Texas Department of Public Safety v. Louis Leroy Kuhn ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
06-15-00083-CV
SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS
TEXARKANA, TEXAS
11/9/2015 5:00:03 PM
DEBBIE AUTREY
CLERK
No. 06-15-00083-CV
FILED IN
6th COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE SIXTH COURT OF APPEALS TEXARKANA, TEXAS
SITTING IN TEXARKANA, TEXAS 11/10/2015 8:57:00 AM
DEBBIE AUTREY
Clerk
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
APPELLANT
V.
LOUIS LEROY KUHN,
APPELLEE
APPEALED FROM COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2
HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS
APPELLANT’S BRIEF
KEVIN M. GIVENS
Supervising Attorney,
ALR Appellate Section
SBN 00796633
P.O. Box 15327
Austin, Texas 78761-5327
Tel: (512) 424-5193
Fax: (512) 424-5221
Kevin.Givens@dps.texas.gov
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
TEXAS DEP’T OF PUB. SAFETY
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
No. 06-15-00083-CV
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
APPELLANT
V.
LOUIS LEROY KUHN,
APPELLEE
REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT
Appellant, Texas Department of Public Safety, believes that oral
argument might benefit the Court in this case and respectfully requests that it
be granted.
ii
No. 06-15-00083-CV
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
APPELLANT
V.
LOUIS LEROY KUHN,
APPELLEE
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
Appellant certifies that the following is a complete list of the parties,
attorneys, and any other persons who have any interest in the outcome of
this lawsuit.
APPELLANT: COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
Texas Department of Public Safety Kevin M. Givens
5805 N. Lamar Blvd. Supervising Attorney,
P.O. Box 15327 ALR Appellate Section
Austin, Texas 78761-5327 SBN 00796633
Kevin.Givens@dps.texas.gov
Cynthia Myers
SBN 24012476
Natalie Olvera
SBN 24088159
Texas Department of Public Safety
P.O. Box 15327
Austin, Texas 78761-5327
Tel: (512) 424-5193
Fax: (512) 424-5221
iii
APPELLEE: COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
Louis Leroy Kuhn Billy McNabb
SBN 00792930
144 E. San Antonio Street
San Marcos, Texas 78666
Tel: (512) 353-2136
Fax: (512) 353-2137
info@billymcnabb.com
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT .......................................................... ii
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ................................................ iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................ v
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ........................................................................ vii
APPELLANT’S BRIEF .................................................................................. 1
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ...................................................................... 3
ISSUE PRESENTED ...................................................................................... 4
STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................. 5
Kuhn’s Arrest ...............................................................................................5
The Administrative Hearing ........................................................................5
Review by the Trial Court ............................................................................6
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ............................................................. 7
STANDARD OF REVIEW ............................................................................ 8
v
ISSUE PRESENTED .................................................................................... 10
Trooper Flores observed that Kuhn was exceeding the
posted speed limit before confirming the fact with radar. Kuhn
objected to the radar evidence, but not Trooper Kuhn’s lay
opinion. Since other evidence of Kuhn’s speed was admitted
without objection, the admission of the radar evidence did not
prejudice Kuhn’s substantial rights. Did the trial court err by
reversing the administrative decision based on the alleged error
of admitting the radar evidence?
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITY .............................................................. 10
An officer’s opinion that the driver is exceeding the speed
limit is sufficient for reasonable suspicion without
confirmation by radar. .............................................................................. 12
Lay Witnesses May Testify About the Speed of Vehicles. ......................... 16
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 19
PRAYER ....................................................................................................... 20
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE............................................................ 21
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ..................................................................... 21
INDEX OF APPENDICES........................................................................... 22
vi
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES
Anderson v. State,
717 S.W.2d 622 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) ................................................. 12
Broderick v. State,
35 S.W.3d 67 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000, pet. ref’d) .......................... 12
City of El Paso v. Pub. Util. Comm’n of Tex.,
883 S.W.2d 179 (Tex. 1994) ...................................................................... 8
Davis v. State,
No. 01-96-01039-CR, 1998 WL 85262
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 19, 1998, no pet.)
(not designated for publication) ................................................................ 17
Denham v. State,
574 S.W.2d 129 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) ................................................. 16
Dillard v. State,
550 S.W.2d 45 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977) ................................................... 15
Flores v. State,
No. 05-93-00437-CR, 1994 WL 236410
(Tex. App.—Dallas May 31, 1994, no pet.)
(not designated for publication) ................................................................ 17
Heredia v. State,
No. 08-06-00011-CR, 2007 WL 1704952
(Tex. App.—El Paso June 14, 2007, no pet.)
(not designated for publication) ................................................................ 13
Hesskew v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety,
144 S.W.3d 189 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2004, no pet.) .................................. 15
Hitt v. State,
53 S.W.3d 697 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, pet. ref’d) .............................. 12
Icke v. State,
36 S.W.3d 913 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d) .......... 15
vii
King v. State,
129 S.W.3d 680 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, pet. ref’d) ............................. 16
Littlefield v. State,
167 Tex. Crim. 443, 321 S.W.2d 79 (1959) ....................................... 16, 18
Markle v. State,
No. 01-13-01028-CR, 2015 WL 505194
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 5, 2015, pet. ref’d)
(mem. op., not designated for publication)............................................... 14
Mireles v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety,
9 S.W.3d 128 (Tex. 1999) .......................................................................... 8
Ochoa v. State,
994 S.W.2d 283 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1999, no pet.) .............................. 15
Parroccini v. State,
90 Tex. Crim. 320, 234 S.W. 671 (1921) ..................................... 16, 17, 18
Simpson v. State,
No. 07-07-0310-CR, 2008 WL 4367960
(Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 25, 2008, no pet.)
(mem. op., not designated for publication)............................................... 14
Tex Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Castro,
406 S.W.3d 782 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2013, no pet.) ........................ 13, 17
Tex Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Hirschman,
169 S.W.3d 331 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, pet. denied) .................... 13, 17
Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Cantu,
944 S.W.2d 493 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1997, no writ) ..... 9, 12
Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Pucek,
22 S.W.3d 63 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.) ......................... 8
Tex. Health Facilities Comm’n v. Charter Med.-Dallas, Inc.,
665 S.W.2d 446 (Tex. 1984) ...................................................................... 8
Thomas v. State,
No. 08-05-00247-CR, 2007 WL 1404425
viii
(Tex. App.—El Paso May 10, 2007, pet. ref’d, untimely filed)
(not designated for publication) ................................................................ 14
Warren v. State,
No. 05-08-01431-CR, 2009 WL 3467013
(Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 29, 2009, no pet.)
(not designated for publication) ................................................................ 14
STATUTES
TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 2001.174 (Vernon 2008) ...................................... 9
TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. ch. 543 (Vernon 2011)
§ 543.001 .................................................................................................. 12
TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. ch. 545 (Vernon 2011)
§ 545.351 .................................................................................................. 12
§ 545.352 .................................................................................................. 12
RULES
Tex. R. Evid. 701 .......................................................................................... 16
TREATISES
Hulen D. Wendorf et al.,
TEXAS RULES OF EVIDENCE MANUAL, (6th ed., Juris, 2002) .................... 16
ix
No. 06-15-00083-CV
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
APPELLANT
V.
LOUIS LEROY KUHN,
APPELLEE
APPELLANT’S BRIEF
The Texas Department of Public Safety, Appellant in the above
referenced cause, respectfully submits this brief in appeal of a judgment
rendered in favor of Appellee, Louis Leroy Kuhn. This appeal is from the
County Court at Law No. 2, of Hays County, Texas, the Honorable David
Glickler, judge presiding, in which Appellant brought a petition for judicial
review of the decision issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings,
the Honorable Holly Vandrovec, judge presiding, sustaining the
Department’s suspension of Appellee’s driver license.
For clarity and brevity, the Appellant, Texas Department of Public
Safety, will be referred to as “the Department,” and the Appellee, Louis
Leroy Kuhn, will be referred to as “Kuhn.” The State Office of
Administrative Hearings will be referred to as “SOAH.” The administrative
law judge will be referred to as “the ALJ,” and the County Court at Law No.
1
2 will be referred to as “the trial court.” Citations to the Clerk’s Record will
be CR at [page number]. Citations to the Reporter’s Record will be RR at
[page number].
2
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
This appeal comes from a contested case under the Administrative
Procedure Act arising out of an administrative license suspension based on
Kuhn’s refusal of an alcohol concentration test. The administrative hearing
was held pursuant to chapter 724 of the Transportation Code, chapter 2001
of the Government Code, and the applicable administrative rules of SOAH
and the Department. 1
The Department appeals the trial court’s final order reversing the
administrative decision of May 11, 2015, sustaining the Department’s
suspension of Kuhn’s driver license. The trial court’s order was signed on
August 11, 2015. 2 This appeal was timely perfected on September 10,
2015. 3
1
TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. ch. 724 (Vernon 2011); TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. ch. 2001
(Vernon 2008) (Administrative Procedure Act); 1 TEX. ADMIN. CODE ch. 159 (2015)
(State Office of Admin. Hearings, Admin. License Suspension Hearings); 37 TEX.
ADMIN. CODE ch. 17 (2015) (Texas Dep’t of Pub. Safety, Admin. License Revocation).
2
CR at 47.
3
CR at 48.
3
ISSUE PRESENTED
Trooper Flores observed that Kuhn was exceeding the
posted speed limit before confirming the fact with radar. Kuhn
objected to the radar evidence, but not Trooper Kuhn’s lay
opinion. Since other evidence of Kuhn’s speed was admitted
without objection, the admission of the radar evidence did not
prejudice Kuhn’s substantial rights. Did the trial court err by
reversing the administrative decision based on the alleged error
of admitting the radar evidence?
4
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Kuhn’s Arrest
On February 15, 2015, Trooper Cristobal Flores of the Texas
Highway Patrol stopped Louis Leroy Kuhn for speeding. 4 Trooper Flores
visually estimated Kuhn’s speed and confirmed it with the use of radar
equipment. 5 Upon contacting Kuhn, Trooper Flores detected a number of
symptoms of intoxication, and, after administering field sobriety tests,
Trooper Flores arrested Kuhn for driving while intoxicated. 6 Kuhn refused
to provide a breath or blood specimen upon Trooper Flores’s request. 7
The Administrative Hearing
Kuhn requested an administrative hearing to contest the suspension of
his driver license based on his refusal of the breath and blood tests. At the
hearing, Kuhn objected to the admission of the evidence from Trooper
Flores’s radar equipment. 8 The administrative law judge overruled Kuhn’s
objection. 9 She later sustained the suspension of Kuhn’s driver license. 10
4
CR at 37.
5
CR at 37.
6
CR at 37-38.
7
CR at 38, 43.
8
CR at 23-27, 28-29.
9
CR at 28, 29.
10
CR at 16.
5
Review by the Trial Court
Kuhn appealed the administrative decision to the Hays County Court
at Law Number 2, arguing that the ALJ erred by overruling his objection to
the radar evidence. 11 The trial court reversed the administrative decision.12
It is from that decision the Department now appeals.
11
RR at 5-10.
12
CR at 47.
6
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Assuming that the ALJ did err by admitting the radar reading over
Kuhn’s objection, the error was harmless and the trial court erred by
reversing the administrative decision. Trooper Flores’s report states that
Kuhn was speeding in excess of the posted speed limit. The officer’s lay
opinion as to Kuhn’s speed, which was not objected to, was sufficient to
establish reasonable suspicion for the stop. The trial court erred by reversing
the administrative decision, because there was substantial evidence to
support the ALJ’s finding that there was reasonable suspicion for the stop.
This Court should reverse the trial court’s error and reinstate the
administrative suspension of Kuhn’s driver license.
7
STANDARD OF REVIEW
A court reviewing an administrative decision must affirm the
administrative law judge’s order if “some reasonable basis exists in the
record for the action taken by the agency.” 13 “The issue for the reviewing
court is not whether the agency’s decision was correct, but only whether the
record demonstrates some reasonable basis for the agency’s action.” 14
“The burden for overturning an agency ruling is quite formidable.”15
The administrative decision is presumed to be supported by substantial
evidence, and the burden is on the contestant to prove that it should be
reversed. 16 A court reviewing an administrative decision
(2) shall reverse or remand the case for further proceedings if
substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the
administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, and decisions are:
(A) in violation of a constitutional or statutory provision;
(B) in excess of the agency’s statutory authority;
(C) made through unlawful procedure;
(D) affected by other error of law;
(E) not reasonably supported by substantial evidence
considering the reliable and probative evidence in the
record as a whole; or
13
Tex. Health Facilities Comm’n v. Charter Med.-Dallas, Inc., 665 S.W.2d 446, 452
(Tex. 1984).
14
Mireles v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 9 S.W.3d 128, 131 (Tex. 1999).
15
Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Pucek, 22 S.W.3d 63, 67 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi
2000, no pet.).
16
City of El Paso v. Pub. Util. Comm’n of Tex., 883 S.W.2d 179, 185 (Tex. 1994).
8
(F) arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of
discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of
discretion. 17
A reversal of the administrative decision requires a conclusion by this
Court “(1) that the agency’s decision was erroneous for one of the reasons
enumerated in subsections (A) through (F), and that substantial rights of the
appellant have thereby been prejudiced.” 18 If the ALJ committed any error
in the administrative hearing, but Kuhn’s substantial rights were not
prejudiced, reversal of the administrative order was not authorized.
17
TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 2001.174 (Vernon 2008).
18
Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Cantu, 944 S.W.2d 493, 495 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 1997, no writ) (emphasis in original).
9
ISSUE PRESENTED
(Restated)
Trooper Flores observed that Kuhn was exceeding the
posted speed limit before confirming the fact with radar. Kuhn
objected to the radar evidence, but not Trooper Kuhn’s lay
opinion. Since other evidence of Kuhn’s speed was admitted
without objection, the admission of the radar evidence did not
prejudice Kuhn’s substantial rights. Did the trial court err by
reversing the administrative decision based on the alleged error
of admitting the radar evidence?
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITY
Trooper Flores stopped Kuhn for speeding after Trooper Flores
observed Kuhn to be traveling “at a high rate of speed over the posted speed
limit of 45 mph.”19 Trooper Flores confirmed his belief that Kuhn was
speeding through the use of radar equipment. 20 At the administrative
hearing held to contest the suspension of Kuhn’s driver license, Kuhn
objected to the admission of the numeric readout from the radar
equipment. 21
Kuhn objected only to the numeric readout, arguing that the
Department failed to present predicate evidence to establish the reliability of
19
CR at 37.
20
CR at 37.
21
CR at 24-25.
10
the scientific evidence. 22 Kuhn explicitly did not object to Trooper Flores’s
visual observation that Kuhn was exceeding the speed limit, stating,
I guess—just for clarification. What I hear the prosecutor
arguing is—is even in the absence of radar we still think that
there’s an argument to be made which would justify the stop. I
don’t agree with that but what I’m hearing is I’m objecting not
to the officer, if he made some sort of visual observation.
That’ll be an argument for closing, I’m simply objecting as to
the admissibility. And the cases cited by counsel in both of
those cases the court said hey, we’re gonna [sic]—we think
there was justification for the stop because there was something
besides the radar. There was visual observation. That’s not
my—my objection is as to anything scientific and number wise
regarding the radar.23
The ALJ overruled Kuhn’s objection and admitted Trooper Flores’s
report, including the readout from the radar equipment. 24 In her findings of
fact, the ALJ found that Trooper Flores “observed [Kuhn] driving at a speed
greater than the posted speed limit, which the officer confirmed with radar
was 55 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone.” 25 In other words, the
ALJ determined that Trooper Kuhn’s reasonable suspicion for the stop was
based on his observation that Kuhn was exceeding the speed limit. The
radar reading only confirmed Trooper Flores’s observation.
22
CR at 25-29.
23
CR at 27-28. See also CR at 30 (“I need to make an argument as to the recitation [‘]at
a high rate of speed posted [sic] over the speed limit of 45.[’] And my—my argument
there is it’s argument, it’s not an objection.”).
24
CR at 28-29.
25
Transcript at Case Index 1.
11
Trooper Flores’s visual observation that Kuhn was exceeding the
posted speed limit was sufficient, in itself, to justify the stop as a violation of
the Transportation Code. 26 Therefore, if the ALJ did err by admitting the
numeric readout from the radar equipment, as Kuhn alleged, that error was
harmless, because other evidence proved there was reasonable suspicion to
believe Kuhn was exceeding the posted speed limit. 27 The ALJ’s alleged
error did not prejudice Kuhn’s substantial rights, so the trial court should not
have reversed the administrative decision. 28
An officer’s opinion that the driver is exceeding the speed limit is
sufficient for reasonable suspicion without confirmation by radar.
In his brief to the trial court, Kuhn argued,
Had petitioners [sic] objection been properly sustained, DPS
would have been left with essentially one sentence, that the
officer saw a vehicle approaching from the other direction “at a
high rate of speed over the posted speed limit of 45mph”. [sic]
Without additional officer testimony as to training, experience,
26
See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 543.001 (Vernon 2011) (“Any peace officer may arrest
without warrant a person found committing a violation of this subtitle.”); TEX. TRANSP.
CODE ANN. § 545.351(a) (Vernon 2011) (“An operator may not drive at a speed greater
than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing.”); TEX. TRANSP.
CODE ANN. § 545.352 (Vernon 2011) (“A speed in excess of the limits established by
Subsection (b) or under another provision of this subchapter is prima facie evidence that
the speed is not reasonable and prudent and that the speed is unlawful.”).
27
Anderson v. State, 717 S.W.2d 622, 628 (Tex. Crim. App. 1986) (“Inadmissible
evidence can be rendered harmless if other evidence at trial is admitted without objection
and it proves the same fact that the inadmissible evidence sought to prove.”); accord Hitt
v. State, 53 S.W.3d 697, 708 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, pet. ref’d); Broderick v. State, 35
S.W.3d 67, 75 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000, pet. ref’d).
28
See Cantu, 944 S.W.2d at 495 (holding that reversal is required only if an ALJ errs and
the error prejudices the complainant’s substantial rights).
12
etc…, such a single sentence would not provide proper legal
justification for the initial seizure of petitioner, in that such
limited testimony rendered a decision not reasonably supported
by substantial evidence considering the reliable and probative
evidence in the record as a whole. 29
However, Kuhn is mistaken. No additional testimony about training or
experience is necessary for the ALJ to give weight to Trooper Flores’s
testimony that he saw Kuhn traveling above the posted speed limit of 45
miles per hour. The El Paso Court of Appeals addressed the same complaint
in a case where there was no radar evidence of speeding.
Appellant maintains that Sgt. Ortiz lacked reasonable
suspicion, because he lacked training. While the officer did not
have radar training, and he had no specific training in
determining the speed of vehicles, Sgt. Ortiz testified that no
such training is required to determine whether someone is
speeding. He saw Appellant pass other vehicles, while
traveling in excess of the speed limit. This was sufficient to
establish reasonable suspicion. 30
As noted above, Kuhn did not object to the admissibility of the trooper’s
statement, 31 and the ALJ is the sole judge of the weight to be given to the
officer’s report.32
29
CR at 46.
30
Heredia v. State, No. 08-06-00011-CR, 2007 WL 1704952, at *3 (Tex. App.—El Paso
June 14, 2007, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
31
CR at 27-28.
32
Tex Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Castro, 406 S.W.3d 782, 788 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2013,
no pet.) (“[T]he ALJ was free to determine the credibility of the witnesses and assign the
weight to be given the evidence.”); Tex Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Hirschman, 169 S.W.3d
331, 336 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, pet. denied) (“The ALJ is the sole judge of the weight
of the evidence.”).
13
It also bears repeating that the issue in this case is not whether or not
Kuhn actually was speeding. The Amarillo Court of Appeals addressed this
same point in a similar case.
We are mindful that appellant’s issue challenges
Catalona’s reasonable suspicion to stop appellant rather than
the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the exact speed at
which appellant was traveling. While appellant’s argument
could very well affect the weight to be afforded evidence of the
precise speed at which appellant was traveling just prior to
Catalona stopping the vehicle, these arguments have little
impact on our review of whether Catalona reasonably suspected
that appellant was speeding.33
This case is similar to numerous others where an officer was found to
have reasonable suspicion based on his observation of a car driving at a rate
of speed that was believed to be above the posted limit. 34 In Dillard v. State,
the Court of Criminal Appeals found there was reasonable suspicion of
33
Simpson v. State, No. 07-07-0310-CR, 2008 WL 4367960, at *2 n.2 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo Sept. 25, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).
34
See Markle v. State, No. 01-13-01028-CR, 2015 WL 505194, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 5, 2015, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication)
(“Deputy Goodney’s observation of appellant’s speeding was alone sufficient to justify
the traffic stop.”); Warren v. State, No. 05-08-01431-CR, 2009 WL 3467013, at *4 (Tex.
App.—Dallas Oct. 29, 2009, no pet.) (not designated for publication) (“Burnett’s visual
observation of appellant’s vehicle made him reasonably suspicious that appellant was
speeding.”); Simpson v. State, No. 07-07-0310-CR, 2008 WL 4367960, at *2-3 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo Sept. 25, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (“An
officer’s visual estimate of a vehicle’s speed may be sufficient to give an officer a
reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle.”); Thomas v. State, No. 08-05-00247-CR, 2007
WL 1404425, at *3 (Tex. App.—El Paso May 10, 2007, pet. ref’d, untimely filed) (not
designated for publication) (“Here, Trooper Buford testified that he observed Appellant
traveling at what appeared to him to be a high rate of speed. We note that an officer’s
visual estimates of speed can suffice to establish reasonable suspicion to conduct a traffic
stop.”).
14
speeding where the officer testified the defendant was driving in excess of
the speed limit, although the officer did not know the precise speed. 35 In
Icke v. State, the court of appeals held that the officer’s opinion that the
defendant was speeding in excess of the 45 mile per hour speed limit was
sufficient, on its own, to create reasonable suspicion.36 In Ochoa v. State, a
case almost exactly like this one, the court of appeals held there was no
reversible error due to the improper admission of the radar results where the
officer testified that, in his opinion, the defendant “was driving at a ‘high
rate of speed,’ and that in his opinion, she was exceeding the speed limit.” 37
In Hesskew v. Texas Department of Public Safety, the court of appeals held
that, “[w]hen a law enforcement officer observes a vehicle traveling what he
believes to be fifteen miles over the posted speed limit, a traffic stop is
justified.” 38
All of these cases stand for the same proposition at issue in this
case—a peace officer’s opinion that a person is exceeding the speed limit is
a sufficient factual basis upon which an investigative detention may be
initiated. The trial court was wrong to hold that the admission of the radar
35
Dillard v. State, 550 S.W.2d 45, 53 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977).
36
Icke v. State, 36 S.W.3d 913, 916 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. ref’d).
37
Ochoa v. State, 994 S.W.2d 283, 285 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1999, no pet.).
38
Hesskew v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 144 S.W.3d 189, 191 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2004,
no pet.).
15
results prejudiced Kuhn’s substantial rights, or that there was not substantial
evidence to support the ALJ’s finding that there was reasonable suspicion to
stop Kuhn for speeding.
Lay Witnesses May Testify About the Speed of Vehicles.
The reason an officer’s opinion about a driver’s speed will suffice for
reasonable suspicion is that a lay witness may testify as to the speed of a
vehicle.39 In Littlefield v. State, the Court of Criminal Appeals announced,
“We have concluded that in this mechanized age almost any witness may
express an opinion as to speed of an automobile.”40 In Littlefield, the
testimony in question came from “a seventh grade school boy who lived
near the intersection,” who testified that the defendant’s pickup was
traveling at least 60 miles per hour.41
39
See Tex. R. Evid. 701; Denham v. State, 574 S.W.2d 129, 131 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)
(“In this State, the opinions of lay witnesses, when competent, are admissible concerning
sanity, insanity, value, handwriting, intoxication, physical condition health and disease,
estimates of age, size, weight, quantity, time, distance, speed, identity of persons and
things.”).
40
Littlefield v. State, 167 Tex. Crim. 443, 446, 321 S.W.2d 79, 82 (1959). See also
Parroccini v. State, 90 Tex. Crim. 320, 325, 234 S.W. 671, 674 (1921) (“Tested by this
rule it would be difficult to find a man, woman, boy, or girl living near any of our public
roads who would not be a competent witness on the speed of automobiles.”); King v.
State, 129 S.W.3d 680, 685 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, pet. ref’d) (Gray, C.J., concurring)
(“The speed of a car, the height of a tree, the distance between objects, etc. are the proper
subject of lay opinion testimony.”) (citing Hulen D. Wendorf et al., TEXAS RULES OF
EVIDENCE MANUAL, VII–3 & VII–8, (6th ed., Juris, 2002)) .
41
Littlefield, 167 Tex. Crim. at 446, 321 S.W.2d at 82.
16
Likewise, numerous other cases have permitted lay witnesses to
testify that a car was traveling at, or above a specific speed. In Parroccini v.
State, lay witnesses testified that the defendant was exceeding 25 miles per
hour.42 In Davis v. State, a lay witness testified that the defendant was
traveling “‘50 [mph] at least.’” 43 And in Flores v. State, a lay witness
testified that the defendant was driving 40 miles per hour. 44
Trooper Flores could, as a lay witness, offer his opinion that Kuhn
was traveling “at high rate of speed over the posted speed limit of 45
mph.” 45 The fact that the encounter between Trooper Flores and Kuhn
happened at night goes to the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility.
And, as previously stated, the ALJ is the sole judge of the weight to be given
to the evidence. 46
Kuhn did not object to the officer’s competence to offer a lay
opinion.47 But even if Kuhn had objected to the statement in Trooper
Flores’s report, the ALJ could have properly overruled the objection.
Trooper Flores was qualified to render a lay opinion about Kuhn’s speed.
42
Parroccini, 90 Tex. Crim. at 325, 234 S.W. at 674.
43
Davis v. State, No. 01-96-01039-CR, 1998 WL 85262, at *2 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] Feb. 19, 1998, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
44
Flores v. State, No. 05-93-00437-CR, 1994 WL 236410, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas
May 31, 1994, no pet.) (not designated for publication).
45
CR at 37.
46
Castro, 406 S.W.3d at 788; Hirschman, 169 S.W.3d at 336.
47
CR at 27-28, 30.
17
He drove a marked DPS patrol unit and monitored traffic as part of his
routine patrol. 48 Thus, he was competent to offer lay witness testimony
about Kuhn’s speed.49
The ALJ did not err by holding that Trooper Kuhn had reasonable
suspicion to stop a vehicle that he observed traveling “at a speed greater than
the posted speed limit . . . .”50 Troopeer Kuhn was qualified to offer his lay
opinion about Kuhn’s speed, and his opinion was offered and admitted
without objection. Thus, there was substantial evidence in the record to
support the ALJ’s finding on the issue of reasonable suspicion, and that was
the only contested issue in the case. The trial court’s order overturning the
administrative decision should be reversed and the administrative decision,
sustaining the suspension of Kuhn’s driver license should be reinstated.
48
CR at 36-37.
49
Littlefield, 167 Tex. Crim. at 446, 321 S.W.2d at 82 (holding a seventh grade boy who
lived near an intersection was competent to render an opinion on a vehicle’s speed);
Parroccini, 90 Tex. Crim. at 325, 234 S.W. at 674 (holding witnesses who rode in or
drove cars were competent to render opinions on a vehicle’s speed).
50
CR at 16.
18
CONCLUSION
Trooper Flores visually estimated Kuhn’s speed to be well above the
posted speed limit. His lay opinion regarding Kuhn’s speed, which was not
objected to, was sufficient to establish reasonable suspicion that Kuhn was
committing a traffic offense. Thus, there was reasonable suspicion for the
stop, based on Trooper Flores’s visual observation alone. If the ALJ erred
by admitting the radar evidence, the error was harmless and the trial court
should not have reversed the administrative decision. This Court should
reverse the trial court’s order and reinstate the administrative decision,
sustaining the suspension of Kuhn’s driver license.
19
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the Department
respectfully prays that this Honorable Court reverse the order of the County
Court at Law No. 2 and affirm the administrative order of May 11, 2015,
sustaining the Department’s suspension of Kuhn’s driver license. The
Department further prays that it recover the costs of this appeal. See TEX.
CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 8.02 (Vernon 2002).
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Kevin M. Givens
KEVIN M. GIVENS
Supervising Attorney,
ALR Appellate Section
SBN 00796633
P.O. Box 15327
Austin, Texas 78761-5327
Tel: (512) 424-5193
Fax: (512) 424-5221
Kevin.Givens@dps.texas.gov
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
TEXAS DEP’T OF PUB. SAFETY
20
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that this document was prepared with Microsoft Word, and
that, according to that program’s word-count function, the sections covered
by Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(1) contain 3370 words.
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Kevin M. Givens
KEVIN M. GIVENS
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that I served a true and correct copy of the above and
foregoing Appellant’s Brief by email, per Tex. R. App. P. 9.5(b)(1), to Billy
McNabb, counsel of record for Appellee, Louis Leroy Kuhn, at
info@billymcnabb.com, on November 9, 2015.
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Kevin M. Givens
KEVIN M. GIVENS
21
INDEX OF APPENDICES
TAB A
Order of August 11, 2015, County Court at Law No. 2,
Honorable David Glickler, presiding.
TAB B
Administrative Decision of May 11, 2015,
Honorable Holly Vandrovec, presiding.
22
TAB A
CAiJSE NO. 15-0348-C
'FILED
LOUIS LEROY KUHN § . IN THE CO``~ted-6R~M II: 0~
Appellant
v. § AT LAW
.··/· QlL. f.'
0) 1J1 / lf}y;.~,!/
. c'<'buNTITCt1H(J
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY § HAYS COUN~;'tE~Y. TEXAS
Appellee
ORDER
.f'r)
On the }} day of August 2015, came on to be considered appellant'sAppea/ Petition,
appealing the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) ruling ordering suspension of appellant's license.
After hearing argument this Court orders that the ALJ ruling is reversed, and this Court orders Texas
Department ofPublic Safety (TXDPS) to not suspend appellant's license, and iflicense suspension
has taken place, that said suspension be rescinded, and that TXDPS obliterate all references to the
appellant's license suspension.
1-h
SIGNED and ENTERED this L day of August, 2015.
. i
JUDGE PRESIDING
47
TAB B
DOCKET NO. 2015-04-47905
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY § BEFORE THE STATE OFFICE
§
~ § OF
§
LOUIS LEROY KUHN, DEFENDANT § ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
§
ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION
On May 6, 2015, Defendant, appeared personally or through counsel and announced ready. The Department
appeared through its attorney and announced ready. Having heard and considered the evidence, the Administrative
Law Judge (ALJ) finds that the State Office of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over this case and further
finds the facts below were proven by a preponderance of the evidence:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. On February 15,2015, reasonable suspicion to stop Defendant existed, in that, a certified peace officer working
within the officer's jurisdiction observed Defendant driving at a speed greater than the posted speed limit,
which the officer confirmed with radar was 55 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone.
2. Probable cause existed to believe that Defendant was operating a motor vehicle in a public place while
intoxicated because, in addition to the facts in No.1, the officer observed that Defendant: had a strong odor of
an alcoholic beverage; had bloodshot, watery, and glassy eyes; had mumbled, thick-tongued speech; swayed
while walking and stumbled while exiting the vehicle; on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, in both eyes,
lacked smooth pursuit, had distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and had nystagmus onset
prior to 45 degrees; on the walk-and-tum test, lost balance during instructions, began before being instructed,
used arms for balance, turned improperly, and failed to touch heel to toe; and on the one-leg-stand test, swayed,
used arms for balance and put foot down. Defendant admitted to the officer that he consumed approximately 4
drinks prior to driving.
3. Defendant was operating the motor vehicle in a public place in Hays County, Texas.
4. The officer arrested Defendant and properly provided the DWI Statutory Warning.
5. After being requested to submit a specimen of breath or blood, Defendant refused.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Based on the foregoing, the ALJ concludes the Department proved the issues set out in Texas Transportation Code
§ 524.035 or§ 724.042 and that Defendant's license is subject to a suspension for 180 days, pursuant to Texas
Transportation Code § 724.035.
In accordance with the above findings and conclusions, the ALJ hereby enters the following order:
ORDER
The Department is authorized to suspend or deny Defendant's driving privileges for the period indicated above.
This decision may be appealed pursuant to Texas Transportation Code§ 524.041 and 1 Texas Administrative Code
§ 159.255.
Signed May 11, 2015.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
16 01