Commonwealth v. Martinez
Commonwealth v. Martinez
Opinion of the Court
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Department) appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County which sustained the appeal of Carol A. Martinez from a one-year suspension of her operating privilege imposed pursuant to Section 1547(b) of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1547(b), due to her failure to submit to a breath test following her arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. We affirm.
Martinez’ husband further informed Officer Phillis that Martinez was in their house. After obtaining permission to enter the house, Officer Phillis entered and spoke with Martinez through a locked bedroom door. She told Officer Phillis that she had been involved in the accident but that she was unhurt. Officer Phillis then requested that Martinez open the door to allow him to see her. As Martinez opened the door, Officer Phillis observed her staggering and, upon speaking to her, detected the odor of alcohol on her breath. He thereupon placed her under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. Martinez was thereafter transported to the Moon Township police station. At the station, Martinez was advised of her Miranda
At the hearing before the common pleas court, Officer Phillis confirmed this sequence of events and stated further
Before this Court, both parties present two issues for our consideration; first, whether Officer Phillis had reasonable grounds to believe that Martinez was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and second, whether the common pleas court’s interpretation and application of McFadden and O’Connell was correct. The common pleas court did not address the former issue because it found sufficient grounds to sustain Martinez’ appeal based upon Officer Phillis’ failure to provide the McFadden type warnings. Likewise, because of our disposition of this matter, we need not address the reasonable grounds issue.
We recently addressed the effect of McFadden and O’Connell in Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing v. Fiester, 136 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 342, 583 A.2d 31 (1990). In that decision, we held that the
In the instant case, it is clear from the record that Martinez was advised of her Miranda right to counsel prior to the request to submit to a breath test. It is equally clear that Officer Phillis did not advise Martinez that this right to counsel did not apply to requests to submit to such tests. Therefore, based upon Fiester, we affirm the order of the common pleas court which sustained Martinez’ license suspension appeal.
ORDER
Now, November 28, 1990, the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County in the above-captioned matter is affirmed.
. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
. To sustain a license suspension under Section 1547(b)(1) of the Vehicle Code, the Department must prove that the licensee (1) was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol; (2) was asked to submit to a chemical test; (3) refused to do so; and (4) was specifically warned that a refusal would result in a license suspension. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing v. Tomczak, 132 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 38, 571 A.2d 1104 (1990). Once the Department meets this burden, the burden then shifts to the licensee to prove by competent evidence that he or she was unable to make a knowing and conscious refusal. Id.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.