State v. Denning

ARNOLD, Judge.

Defendant was convicted of driving while impaired and was sentenced to punishment at “Level Two” under the North Carolina Safe Roads Act of 1983. On appeal, he challenges the constitutionality of the Safe Roads Act, G.S. 20-138.1, -179. In particular, he claims that the method of sentencing and punishment provided for by the Act deprives him of his right to trial by jury. Defendant argues (1) that the Safe Roads Act provides for enhanced sentences when the trial judge finds certain aggravating factors, and (2) that these aggravating factors are essentially criminal offenses or elements of offenses which should be alleged in a criminal pleading and considered by a jury. In short, defendant complains that under the Act a trial judge can “convict” him during the sentencing phase of crimes which ordinarily would be tried by a jury, and then rely on those “convictions” to deprive him of liberty and property.

We agree that a statute which circumvents a defendant’s right to jury trial by allowing a trial judge in the sentencing phase of the trial of the crime charged to find the defendant guilty of other criminal offenses (for which he has not been previously tried) and, accordingly, to increase punishment for the original crime because of those other “convictions,” would arguably violate our state constitution, see article I, section 13, N.C. Const.; see also State v. Lewis, 274 N.C. 438, 442, 164 S.E. 2d 177, 180 (1968); State v. Williams, 295 N.C. 655, 674, 249 S.E. 2d 709, 722 (1978); State v. Moss, 47 N.C. 66 (1854); State v. Holt, 90 N.C. 749, 751-53 (1884). In this case, although defendant has made a compelling argument about the extent to which the sentencing scheme of the Safe Roads Act may deprive certain persons of their right to jury trial, he has failed to show how he was directly and personally injured by the Act.

The record shows that defendant was given “Level Two” punishment. Defendant has failed to include in the record evidence of what aggravating or grossly aggravating factors led to his being subjected to this level of punishment. We take notice that the trial judge found one grossly aggravating factor: that defendant had a prior conviction for a similar offense within seven years. We do not find that a trial judge’s increasing punishment after a finding of this factor in any way deprives the defendant of his right to jury trial. Further, although defendant’s jury trial argument might have been more successfully lodged if he had been found “guilty” in the sentencing phase of other aggravating factors, such as reckless and dangerous driving, or passing a stopped school bus, which are separate criminal offenses, and for which one accused of them should be formally charged and tried, he does not now have standing to attack those portions of the statute as he was not injured directly by them. See Canteen Service v. Johnson, Comr. of Revenue, 256 N.C. 155, 166, 123 S.E. 2d 582, 589 (1962).

Defendant’s other constitutional challenges have been addressed in State v. Rose, 312 N.C. 441, 323 S.E. 2d 339 (1984), and State v. Howress, 312 N.C. 454, 323 S.E. 2d 335 (1984).

The denial of defendant’s motion to dismiss is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Chief Judge Hedrick and Judge Parker concur.