Trooper Beatty was informed "Davell Gardener" used alias names. T. at 18. When questioned, the driver admitted he was not the person named on the license. He told Trooper Beatty he was David Polk. T. at 19. While attempting to contact the vehicle's owner, a K-9 unit was summoned. T. at 20.
{¶ 16} In its December 13, 2006 judgment entry, the trial court determined Trooper Beatty had reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle: *Page 6
{¶ 17} "Effective January 1, 2004, the Ohio General Assembly again amended Ohio Revised Code Sections
{¶ 18} "The Court next addresses whether or not an officer's observations of the degree of window tint on a vehicle may serve as the basis for the stop of a vehicle for a window tint violation. Neither the concepts of probable cause nor `articulable suspicion' would require that an officer have tint meter readings before making a stop for a window tint violation. Trooper Beatty conducted a reasonable inquiry before stopping the Defendant's vehicle by driving alongside and determining to what extent she could see through the tinted windows. The stop occurred at 8:45 a.m. and there were no adverse whether (sic) conditions which would have caused the windows to appear more tinted than they actually were. The Court finds that Trooper Beatty had both an articulable suspicion that a violation of law existed and probable cause for her stop of the Defendant's vehicle and that therefore the stop was constitutionally permissible."
{¶ 19} We concur with the trial court's analysis, and find there were specific articulable facts to establish reasonable suspicion that the vehicle's window tint violated Ohio law. *Page 7
{¶ 20} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to suppress on this issue.
{¶ 21} Assignment of Error I is denied.
{¶ 23} In his motion to suppress filed November 15, 2006, appellant only argued the lawfulness of the stop based on tinted windows underState v. Myers (1983),
{¶ 24} Pursuant to Crim.R. 47, motions "shall state with particularity the grounds upon which it is made and shall set forth the relief or order sought. It shall be supported by a memorandum containing citations of authority, and may also be supported by an affidavit." Sufficient particularity is necessary to place the prosecutor and court "on notice of those issues to be heard and decided by the court and, by omission, those issues which are otherwise being waived." State v. Shindler,
{¶ 25} Appellant did not raise in his motion to suppress the unlawfulness of the detention time. As appellant did not bring this issue before the trial court, we find he has waived his right to do so on appeal.
{¶ 26} Assignment of Error II is denied. *Page 8
{¶ 28} Appellate review of sentences shall be pursuant to an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Duff, Licking App. No. 06-CA-81,
{¶ 29} Appellant was convicted of forgery in violation of R.C.
{¶ 30} Based upon these factors, we find no error or unreasonableness in the trial court's sentence.
{¶ 31} Assignment of Error III is denied. *Page 9
{¶ 32} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Ashland County, Ohio is hereby affirmed.
*Page 10Farmer, J., Hoffman, P.J. and Delaney, J. concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. David A. Polk
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published