T.A. Blythe v. PennDOT, Bureau of Driver Licensing ( 2017 )

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Thomas A. Blythe, :
Appellant :
:
v. :
:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, :
Department of Transportation, : No. 834 C.D. 2016
Bureau of Driver Licensing : Submitted: December 30, 2016
BEFORE: HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
HONORABLE JULIA K. HEARTHWAY, Judge
HONORABLE JOSEPH M. COSGROVE, Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE COSGROVE FILED: June 1, 2017
Thomas A. Blythe (Appellant) appeals from the April 28, 2016 Order
of the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County (trial court) affirming the
suspension of his operating privileges by the Department of Transportation, Bureau
of Driver Licensing (Department). Upon review, we affirm.
This matter arises from the arrest of Appellant on suspicion of driving
under the influence. Shortly after midnight on December 14, 2014, Appellant was
parked in his vehicle in the driveway of an elementary school. (Reproduced
Record (R.R.) at 4-5.) He was approached and questioned by a police officer,
Andrew Vattilana (Vattilana). (R.R. at 7.) On the basis of Appellant’s responses,
Vattilana administered five field sobriety tests, including a preliminary breath test.
(R.R. at 8-11.) Vattilana determined Appellant was incapable of safely operating
his vehicle and placed him under arrest for suspicion of DUI. (R.R. at 11.)
Appellant was subsequently transported to the hospital for chemical testing. (R.R.
at 12.) At the hospital, Vattilana read to Appellant the contents of a Department
DL-26 form.1 Id. Appellant requested an attorney, at which point Vattilana reread
paragraph four of the DL-26. Id. Appellant was then handed the form to read. Id.
Appellant asked Vattilana questions about the form, which Vattilana reread before
offering it once more to Appellant to read. Appellant again requested an attorney
and said he would not consent to chemical testing. Id.
Appellant was escorted back to the police vehicle. (R.R. at 12.) Upon
reaching the vehicle, Appellant said he would consent to testing. Id. After
1
The Department DL-26 form provides that the officer must inform the licensee of the
following information:
(1) that the licensee is under arrest for driving under the influence of
alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of Section 3802 of the Vehicle
Code;
(2) that the licensee is requested to submit to a chemical test of a type
(blood, urine, or breath) indicated by the officer;
(3) if the licensee refuses to submit to the chemical test, the licensee’s
operating privileges will be suspended for at least twelve months and if the
licensee previously refused a chemical test or was previously convicted of driving
under the influence, the licensee will be suspended for up to eighteen months. If
the licensee refuses to submit to the chemical test and is convicted of violating
Section 3802(a)(1) of the Vehicle Code (related to impaired driving), then
because of the refusal, the licensee will be subject to more severe penalties, the
same as if the licensee was convicted of driving with the highest rate of alcohol;
and,
(4) that the licensee has the right to speak with an attorney or anyone else
before deciding whether to submit to testing and if such request is made after
being given these warnings or the licensee has remained silent when asked to
submit to chemical testing it will constitute a refusal which results in the
suspension of the licensee’s operating privileges. (R.R. at 43.)
2
returning to the hospital, Vattilana “explained everything to [Appellant] again.”
Id. Appellant reiterated his request for an attorney and did not consent to chemical
testing. Id. at 13.
Appellant received a Notice of Suspension from the Department,
which he appealed to the trial court. Following a hearing on April 28, 2016, the
trial court denied the appeal. This appeal2 followed.
DISCUSSION
Appellant presents one issue on appeal: whether a licensee’s failure to
sign a DL-26 form prior to reading the form in its entirety constitutes a refusal
under Section 1547(b)(1)(i) 3 of the Vehicle Code when a licensee has orally
consented to providing a blood sample.
The main thrust of Appellant’s argument is that he was not provided a
meaningful opportunity to submit to chemical testing and comply with the implied
consent law because he was not given a meaningful opportunity to read the DL-26
form. Appellant asserts at no time did he refuse to submit to chemical testing.
2
The standard of review in driver’s license suspension proceedings is limited to
determining whether the trial court’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence or
whether the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion. Department of
Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing v. Moss, 605 A.2d 1279, 1281 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1992).
3
(b) Suspension for refusal.--
(1) If any person placed under arrest for a violation of section 3802 is
requested to submit to chemical testing and refuses to do so, the testing shall not
be conducted but upon notice by the police officer, the department shall suspend
the operating privilege of the person as follows:
(i) Except as set forth in subparagraph (ii), for a period of 12
months.
75 Pa.C.S. § 1547(b)(1)(i).
3
Citing this Court’s decision in Broadbelt v. Department of Transportation, Bureau
of Driver Licensing, 903 A.2d 636 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2006), Appellant argues
meaningful opportunity includes an opportunity to read the form in its entirety and
have time to consider the warnings.
To sustain a suspension of operating privileges under Section 1547 of
the Vehicle Code, the Department must establish that the licensee: (1) was
arrested for drunken driving by a police officer with reasonable grounds to believe
the licensee operated the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol; (2) was
asked to submit to a chemical test; (3) refused to so submit; and, (4) was warned
that refusal would result in a license suspension. Broadbelt, 903 A.2d at 640. An
officer must orally inform a licensee of the consequences of refusing chemical
testing for a licensee’s refusal to be considered an adequately informed refusal.
Harris v. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 969 A.2d 30,
32 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).
The Department presented the testimony of Vattilana, who testified he
arrested Appellant on suspicion of driving under the influence after administering
several field sobriety tests and determining Appellant was incapable of safe
driving. (R.R. at 10.) Vattilana further testified Appellant smelled of alcohol, had
bloodshot, glassy eyes, and exhibited slurred speech. Id. at 7. Appellant was
transported to the hospital for purposes of chemical testing. Id. at 12. Vattilana
read through and explained the DL-26 form twice. Id. at 12-13. Appellant twice
consented and twice refused to consent to chemical testing. Id.
Appellant testified as follows: Once at the hospital, Vattilana handed
Appellant a piece of paper and said he could “either sign this piece of paper and go
home, or not sign it and go to jail.” (R.R. at 30.) Appellant started to read the
4
paper and was told he had 30 seconds to finish it. Id. Vattilana took the paper out
of Appellant’s hands before he had a chance to finish it, stating, “That’s it, you’re
going to jail.” Id. Appellant stated he would comply and sign the paper. Id.
Appellant tried to read the form but Vattilana took it from him and said he was
“tired of wasting time,” and Appellant was going to jail. Id. Appellant did not at
any time tell Vattilana he would not consent to chemical testing. Id. at 31.
It is clear from the record the Department established Appellant was
arrested by a police officer with reasonable grounds to believe the licensee
operated the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and Appellant was asked
to submit to a chemical test. This does not appear to be in dispute. As to whether
Appellant refused to submit to chemical testing and was warned such a refusal
would lead to the suspension of his operator’s license, it is clear the testimonies of
Appellant and Vattilana are in conflict. The resolution of questions of evidentiary
weight and conflicts in testimony is solely in the province of the trial court. Sitoski
v. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 11 A.3d 12, 17 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2010). Here, the trial court explicitly credited the testimony of Vattilana
and found Appellant not credible. (R.R. at 39.) Anything less than an unqualified,
unequivocal assent to submit to chemical testing constitutes a refusal. Sitoski, 11
A.3d at 19. The trial court found that Vattilana’s testimony was sufficient to
demonstrate Appellant refused to consent to chemical testing.
We will not revisit credibility determinations made by the trial court
and conclude the Department met its burden to establish Appellant refused to
submit to chemical testing and was warned his refusal would result in a license
suspension.
5
With regard to Appellant’s argument he was given no meaningful
opportunity to consent because he was not given an opportunity to read the DL-26
form, there is no requirement in Section 1547 that the licensee be provided an
opportunity to read the form. The duty to inform the licensee of the consequences
of refusal rests solely on the officer. Section 1547 does not dictate the means or
ways by which that information is imparted.
Once the Department satisfies its initial burden of proof, the burden
shifts to the licensee to show he was physically unable to take the test or that the
refusal was not knowing or conscious. Sitoski, 11 A.3d at 18. Appellant has not
argued or presented facts to support a finding he was physically unable to submit
to chemical testing or that his refusal was not knowing or conscious. Rather, he
denies he refused to submit. Therefore, we conclude the trial court correctly found
all requirements for the suspension of Appellant’s driver’s license were satisfied.
For these reasons, we affirm the decision below.
__________________________
JOSEPH M. COSGROVE, Judge
6
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Thomas A. Blythe, :
Appellant :
:
v. :
:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, :
Department of Transportation, : No. 834 C.D. 2016
Bureau of Driver Licensing :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 1st day of June, 2017, the April 28, 2016 order of the
Court of Common Pleas of Chester County is Affirmed.
___________________________
JOSEPH M. COSGROVE, Judge