Commonwealth v. Kohl
Commonwealth v. Kohl
Opinion of the Court
Following a trial by jury, appellant, Bruce Kohl, was convicted of two counts of homicide by vehicle while under the influence of alcohol,
Appellant’s convictions stem from a one-car collision which occurred at approximately four o’clock in the morning on March 30, 1985. While proceeding around a sharp bend in the road, appellant’s car struck a utility pole and then a nearby retaining wall, causing the death of his two passengers, Jeffrey Greb and Mark Moser. The police arrived at the scene shortly after the accident, in time to remove appellant and the two passengers from the car before the car burst into flames. Jeffrey Greb died at the scene of the accident, and Mark Moser died while being transported to the hospital.
Appellant, rendered unconscious by the accident, was taken from the accident scene to the hospital. He remained unconscious throughout the day. When appellant was brought into the hospital, the emergency room doctor ordered a blood test of appellant for basic blood work. A police officer went from the scene of the accident to the hospital. When he arrived at the hospital, the officer requested that a blood sample be taken from appellant for analysis as to alcohol content. The police officers investigating the accident did not smell alcohol on appellant’s breath or notice any other signs of alcohol consumption by appellant.
A hospital technician performed a blood alcohol analysis on the sample taken for medical reasons and on the sample drawn by request of the police officer. The analysis on the test requested by the police produced a blood alcohol level of 0.15%. There were no results of the analysis performed on the sample drawn for medical purposes. At the time the
In his pretrial motion, appellant moved to suppress the results of the blood test on the basis that the test violated his constitutional rights in that the police lacked probable cause to order the test and appellant did not consent to the test. The trial court denied the motion to suppress, finding that on the basis of the facts of this case, probable cause to order the search did exist. Following his trial and conviction, appellant filed post-verdict motions, which were denied by the trial court.
On appeal, appellant claims that the trial court erred in admitting the results of the blood alcohol test performed on the sample of his blood because the test violated the Fourth Amendment. We agree.
The blood alcohol test performed on appellant was authorized by the “implied consent law” set forth in 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a):
§ 1547. Chemical testing to determine amount of alcohol or controlled substance
(a) General rule.—Any person who drives, operates or is in actual physical control of the movement of a motor vehicle in this Commonwealth shall be deemed to have given consent to one or more chemical tests of breath, blood or urine for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of blood or the presence of a controlled substance if a police officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving, operating or in actual physical control of the movement of a motor vehicle:
(1) while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or both; or
(2) which was involved in an accident in which the operator or passenger of any vehicle involved or a*78 pedestrian required treatment at a medical facility or was killed.
75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a).
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons ... against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause ...”
The administration of a blood alcohol test is a search falling within the protection of the Fourth Amendment. Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Association, 489 U.S. 602, 109 S.Ct. 1402, 1412, 103 L.Ed.2d 639 (1989), citing Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 767-68, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 1833-34, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966), Winston v. Lee, 470 U.S. 753, 760, 105 S.Ct. 1611, 1616, 84 L.Ed.2d 662 (1985).
The Fourth Amendment applies only to searches and seizures effected by the Government or its agents. Commonwealth v. Cieri, 346 Pa.Super. 77, 499 A.2d 317, 320-21 (1985), quoting United States v. Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109, 104 S.Ct. 1652, 80 L.Ed.2d 85 (1985) (citations omitted). Here, appellant’s blood was drawn and tested for alcohol content by hospital technicians at the request of the police officer. The hospital personnel acted as agents of the Commonwealth in administering the test. See Commonwealth v. Cieri, supra, 346 Pa.Superior Ct. at 85, 499 A.2d at 321 (where private hospital nurse withdrew defendant’s blood according to routine hospital procedure, and later forwarded sample to police for blood alcohol test, nurse
I. ADMISSIBILITY OF THE BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST UNDER § 1547(a)(1)
This Court has previously upheld the constitutional validity of a warrantless search conducted under § 1547(a)(1), interpreting the requirement that the officer have “reasonable grounds” to believe that the driver was driving under the influence as requiring that the officer have “probable cause” to believe that the driver was under the influence. Commonwealth v. Quarles, 229 Pa.Super. 363, 388, 324 A.2d 452, 466 (1974). See also Commonwealth v. Smith, 382 Pa.Super. 288, 555 A.2d 185, 189 (1989); Commonwealth v. Cieri, supra 346 Pa.Super. at 87, 499 A.2d at 322. Probable cause exists where the officer has knowledge of sufficient facts and circumstances to warrant a prudent person to believe that the driver has been driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Smith, supra 382 Pa.Super. at 296, 555 A.2d at 189; Commonwealth v. Pelkey, 349 Pa.Super. 373, 378-79, 503 A.2d 414, 416 (1985), citing Commonwealth v. Hicks, 434 Pa. 153, 158, 253 A.2d 276, 279 (1969).
The trial court held that the test performed on appellant’s blood sample fell within the purview of § 1547(a)(1), finding that the police officer had probable cause to believe that appellant had been driving while under the influence. In reaching this conclusion, the trial court cited the following facts:
The police knew that a serious one-car accident at 4:00 A.M. had occurred causing the death of two men and serious injury to a third. Defendant was found unconscious and pinned behind the steering wheel of his car. They believed that the defendant had operated his vehicle at an excessive rate of speed due to the excessive damage to the car on a roadway and bridge with posted speed limits of 35 m.p.h. The pavement was dry, the visibility*80 clear and there were no obstructions of any kind that would inhibit the defendant’s driving. The accident scene contained no brake marks or attempts to steer the vehicle away from the telephone pole and cement wall where the car finally came to rest.
Suppression Court Opinion at 13.
We disagree that these facts establish the requisite probable cause to believe that appellant was driving while under the influence. This case is markedly different from those cases in which this Court has held that the probable cause requirement of § 1547(a)(1) had been met. In Commonwealth v. Smith, supra, 382 Pa.Super. at 297, 555 A.2d at 189, this Court held that the police officer had probable cause to believe the defendant had been driving under the influence of alcohol where the defendant smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, and the accident consisted of defendant’s car rolling over at least once. In Commonwealth v. Hipp, 380 Pa.Super. 345, 551 A.2d 1086 (1988), the Court found the police officer had probable cause to believe appellant had been driving under the influence where appellant’s eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. In Commonwealth v. Haynos, 363 Pa.Super. 1, 525 A.2d 394 (1987), allocatur denied, 517 Pa. 604, 536 A.2d 1329 (1987), the Court held that probable cause existed where the arresting officer observed that defendant was involved in a one-car accident and the officer detected an odor of alcohol on defendant’s breath. In Commonwealth v. DeFaveri, 352 Pa.Super. 96, 507 A.2d 398 (1986), appeal denied, the Court found that probable cause existed where a serious accident had occurred, and defendant smelled strongly of alcohol and was combative at the scene of the accident. In Commonwealth v. Pelkey, supra, probable cause existed where a serious motor vehicle accident had occurred involving a driver who was found in a semiconscious state with the odor of alcohol on his breath. 349 Pa.Super. at 379, 503 A.2d at 416. In Commonwealth v. Cieri, supra, the Court held that probable cause existed where the police sergeant and
Significantly, in each of these cases there was some indicia of alcohol or drug consumption by the defendant before the police requested a blood or breathalyzer test. Here, neither the officer nor the hospital personnel detected any signs of alcohol consumption by appellant. There was no odor of alcohol on appellant, there was no evidence of bottles or cups that may have contained alcohol, and no one observed appellant driving erratically. Based upon these facts and the facts supporting the finding of probable cause in the cases cited above, we hold that the police did not have probable cause to believe appellant was driving under the influence. In the absence of any evidence of alcohol or drug use, the occurrence of a one-car accident during the early morning hours of a clear, dry day in an area with a low accident incidence rate is not a sufficient factual basis to support the belief that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
Because the police did not have probable cause to believe that appellant was driving under the influence of alcohol, we hold that the blood test was not valid under § 1547(a)(1) of the implied consent law.
II. ADMISSIBILITY OF THE BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST UNDER § 1547(a)(2)
The trial court found that the blood test was also valid under § 1547(a)(2), because appellant had been the
In our opinion in the companion to this case, Commonwealth v. Danforth, 395 Pa.Super. 1, 576 A.2d 1013 (1990) (en banc), we held that a blood test administered on the basis of § 1547(a)(2) violates an individual’s federal and state constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures. We reasoned that the conditions set forth in § 1547(a)(2) do not establish probable cause to believe that the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and, therefore, a test authorized by § 1547(a)(2) is constitutionally invalid. Hence, we find that the test performed on appellant was not valid under § 1547(a)(2).
We hold that the blood alcohol test performed on appellant violated his constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures. The results should not have been admitted against him at trial. See Commonwealth v.
Vacated and remanded. Jurisdiction is relinquished.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3735.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3732.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3731(a)(1) and (4).
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3714.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3361.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a). (Purdon 1984).
. U.S. CONST. amend. IV.
Constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is also provided in article I, section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution:
The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from unreasonable searches and seizures, and no warrant to search any place or to seize any person or things shall issue without describing them as nearly as may be, nor without probable cause ...
PA. CONST, art. I, § 8.
. We disagree that the cases cited by Judge Kelly in his Dissenting Opinion in support of his conclusion that § 1547(a)(2) is unconstitutional are dispositive of the question, because those cases involve inventory searches of automobiles, random stops of drivers to check the driver’s license and the registration of the vehicle, and police roadblocks and checkpoints. These types of searches have long been recognized as being "limited in magnitude compared to other intrusions,” see Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 661, 99 S.Ct. 1391, 1400, 59 L.Ed.2d 660 (1979); thus, we find that the analysis set forth in the cases is not readily applicable to the blood, breath and urine tests authorized by § 1547(a). Moreover, we disagree that the constitutionality of the blood test in this case is appropriately resolved by Judge Kelly's newly developed "reasonable suspicion/medical exigency” test. As discussed in part I, supra, if a police officer has probable cause to believe that the motorist has been driving under the influence, the officer may lawfully administer a blood, breath or urine test pursuant to section 1547(a)(1). Further, the fact that a search may lead to "potentially exculpatory” evidence has never been a justification for making an unconstitutional search valid. If that were the test, then every search would be constitutionally valid because any search has the potential for dispelling suspicions that a crime has been committed.
. Appellant also contends that (1) the trial court erred in allowing a pathologist to testify over objection to the speed of his vehicle; (2) the mandatory sentencing provision for the crime of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol is unconstitutional. Because of our disposition of appellant’s suppression claim, we need not address these issues.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
The majority Opinion vacates the judgment of sentence and remands the case for a new trial by holding that the blood alcohol test performed on appellant violated his constitutional rights pursuant to the fourth amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, section 8, of the Pennsylvania Constitution. I respectfully dissent and would hold that 1) the Implied Consent Statute, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1547(a)(2), clearly creates a constitutionally permissible basis for a search based upon special need in the exercise of a governmental interest; 2) the admission of testimony from a pathologist as to the probable speed of the vehicle was not reversible error, and 3) the mandatory sentencing provisions of the drunk driving laws are constitutional and 4) they do apply to person over 18 years and under 21 years of age. I would, therefore, affirm the judgment of sentence of the trial court.
The facts of this case may be briefly stated as follows. The appellant Bruce Kohl, who was 18 years of age at the time, was involved in a one-car accident on March 30, 1985
On April 23, 1985, police were informed appellant could be questioned and, upon contacting him in his hospital room and informing him of his rights, defendant declined to answer any questions by the officer.
Subsequently, a motion was made to suppress the blood tests on the ground of infringement of his constitutional rights. Appellant moved to quash indictments and to discharge all charges pending against him. The motions to quash and discharge were denied and the case proceeded to a trial by jury, following which appellant was convicted of two counts each of homicide by vehicle,
In deciding this case, the majority relies on the rationale and conclusions it developed in Commonwealth v. Danforth, 395 Pa.Super. 1, 576 A.2d 1013 (1990), as the constitutionality of the implied consent law was similarly at issue there. This case, to a far greater extent than Danforth, establishes the wisdom of the legislation and the necessity for the Commonwealth to create a “special need” exception to fourteenth amendment search and seizure requirements of warrant or probable cause in order to obtain blood samples where injury requiring medical attention or death occurs in motor vehicle accidents.
The trial court found that either under 75 P.S. § 1547(a)(1) or section 1547(a)(2), there was probable cause to obtain a blood test, or implied consent to do so. The trial court does not discuss the issue of constitutionality further but relies on the findings by the suppression judge. The suppression judge likewise found that the facts in this case satisfied the reasonable grounds requirement of section 1547(a)(1). In both the suppression and trial Opinions, the judges relied on the facts that this was a serious single vehicle accident at 4:00 a.m., causing the death of two men and serious injury to a third. Police believed appellant had operated his vehicle at an excessive rate of speed, due to the damage to the car, on a roadway posted for 35 miles per hour. The roadway was dry, visibility clear and without obstruction to inhibit defendant’s driving. There was no evidence of braking or skid marks. Police could not communicate with defendant due to his unconscious condition, and the automobile was consumed by flames almost immediately after removal of the three occupants.
As to section 1547(a)(2), the suppression court properly accorded a strong presumption of constitutionality to lawfully enacted legislation. Martin v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review 502 Pa. 282, 466 A.2d 107
While the trial court found that despite lack of evidence of alcohol ingestion from odors or physical signs exhibited by the appellant, there was other evidence from the circumstances surrounding the accident to give rise to a reasonable belief (probable cause) that the driver was intoxicated, permitting the prearrest testing of appellant pursuant to Commonwealth v. Quarles, 229 Pa.Super. 363, 324 A.2d 452 (1974); Commonwealth v. Cieri, 346 Pa.Super. 77, 499 A.2d 317 (1985), and Commonwealth v. Pelkey, 349 Pa.Super. 373, 503 A.2d 414 (1985). However, in each of those cases, the odor of alcohol was detected on drivers not involved in serious accidents. Here, appellant was seriously injured and his two passengers killed but no odor of alcohol was detected nor was there present any other behavior or observations giving rise to a reasonable belief of alcohol ingestion. Thus reliance on section 1547(a)(1) does not address the issue of constitutionality framed by this case;2
All relevant preliminary issues raised by the implied consent provision in section 1547(a)(2) have been resolved by Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Association, 489 U.S. 602, 109 S.Ct. 1402, 103 L.Ed.2d 639 (1989), as thoroughly discussed in Commonwealth v. Danforth, 395 Pa.
As to the remaining issues that the pathologist was erroneously permitted to testify as to the speed of the automobile, and the mandatory sentencing provision is unconstitutional, both are without merit.
As to the first, Dr. Mihalakis, a forensic pathologist, was interrogated extensively in direct and cross-examination as to his qualifications. Following the interrogation, the trial judge found him qualified to testify as to the speed of the vehicle.
Dr. Mihalakis testified that, since 1963, he has been privy to 30 to 50 cases of vehicular deaths each year and that he previously testified, on at least six occasions in Pennsylvania courts, on the speed of vehicles based on the injuries sustained by passengers. Defense counsel was afforded wide latitude to address his concerns to the jury and having done so, it was properly within the jury’s discretion to accept or reject the doctor’s opinion. Expert testimony is admissible when it is offered by a witness with any reasonable pretension to specialized knowledge on the subject under investigation. See Kravinsky v. Glover, 263 Pa.Super. 8, 396 A.2d 1349 (1979), citing Ragan v. Steen, 229 Pa.Super. 515, 331 A.2d 724 (1974).
(Slip Op., Davison, J., p. 5.) I see no reason to go beyond this accurate statement of the law to affirm the court’s holding on this issue.
As to the validity of the mandatory sentencing provisions, their constitutionality is beyond dispute. The appellant
I would affirm the jury convictions and judgment of sentence.
. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3732.
. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3735.
. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3731.
. Implied Consent Law, 75 Pa.C.S. 1547(a)(2):
(a) General rule.—Any person who drives, operates or is in actual physical control of the movement of a motor vehicle in this Commonwealth shall be deemed to have giveen consent to one or more chemical tests of breath, blood or urine for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of blood or the presence of a controlled substance if a police officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving, operating or in actual physical control of the movement of a motor vehicle:
(2) which was involved in an accident in which the operator or passenger of any vehicle involved or a pedestrian required treatment at a medical facility or was killed.
Concurring Opinion
concurring.
I agree with the decision reached by the majority; however, I write separately to emphasize the limited scope of our decision.
The decision reached by the majority is compelled by long-standing precedent. Taking blood samples constitutes a search and seizure. Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966). Contrary to the implication of 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a), drivers cannot be “deemed” to consent to warrantless searches and seizures as a condition on the right or privilege of driving. Commonwealth v. Quarles, 229 Pa.Super. 363, 324 A.2d 452, 460-462 (1974). The blood test must fall under some recognized exception to the warrant requirement. Id.
Ordinarily, blood tests are justified on grounds of probable cause. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a)(1); Commonwealth v. Quarles, 229 Pa.Super. 363, 324 A.2d 452, 460-462 (1974) (holding that blood tests are constitutional where there is probable cause). In the present case, the blood test was based solely on the severity of the accident, applying 75
Where, as here, the only reason for the blood test is the severity of the accident, a blood test is an illegal search and seizure. If the police officer in this case had noticed any signs of intoxication, such as an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, lack of coordination or slurred speech, the blood test would have been authorized by 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(1). See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Haynos, 363 Pa.Super. 1, 525 A.2d 394 (1987), Commonwealth v. Pelkey, 349 Pa.Super. 373, 503 A.2d 414 (1985) (probable cause based on existence of an accident and odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath). Consequently, our decision affects only those cases in which the officer requesting the blood test has no reason to suspect intoxication.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I agree, on different grounds, that 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a)(2), is unconstitutional. I find, however, that reasonable suspicion existed to justify the blood test in the instant case. Hence, I dissent and would affirm judgment of sentence.
I. Constitutionality of 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(c)
As enacted, the current implied consent statute leaves unfettered discretion to the officer in the field to determine whether or not to invoke implied consent and request that a conscious driver submit to the blood test or direct that the test be performed on an unconscious driver. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(a)(2). While every driver who falls within the triggering language of the statute is deemed to consent,
I do not find it necessary here to determine if the rationale of “special need” to preserve highly evanescent evidence of blood alcohol content at the time of a serious train accident via warrantless, suspicionless blood testing of train crews for non-criminal prosecution, regulatory purposes in Skinner v. Railway Labor Executive Assn., 489 U.S. -, 109 S.Ct. 1402, 103 L.Ed.2d 639 (1989), could be extended to permit warrantless, suspicionless blood tests of drivers involved in serious automobile accidents, for criminal prosecution purposes. Nonetheless, in response to the majority’s broad prohibition, I note that I would be inclined to agree with Judge Tamilia that the rationale of Skinner should be extended to cover implied consent cases, provided the officer’s discretion, as to which persons (deemed to have consented) would be tested, was regulated in a rational and systematic manner.
II. Presence of Reasonable Suspicion
I find that reasonable suspicion existed in this case to believe that appellant was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Given the circumstances presented, I find that reasonable suspicion was sufficient to justify the blood test, and to render that test constitutionally reasonable.
Police arrived at the scene moments later. They pulled appellant from behind the steering wheel and removed his passengers shortly before the demolished vehicle burst into flames. Jeffrey Greb was pronounced dead at the scene; Mark Moser died en route to the hospital. Appellant, who was unconscious, was transported to the hospital by medivac helicopter. The police at the scene had no opportunity to question or examine appellant for signs of intoxication at the scene. After appellant had been evacuated, the investigation at the scene continued, and revealed several critical facts. The pavement was dry and visibility was clear, the car had been travelling at a high rate of speed, and the brakes were not applied prior to impact.
I find that a reasonable suspicion of possible intoxication is raised when a car carrying three young men at 4:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning fails to negotiate a curve at a high rate of speed, and a telephone pole is struck without the brakes having been applied, despite dry pavement and clear visibility. While other less burdensome alternatives might be more appropriate to confirm or dispel such reasonable suspicions when the driver is conscious and cooperative, I have no difficulty in affirming a request for a minimally intrusive blood test under the circumstances as presented here.
When there is reasonable suspicion to believe a motorist has driven while being intoxicated, the police are fully authorized to detain the motorist, question the motorist, and
When, as here, there is a serious accident and a driver/suspect is in need of prompt medical attention, the investigating officers must yield to that exigency, and fore-go investigative detention, questioning, and observation. It is the medical exigency requiring officers to forgo lawful investigative detention which I find creates a “special need” which renders a warrantless, minimally intrusive blood test based upon reasonable suspicion, constitutionally reasonable in such cases, especially when the suspect is unconscious.
The purpose of a blood test in such circumstances is to confirm or dispel suspicions of intoxication by preserving highly evanescent evidence of the blood alcohol content at the time of the accident, when lawful alternatives are precluded by the exigency of the suspect’s medical emer
Hence, I dissent.
. Evidence in this case indicated that it is standard medical practice to conduct blood alcohol tests on auto accident trauma patients. In this case, a blood alcohol test had already been ordered by appellant's treating physician when the officer’s request was made. Blood alcohol tests generally are minimally intrusive. When the suspect is a patient subject to the same test for medical purposes, the disclosure of the results of a dual purpose test, or the drawing of two vials of blood for testing, is even less intrusive.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Bruce A. KOHL, Appellant
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- 17 cases
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- Published