Driving While Intoxicated Case Law Review
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Driving While Intoxicated Case Law Review by Richard Alpert www.richardalpertlaw.com UPDATED JUNE 1, 2019 Acknowledgement I have been writing this update for over thirty years and over that time have benefited from the assistance of some very talented and generous people and this version is no exception. Following the tremendous example set by Shirley Little, Carlie Jones and Jane Scribner, I want to thank and acknowledge Bat-Sheva Tabakman for the time and effort she put into helping me produce the current layout of my DWI Case Law Review. Richard Alpert www.richardalpertlaw.com TABLE OF CONTENTS DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED .............................................................................................................................. 1 CASE LAW REVIEW .................................................................................................................. 1 BY ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 RICHARD ALPERT .................................................................................................................................................. 1 I. INFORMATION/CHARGING INSTRUMENT .................................................................................................... 1 A. MENTAL OR PHYSICAL FACULTIES ................................................................................................................... 1 B. "PUBLIC PLACE" IS SPECIFIC ENOUGH ............................................................................................................. 1 C. STATE DOES NOT HAVE TO SPECIFY WHICH DEFINITION OF INTOXICATION IT IS RELYING ON IN THE INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 D. NO MENTAL STATE NECESSARY IN DWI CHARGE ............................................................................................ 1 1. PRE § 49.04 ................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. POST § 49.04 .............................................................................................................................................. 2 E. UNOBJECTED TO ERROR IN CHARGING INSTRUMENT .................................................................................... 2 F. DWI W/CHILD – ONE CASE PER DRIVING INCIDENT: ....................................................................................... 2 G. STATUTE OF LIMITATION FOR FELONY DWI .................................................................................................... 2 II. VOIR DIRE ................................................................................................................................................... 3 A. PROPER QUESTION/STATEMENT .................................................................................................................... 3 B. IMPROPER QUESTION/STATEMENT ............................................................................................................... 3 C. CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE .................................................................................................................................. 4 1. PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE .................................................................................................................. 4 2. ONE WITNESS CASE .................................................................................................................................... 4 3. JURORS WHO WOULD REQUIRE BREATH TEST TO CONVICT ..................................................................... 4 4. JURORS ABILITY TO CONSIDER FULL RANGE OF PUNISHMENT ................................................................ 5 5. BIAS TOWARDS POLICE OFFICERS DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE JURORS CHALLENGEABLE ........................ 5 III. DWI ROADBLOCKS ...................................................................................................................................... 6 A. ARE ILLEGAL .................................................................................................................................................... 6 B. AVOIDING ROADBLOCK CAN PROVIDE BASIS FOR STOP ................................................................................. 6 IV. TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ................................................................................................................................... 7 V. BASIS FOR VEHICLE STOP LEGAL STANDARD ................................................................................................ 8 A. OFFICER’S MISTAKE OF FACT/LAW WILL NOT MAKE STOP ILLEGAL ............................................................... 8 B. TICKETS THAT PROVIDED BASIS FOR STOP INADMISSIBLE .............................................................................. 8 C. INFORMATION FROM CITIZEN/POLICE RADIO/ANONYMOUS CALL ................................................................ 8 1. SUFFICIENT BASIS FOR STOP ...................................................................................................................... 8 2. IDENTIFIED CITIZEN--CREDIBLE AND RELIABLE ........................................................................................ 11 3. DETAILS OF POLICE BROADCAST ARE ADMISSIBLE .................................................................................. 12 4. ANONYMOUS TIP FROM EMS TECHNICIAN ............................................................................................. 13 5. INFORMATION COMMUNICATED TO 911 ................................................................................................ 13 6. ANONYMOUS TIP FROM HITCHHIKER ...................................................................................................... 14 7. ANONYMOUS TIP FROM TRUCK DRIVER .................................................................................................. 14 8. ANONYMOUS TIP - INSUFFICIENT DETAILS .............................................................................................. 14 D. BAD DRIVING/CONDUCT NEED NOT = CRIMINAL OFFENSE .......................................................................... 15 E. "COMMUNITY CARE-TAKING FUNCTION" (CCF) ........................................................................................... 17 1. APPLIES .................................................................................................................................................... 17 2. DOESN'T APPLY ........................................................................................................................................ 20 F. OFFICER'S ARREST AUTHORITY WHEN OUTSIDE JURISDICTION .................................................................... 21 1. FOR A TRAFFIC OFFENSE .......................................................................................................................... 21 i. STOPS MADE BEFORE 9-01-05 = NO ..................................................................................................................... 21 ii. STOPS MADE AFTER 9-01-05 = YES ....................................................................................................................... 22 2. CAN STOP AND ARREST FOR "BREACH OF PEACE" ................................................................................... 22 3. TO MAKE ARREST FOR DWI ...................................................................................................................... 23 4. FAILURE TO NOTIFY OFFICERS WITHIN JURISDICTION ............................................................................. 23 DOES NOT VIOLATE EXCLUSIONARY RULE ......................................................................................................... 23 5. CITY VS. COUNTY-WIDE JURISDICTION .................................................................................................... 23 i. COUNTY-WIDE ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 ii. OFFICER WITHIN JURISDICTION’S PARTICIPATION ............................................................................................... 24 iii. HOT PURSUIT ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 G. PRETEXT STOPS - NO LONGER BASIS FOR SUPPRESSION ............................................................................... 25 H. OPERATING VEHICLE IN UNSAFE CONDITION ............................................................................................... 25 I. FAILING TO DIM LIGHTS ................................................................................................................................ 25 J. RAPID ACCELERATION/SPINNING TIRES ....................................................................................................... 25 1. YES ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 2. NO ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 K. WEAVING WITHIN LANE/FAILING