State v. Berry , 2019 Ohio 1254 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Berry, 2019-Ohio-1254.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellant : Appellate Case No. 28199
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2017-CR-3589
:
TAURUSS A. BERRY : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellee :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 5th day of April, 2019.
...........
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by MICHAEL J. SCARPELLI, Atty. Reg. No. 0093662, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division,
Montgomery County Courts Building, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellant
ADELINA E. HAMILTON, Atty. Reg. No. 0078595, 117 South Main Street, Fourth Floor,
Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Defendant-Appellee
.............
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WELBAUM, P.J.
{¶ 1} The State appeals from a decision partly granting a suppression motion filed
by Defendant-Appellee, Tauruss Berry. According to the State, the trial court erred in
suppressing field sobriety test results because the arresting officer had a reasonable
articulable suspicion that Berry was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The
State also asks that we overrule our prior opinions in State v. Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No.
1504, 2000 WL 299550 (March 24, 2000) and State v. Dixon, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2000-
CA-30, 2000 WL 1760664 (Dec. 1, 2000), and their progeny.
{¶ 2} For the reasons discussed below, the trial court did not err in granting in part
Berry’s motion to suppress. Although the holdings in Spillers and Dixon have been
subject to credible criticism, the facts in this case present an insufficient basis to justify
overruling our prior decisions. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.
I. Facts and Course of Proceedings
{¶ 3} In December 2017, the State filed an indictment charging Berry with several
offenses, including two felonies related to carrying and handling of a firearm in a vehicle,
and three misdemeanors related to operating a vehicle while under the influence (the
presence of cocaine and marijuana metabolites) (“OVI”). After pleading not guilty, Berry
filed a motion to suppress based on four grounds. As pertinent here, Berry alleged that
the arresting officer lacked reasonable suspicion to believe he was driving while impaired
and that he was improperly arrested for OVI without a warrant.
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{¶ 4} At the suppression hearing, Ohio State Highway Patrol Officer David
Shockey was the only witness. Shockey had been a state trooper for more than 19
years, and he described the training he had received in recognizing impaired drivers and
administering field sobriety tests. After outlining his credentials, Shockey gave the
following account of the incident.
{¶ 5} On February 12, 2017, Shockey was on patrol, wearing a uniform and driving
a marked cruiser. Around 2:30 a.m., he was traveling northbound on North Main Street
in Dayton, Ohio, and passed Berry, who was traveling southbound. Shockey turned his
cruiser around and began following Berry. Shockey observed Berry traveling,
conservatively, at 45 miles per hour, which was ten miles over the speed limit. He also
saw Berry make two lane changes without using a turn signal. The lane changes were
slow. Berry was initially in the left lane, and went from the left lane to the right lane. He
later went back to the left lane from the right. The lanes were marked, and the car’s
wheels remained within its lane of travel.
{¶ 6} After observing the traffic violations, Shockey activated his light bar, and
Berry pulled over to the curb. According to Shockey, Berry was compliant in pulling over.
Shockey then approached the driver’s side window and asked for Berry’s registration,
driver’s license, and proof of insurance. Berry was able to produce these items without
fumbling around or looking for things. Berry also did not have slurred speech and was
polite and cordial. Shockey stated that, despite the circumstances, Berry “was a
pleasure to be with that night.” Suppression Transcript p. 26.
{¶ 7} Shockey further said that he had no problems communicating with Berry; he
also did not say in the impaired driver report that he saw any sign of drug use, like pupil
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size. Shockey did say that Berry’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy,” and that he
“detected the slight odor of an alcoholic beverage.” Id. at p. 12. When Shockey asked
if Berry had been drinking, Berry stated that “he really hadn’t been drinking that evening.”
Id. at p. 14.
{¶ 8} Due to the bloodshot, glassy eyes, the slight odor of alcohol, and the traffic
violations, Shockey felt Berry could possibly be impaired, so he asked Berry to step out
of the car and perform a field sobriety test. Id. at pp. 12 and 28-29. As Berry
approached the rear of his own car, Shockey observed that Berry “kind of was uneasy on
his feet, and kind of like brushed up against it [the car].” Id. at p. 13.
{¶ 9} At that point, Shockey administered three National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration tests (horizontal nystagmus, one-leg stand, and walk-and-turn), as well as
two that are not part of NHTSA protocol (an ABC test and a counting test). He concluded
that Berry was impaired and placed him under arrest. As noted, Berry was then charged
with the weapons and OVI violations.
{¶ 10} After holding a suppression hearing, the trial court issued a decision in
October 2018, sustaining in part and overruling in part the motion to suppress. As a
result, the court excluded evidence pertaining to the sobriety tests, Berry’s arrest, the
search of Berry’s car, and any statements that Berry had made. The State then filed a
timely notice of appeal pursuant to R.C. 2945.67(A) and Crim.R. 12(K), and also filed the
appropriate certification under Crim.R. 12(K).
II. Alleged Error in Suppression of Evidence
{¶ 11} The State’s sole assignment of error states that:
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The Trial Court Erred in Suppressing the Results of Berry’s Field
Sobriety Tests. Trooper Shockey Had a Reasonable, Articulable
Suspicion that Berry Might Have Been Driving Under the Influence.
{¶ 12} Under this assignment of error, the State presents two issues. The first is
that the trial court incorrectly granted the suppression motion because Trooper Shockey
testified about several specific articulable reasons for conducting field sobriety tests.
The State’s second point is that the trial court was not at fault for this error, due to our
prior authority, which “compelled” the trial court’s decision. According to the State, we
should overrule our prior decisions in Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1504, 2000 WL 299550,
and Dixon, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2000-CA-30, 2000 WL 1760664.
{¶ 13} Initially, we will consider the State’s challenge to the propriety of the
suppression decision. “Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed
question of law and fact. When considering a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes
the role of trier of fact and is therefore in the best position to resolve factual questions and
evaluate the credibility of witnesses.” State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2003-Ohio-
5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8. “Consequently, an appellate court must accept the trial court's
findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id. “Accepting
these facts as true, the appellate court must then independently determine, without
deference to the conclusion of the trial court, whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal
standard.” Id.
{¶ 14} Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution and the Fourth Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution both prohibit “unreasonable searches and seizures.” State v. Orr,
91 Ohio St. 3d 389, 391, 745 N.E.2d 1036 (2001). Nonetheless, “a traffic stop is
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constitutionally valid if an officer has a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a motorist
has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime.” State v. Mays, 119 Ohio
St.3d 406, 2008-Ohio-4539, 894 N.E.2d 1204, ¶ 7. We have said on numerous
occasions that police officers in marked cruisers may stop vehicles for “ ‘any traffic
violation no matter how slight, for the purpose of issuing a citation for the violation.’ ”
State v. Santiago, 195 Ohio App. 3d 649, 2011-Ohio-5292, 961 N.E.2d 264, ¶ 10 (2d
Dist.), quoting Spillers at *2.
{¶ 15} Here, the traffic stop was clearly valid, and Berry did not challenge the stop.
Nonetheless, the stop’s validity did not allow Shockey to administer sobriety tests.
Instead, to justify this continued detention, Shockey must have had “a reasonable,
articulable suspicion” that Berry was operating his vehicle under the influence of drugs or
alcohol. State v. Hido, 2d Dist. Clark No. 10CA0046, 2011-Ohio-2560, ¶ 9, citing State
v. Evans, 127 Ohio App. 3d 56, 711 N.E.2d 761 (11th Dist.1998). These situations are
quite fact-intensive, and the “ ‘circumstances are to be viewed through the eyes of the
reasonable and prudent police officer on the scene who must react to events as they
unfold.’ ” State v. Adams, 2017-Ohio-7743, 97 N.E.3d 1137, ¶ 26 (2d Dist.), quoting
State v. Andrews, 57 Ohio St. 3d 86, 87-88, 565 N.E.2d 1271 (1991).
{¶ 16} We have not adopted any balancing tests for this evaluation, nor have we
required consideration of a specific quantity of factors. Id. at ¶ 33. However, we have
stressed the well-established law in our district that “traffic violations of a de minimus [sic]
nature, combined with a slight odor of an alcoholic beverage, and an admission of having
consumed ‘a couple of beers,’ are insufficient to support a reasonable, articulable
suspicion of driving under the influence.” State v. Aicher, 2018-Ohio-1866, 112 N.E.3d
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85, ¶ 19, citing Spillers at *3 and State v. Morgan, 2d Dist. Clark No. 07-CA-67, 2007-
Ohio-6691, ¶ 9.
{¶ 17} In concluding that Trooper Shockey lacked a reasonable, articulable
suspicion that Berry was impaired, the trial court focused on the following facts: the de
minimis nature of the violations giving rise to the stop (two marked lane violations and a
speeding violation); the lack of an admission that Berry had consumed any alcoholic
beverages or had been coming from a bar district; Shockey’s notice of only a slight odor
of alcohol; that while Berry’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy,” his speech was not
slurred and he did not either fumble or fail to be responsive to Shockey’s requests; and
Berry’s lack of erratic driving. Doc. #31, pp. 6-7.
{¶ 18} The trial court’s observations are supported by the record. We have
emphasized that impairment “cases are often close calls based on the totality of the
circumstances, the trial court's weighing of the evidence, and its determinations of
credibility,” and that “we are reluctant to second guess the trial court's determination of
this factual issue.” State v. Nelson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27324, 2017-Ohio-2884,
¶ 21. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred in granting Berry’s
motion to suppress.
{¶ 19} The State’s second point is that we should overrule our prior decisions in
Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1504, 2000 WL 299550, and Dixon, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2000-
CA-30, 2000 WL 1760664, and their progeny. In particular, the State criticizes Spillers’
alleged focus on the “irrelevance” of de minimis violations. According to the State, the
proper emphasis should be on whether traffic violations could support an inference of
impairment to a trained observer. State’s Brief at p. 11. The State also notes a 2001
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federal decision in which a magistrate judge disagreed with our reasoning. See United
States v. Frantz, 177 F. Supp. 2d 760, 762 (S.D.Ohio 2001) (indicating that the court could
not understand our rationale).
{¶ 20} Ohio courts follow the doctrine of stare decisis, which “commands that a
court should not lightly overrule its own precedential authority.” State v. Buelow, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 24570, 2012-Ohio-832, ¶ 15. The doctrine “is designed to provide
continuity and predictability in our legal system. We adhere to stare decisis as a means
of thwarting the arbitrary administration of justice as well as providing a clear rule of law
by which the citizenry can organize their affairs.” Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis, 100 Ohio
St.3d 216, 2003-Ohio-5849, 797 N.E.2d 1256, ¶ 43.
{¶ 21} Under the test the Supreme Court of Ohio has established, a prior decision
“may be overruled where (1) the decision was wrongly decided at that time, or changes
in circumstances no longer justify continued adherence to the decision, (2) the decision
defies practical workability, and (3) abandoning the precedent would not create an undue
hardship for those who have relied upon it.” Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶ 22} In Spillers, we recognized that the de minimis traffic violations justified a
traffic stop. Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1504, 2000 WL 299550, at *1. We then
considered whether the officer had a reasonable, articulable suspicion of an OVI violation
that justified administering sobriety tests. Among the facts the officer knew at the time
were: “three or four marked lane violations, which the trial court found to have been ‘de
minimis,’ followed by a significant interval in which Spillers drove home with neither any
traffic violations, nor any remarkable driving, together with [the officer’s] detection of a
‘slight’ odor of an alcoholic beverage, which he believed to have been beer, and Spillers'
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admission that he had consumed ‘a couple’ of beers.” Id. at *3.
{¶ 23} After reciting these facts, we said:
The issue is close. However, we conclude that traffic violations of a
de minimis nature are not sufficient, combined with a slight odor of an
alcoholic beverage, and an admission to having consumed “a couple” of
beers, to support a reasonable and articulable suspicion of Driving Under
the Influence. Few of us drive any appreciable distance without committing
traffic violations that could properly be characterized as “de minimis.” By
themselves, then, traffic violations of a de minimis nature are not indicative
of impaired driving. Otherwise, virtually every motorist could reasonably
be suspected of impaired driving, since virtually every motorist, driving a
distance of several miles, will fail to signal a lane change; touch, or even
slightly cross, a line marking a lane; or exceed the speed limit slightly.
Furthermore, a slight odor of an alcoholic beverage, without more, is not
indicative of impaired driving. The law prohibits driving under the influence
of alcohol; it does not prohibit driving after the mere consumption of an
alcoholic beverage. State v. Taylor (1981), 3 Ohio App. 3d 197, at 198, 444
N.E.2d 481.
The closer question, of course, is whether the conjunction of these
facts - nominal traffic violations combined with a slight odor of alcohol - is
sufficient to create a reasonable articulable suspicion of Driving Under the
Influence. Because, in our experience, virtually the entire motoring public
commits nominal traffic violations regularly, we conclude that even the
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conjunction of these facts is insufficient to create a reasonable articulable
suspicion of Driving Under the Influence. A slight odor of an alcoholic
beverage is insufficient, by itself, to trigger a reasonable suspicion of DUI,
and nominal traffic violations, being common to virtually every driver, add
nothing of significance. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did
not err in finding that the detention of Spillers for the purpose of
administering a field sobriety test was unlawful.
Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1504, 2000 WL 299550, at *3.
{¶ 24} Dixon is similar, with facts that included no erratic driving, only an “odor of
alcohol,” and glassy, bloodshot eyes in the early morning hours. Dixon, 2d Dist. Greene
No. 2000-CA-30, 2000 WL 1760664, at *2.
{¶ 25} In some situations, we have cited Spillers for propositions not relevant here.
See, e.g., State v. Philipot, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 17895, 2000 WL 1062631, *3 (Aug.
4, 2000) (officers may initiate traffic stop based on any traffic violation, no matter how
slight); State v. Garrett, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2000CA115, 2001 WL 585640, *1 (June 1,
2001) (defendant failed to timely object to a magistrate’s decision and did not preserve
error).
{¶ 26} We have also distinguished Spillers a number of times, based on the fact
that the nature of the violation was not de minimis or that additional factors were present.
See, e.g., State v. Castle, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21698, 2007-Ohio-5165, ¶ 12
(defendant was “repeatedly weaving outside his lane of travel”); State v. Frady, 142 Ohio
App.3d 776, 778, 757 N.E.2d 12 (2d Dist.2001) (officer observed defendant “drift to the
right, and come within a ‘foot or two’ of hitting two parked cars, then drift to the left,
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crossing the center line and driving on the wrong side of the road. She then drifted back
to the right, again coming within a foot of hitting parked cars.”); State v. Marshall, 2d Dist.
Clark No. 2001-CA-35, 2001-Ohio-7081, *2 (red eyes, speeding, and strong odor of
alcohol); State v. Cowell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19119, 2002 WL 31151372, *1 (Sept.
27, 2002) (odor of alcohol, admission of drinking two to three beers; officer also saw can
of beer in car door, observed speeding, and heard sound of tries squealing against or
hitting curb); State v. Shepherd, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2002-CA-55, 2002-Ohio-6383, ¶ 2
(observation of erratic driving, slurred speech, and strong odor of alcohol); State v. Knox,
2d Dist. Greene No. 2005-CA-74, 2006-Ohio-3039, ¶ 3 (defendant drove car without lights
at 1:30 a.m., his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, he smelled strongly of alcohol, his
speech was thick and slurred, and he admitted to having two beers); State v. Castle, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 21698, 2007-Ohio-5165, ¶ 12 (repeatedly weaving out of lane and
jerking back in distinguished Spillers and, itself, was evidence of impairment; defendant
also had very red and glassy eyes, strong odor of alcohol); Aicher, 2018-Ohio-1866, 112
N.E.3d 85, ¶ 19-24 (2d Dist.) (comparing case factually with Spillers and other cases, and
finding that Spillers was factually distinguishable).
{¶ 27} In addition, we have found Spillers factually similar in a number of cases.
See, e.g., State v. Segi, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18267, 2000 WL 1162035, *2 (Aug. 18,
2000) (no indicia of intoxication other than strong odor of alcohol and defendant’s
admission that he had been drinking did not furnish probable cause for arrest)1; State v.
Morgan, 2d Dist. Clark No. 07-CA-67, 2007-Ohio-6691, ¶ 9 (facts similar to Spillers); State
1 Segi involved probable cause for an arrest, not reasonable suspicion to perform field
sobriety tests.
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v. Swartz, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2008 CA 31, 2009-Ohio-902, ¶ 14 and 16 (“de minimis traffic
violation, coupled with glassy, bloodshot eyes and an unspecified odor of alcohol is
insufficient justification to conduct field sobriety tests”).
{¶ 28} In 2002, we said that “it appears that the smell of alcohol and glassy eyes
at a late hour, without more, is not sufficient to conduct a field sobriety test. * * * However,
we conclude that the additional element of erratic driving or specifically a ‘strong’ odor of
alcohol seem to tip the scales in favor of allowing the tests.” State v. Downing, 2d Dist.
Greene No. 2001-CA-78, 2002-Ohio-1302, *2 (March 22, 2002). Before and after
Spillers, we have also stressed that “ ‘ “a strong odor of alcohol alone” ’ is enough to
provide an officer with “ ‘reasonable suspicion” ’ of criminal behavior.” State v. Marshall,
2d Dist. Clark No. 2001-CA-35, 2001 WL 1658096, *2 (Dec. 28, 2001), quoting State v.
Haucke, 2d. Dist. Clark No. 99 CA 77, 2000 WL 282304, *2 (March 17, 2000). (Other
citation omitted.) Accord State v. Reed, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23357, 2010-Ohio-
299, ¶ 47.
{¶ 29} More recently, we have again emphasized that:
Traffic violations of a de minimus [sic] nature are not sufficient,
combined with a slight odor of an alcoholic beverage, and an admission of
having consumed a “couple” beers, to support a reasonable and articulable
suspicion of DUI. State v. Spillers (March 24, 2000), Darke App. No. 1504.
This standard is fact-sensitive, and all evidence suggesting an alcohol
offense should be examined together to decide whether the officer has
reasonable suspicion to administer a field sobriety test.
State v. Brewer, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23442, 2010-Ohio-3441, ¶ 24.
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{¶ 30} In one recent case, a dissenting judge disagreed with the majority’s
conclusion that insufficient indicia of impairment existed. The judge concluded that “the
trial court's factual conclusions regarding [defendant’s] excursions into the opposite lane
of travel and, on the second occasion, driving across her lane of travel nearly striking the
curb on the right side of the road coupled with the moderate odor of alcohol emanating
from [the defendant] and [her] denial of recent alcohol consumption in the face of a
moderate odor of alcohol are specific and articulable facts which * * * compel the
conclusion there existed a reasonable, articulable suspicion [the defendant] was
impaired.” State v. Nelson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27324, 2017-Ohio-2884, ¶ 25
(Tucker, J., dissenting).2
{¶ 31} As support for its view that our decisions in Spillers and like cases were
incorrect, the State also cites other federal cases. In addition, the State contends that
an approach of the Vermont Supreme Court is more appropriate. Having reviewed the
cited cases, we disagree.
{¶ 32} In State v. Santimore, 2009 VT 104, 186 Vt. 638, 987 A.2d 332, a state
statute allowed administration of a portable breath test “[w]hen a law enforcement officer
has reason to believe that a person may be violating or has violated” the law pertaining
to legal alcohol limits. Id. at ¶ 6, quoting 23 V.S.A. 1203(f). The defendant claimed that
this wording required officers to satisfy a stringent standard to administer the test.
However, the court disagreed, stressing that officers need not have incontrovertible proof.
2 There was also evidence in Nelson that the defendant’s eyes were “ ‘bloodshot’ and
‘somewhat watery,’ ” and that she had expressed some surprise or confusion about the
fact that it was Saturday rather than Friday. (She was stopped at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday.)
Nelson at ¶ 8 and 10.
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Instead, administering the test required the existence of “reasonable, articulable facts
supporting the belief that criminal behavior is afoot.” Id. at ¶ 9.
{¶ 33} The court did say, as the State suggests, that the standard was satisfied
where the officer stopped the defendant for speeding, smelled an odor of alcohol, and
observed that the defendant’s eyes were “bloodshot and watery.” Id. at ¶ 11.
Unfortunately, the recited facts in Santimore are sparse, and the odor’s level (slight,
moderate, strong) is not indicated. The court did note, as a general rule, that “[i]ndicia
of intoxication, such as an officer's detection of the odor of alcohol emanating from a
driver as well as observation of a driver's watery and bloodshot eyes, are sufficient to
establish reasonable suspicion of DUI.” Id. at ¶ 8.
{¶ 34} The cases Santimore cites for this general rule are more helpful, as they
contain more detailed facts. For example, in State v. Mara, 2009 VT 96A, 186 Vt. 389,
987 A.2d 939, the defendant was stopped for a taillight violation. However, when the
officer spoke with the defendant, he smelled a moderate odor of alcohol. The
defendant’s eyes were also watery and bloodshot, and he admitted to having drunk 24
ounces of beer earlier in the evening. Id. at ¶ 2. In another cited case, the defendant
had been involved in an accident in a parking lot at 3:00 a.m. He admitted consuming
six beers since early afternoon, his breath had a mild odor of alcohol, and “he was
emotional and clearly upset about the damage to his car.” State v. Orvis, 143 Vt. 388,
389-390, 465 A.2d 1361 (1983).
{¶ 35} The facts of these cases are not unlike situations where we affirmed
decisions denying suppression. See, e.g., State v. Criswell, 162 Ohio App. 3d 391, 2005-
Ohio-3876, 833 N.E.2d 786, ¶ 3 (2d Dist.) (speeding, moderate odor of alcohol, bloodshot
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and glassy eyes, and admission of two beers); State v. Mahaffey, 2d Dist. Greene No.
2003 CA 56, 2004-Ohio-1023, ¶ 2 (several traffic violations, moderate odor of alcohol,
admission of drinking, and difficulty finding paperwork); Aicher, 2d Dist. No. 27570, 2018-
Ohio-1866, 112 N.E.3d 85, ¶ 5 (expired plates, moderate odor of alcohol, faint odor of
burnt marijuana, glassy eyes, a little slurred speech, admission of a couple of drinks). In
short, we do not see the approach of the Vermont Supreme Court as more appropriate,
or even distinct, nor do we find any reason to overrule our prior authority. As we have
often stressed, these decisions are “ ‘very-fact intensive.’ ” Santiago, 195 Ohio App. 3d
649, 2011-Ohio-5292, 961 N.E.2d 264, at ¶ 13, quoting State v. Wells, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 20798, 2005-Ohio-5008, ¶ 9.
{¶ 36} As a final matter, the other federal cases that the State cites are either not
on point or support our decision in Spillers. For example, the State cites Amundsen v.
Jones, 533 F.3d 1192, 1199 (10th Cir.2008), for a holding that “ ‘drifting onto the shoulder
creates reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence.’ ” State’s Brief, p. 11.
Amundsen was a civil action brought against an officer for arresting a motorist who was
found, after toxicology tests, not to be intoxicated. Id. at 1194. After the district court
denied summary judgment to the police officer on her assertion of qualified immunity, she
appealed. Id. at 1196.
{¶ 37} On appeal, the officer contended that the motorist’s “erratic driving by itself
created reasonable suspicion of intoxication.” Id. at 1198. The court noted that its
consideration was whether the erratic driving justified the initial stop, and if so, whether
the sobriety tests then exceeded the scope of the stop. Id. In this regard, the court
commented that the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals had “held on multiple occasions that
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weaving between lanes provides reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence.”
Id. at 1198-1199. The court then cited a number of cases which held that weaving,
drifting, and swerving created reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence. Id. at
1199, citing United States v. Ozbirn, 189 F.3d 1194 (10th Cir.1999) and others.
{¶ 38} The court was careful to observe in Amundsen that:
There are limits, however, on the extent to which weaving can serve
as a factor creating reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence.
For instance, an isolated incident of crossing into another lane will not
ordinarily create reasonable suspicion of driving while impaired. * * * Nor
will weaving within a lane, without more, ordinarily create reasonable
suspicion of driving under the influence. United States v. Lyons, 7 F.3d
973, 976 (10th Cir.1993) (“Indeed, if failure to follow a perfect vector down
the highway or keeping one's eyes on the road were sufficient reasons to
suspect a person of driving while impaired, a substantial portion of the public
would be subject each day to an invasion of privacy.”) * * *.
(Citations omitted) Amundsen at 1199.
{¶ 39} The italicized statement is somewhat consistent with our observation in
Spillers that “virtually the entire motoring public commits nominal traffic violations
regularly.” Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1504, 2000 WL 299550, at *3. Thus, Amundsen
supports our position.
{¶ 40} The State also cites Navarette v. California, 572 U.S. 393, 134 S. Ct. 1683,
188 L. Ed. 2d 680 (2014), for the proposition that even “an anonymous tip reporting one
instance of reckless driving was sufficient reasonable suspicion of impairment to warrant
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a stop of the defendant’s vehicle.” (Emphasis sic.) State’s Brief at p. 11. In Navarette,
an anonymous caller reported to police that she been run off the road, and described a
specific vehicle along with its license plate number. Id. at 395. Shortly thereafter, the
police stopped the vehicle on the same road and eventually found 30 pounds of
marijuana. Id. at 396. The issue in Navarette was not whether reasonable, articulable
suspicion existed for a field sobriety test; the court was concerned only with whether the
tip justified the initial traffic stop. Id. at 395.
{¶ 41} The court found the tip reliable for several reasons, including the use of the
911 emergency system, which can identify important information about callers, the
timeline of events, and the fact that “[a] driver's claim that another vehicle ran her off the
road * * * necessarily implies that the informant knows the other car was driven
dangerously.” Id. at 399-401. In view of these comments, the State’s focus on the fact
that the police received a report of “one instance” of reckless driving is misplaced. The
court was discussing the reliability of tips themselves, and the fact that only one tip was
received was not the issue.
{¶ 42} During its discussion, the court also considered whether the 911 caller’s
report of being run off the road “created reasonable suspicion on an ongoing crime such
as drunk driving as opposed to an isolated instance of past recklessness.” (Emphasis
added.) Id. at 402. In connection with this point, the court observed that under a
“commonsense approach” using everyday practical and factual considerations,
“reasonable and prudent” persons, not “legal technicians” could “appropriately recognize
certain driving behaviors as sound indicia of drunk driving.” Id. The listed indicia were:
(1) weaving all over the roadway; (2) crossing over the center line on a high way and
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almost causing several head on collisions; (3) driving all over the road and weaving back
and forth; and (4) driving in the median. (Citations and internal quotations omitted.) Id.
Notably, these indicia do not include de minimis traffic violations.
{¶ 43} Moreover, Navarette involved whether there was reasonable suspicion for
a traffic stop. That was not an issue here. Navarette also did not involve the reasonable
suspicion needed for field sobriety tests. Finally, Navarette adds nothing to standards
Ohio has long applied. See, e.g., Maumee v. Weisner, 87 Ohio St. 3d 295, 296, 302-303,
720 N.E.2d 507 (1999) (telephone informant’s tip of report of erratic driving, i.e., “weaving
all over the road”, was reliable enough to warrant investigative traffic stop on suspicion of
driving under the influence).
{¶ 44} Finally, the State contends that when courts decide whether reasonable
suspicion exists, they do not have to rule out the possibility of innocent conduct. State’s
Brief at p. 12, citing United States v. Arvizu, 534 U.S. 266, 274, 122 S. Ct. 744, 151
L. Ed. 2d 740 (2002). According to the State, our decisions in Spillers and Dixon require
us to do that.
{¶ 45} In Arvizu, the court emphasized that the totality of the circumstances is the
appropriate test for determining reasonable suspicion, and that courts may not evaluate
each articulated reason for the stop in isolation. Id. at 274. The Supreme Court of
Ohio has also said that “[t]he ‘reasonable and articulable suspicion’ analysis is based on
the collection of factors, not on the individual factors themselves.” State v. Batchili, 113
Ohio St. 3d 403, 2007-Ohio-2204, 865 N.E.2d 1282, ¶ 19, citing Arvizu at 274.
{¶ 46} Batchili involved a defendant who was stopped for a marked lane violation,
and the officer prolonged the stop due to a suspicion that he was transporting drugs. Id.
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at ¶ 2-5. At the suppression hearing, the officer listed numerous reasons why she had
reasonable, articulable suspicion, including that the driver failed to stop for two miles after
she signaled him, that the van had tinted windows and a cargo hold with boxes in disarray
and covered by blankets, that the driver did not own the vehicle and gave conflicting
answers about who owned the vehicle, and that the driver had shaking hands and did not
make eye contact. The officer also smelled deodorizer in the vehicle. Id. at ¶ 4-5.
{¶ 47} In reviewing the appellate court’s conclusion that the driver had been
unconstitutionally detained, the Supreme Court of Ohio first noted that the appellate court
failed to analyze whether the length of the detention was reasonable. Id. at ¶ 11. The
court then assumed that the detention was actually prolonged and considered whether
the officer had a reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity beyond what had
prompted the original stop. Id. at ¶ 15. According to the Supreme Court, the appellate
court had departed at this point from established law. Id. at ¶ 16. Specifically, the
appellate court had improperly substituted its own judgment for “each of the reasons listed
supporting [the officer’s] “justification for her articulable suspicion and concluded that
because each had an innocent explanation, her suspicion was not reasonable.” Id. at
¶ 18. Instead of using this approach, the appellate court should have considered the
collection of factors. Id. at ¶ 19.
{¶ 48} As an example, it is true that tinted windows, when considered in isolation,
may not be indicative of criminal activity. We also agree that reasonable suspicion is
based on a collection of factors. However, we disagree that our decisions (which were
made close to a quarter of a century ago and also continued to be cited well after Arvizu
and Batchili were decided), have evaluated reasonable suspicion based on something
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other than the totality of the circumstances. We have repeatedly said that the test is
based on the totality of the circumstances. See, e.g., State v. Brown, 2016-Ohio-1258,
61 N.E.3d 922, ¶ 8 (2d Dist.); Aicher, 2018-Ohio-1866, 112 N.E.3d 85, at ¶ 17.
{¶ 49} We have also said that “[t]he fact that innocent explanations could exist for
the signs of impairment [an officer] saw did not preclude reasonable, articulable suspicion
of intoxication. Indeed, the Ohio Supreme Court has rejected the proposition that
reasonable, articulable suspicion cannot exist where each factor upon which an officer
relies has a potentially innocent explanation.” (Emphasis sic.) State v. Greaves, 2d
Dist. Clark No. 2013-CA-91, 2014-Ohio-2446, ¶ 9, citing Batchili at ¶ 18-19.
{¶ 50} In Greaves, the defendant was stopped after committing a traffic violation
(swerving back and forth between lanes and straddling lanes), and was arrested for
intoxication after the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol and “red shot and glassy”
eyes. In addition, the defendant was a little disoriented and admitted he had been
drinking earlier that night when he got off work. Id. at ¶ 3 and 10. The defendant relied
on the lack of any obvious impairment to motor skills when he exited the car, and the
officer’s admission to two points: (1) smelling alcohol does not mean an individual is
impaired; and (2) “the time of day or a lack of sleep can affect a person’s eyes.” Id. at
¶ 6.
{¶ 51} As we stressed earlier, however, our cases have said that a strong odor of
alcohol alone will provide reasonable suspicion that an individual is intoxicated.
Marshall, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2001-CA-35, 2001 WL 1658096, at *2. This is inconsistent
with a completely innocent explanation, and under the totality of the circumstances, the
arresting officer in Greaves clearly had a reasonable, articulable suspicion that the
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defendant was intoxicated.
{¶ 52} Based on the preceding discussion and the facts of this case, we see no
basis for overruling our prior decisions in Spillers, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1504, 2000 WL
299550, and Dixon, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2000-CA-30, 2000 WL 1760664 at this time.
Accordingly, the State’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 53} The State’s sole assignment of error having been overruled, the judgment
of the trial court is affirmed.
.............
DONOVAN, J. and FROELICH, J., concur.
Copies sent to:
Mathias H. Heck, Jr.
Michael J. Scarpelli
Adelina E. Hamilton
Hon. Michael W. Krumholtz