State v. Tucker

[Cite as State v. Tucker, 2017-Ohio-1295.]
COURT OF APPEALS
COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO
SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
Plaintiff - Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs- :
:
ALISHA ANN TUCKER : Case No. 2015-CO-22
:
Defendant - Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Columbiana County
Municipal Court, Case No. 2014 TR
C 2401
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: April 5, 2017
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
MEGAN L. FORSYTHE DOMINIC A. FRANK
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Betras, Kopp & Harshman, LLC
Columbiana County Prosecutor's Office 1717 Lisbon Street
38832 Saltwell Road East Liverpool, Ohio 43920
Lisbon, Ohio 44432
Baldwin, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Alicia Tucker appeals from September 19, 2014
Opinion and Judgment Entry of the Columbiana County Municipal Court denying her
Motion to Suppress. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} On April 12, 2014, appellant was cited for operating a motor vehicle under
the influence of alcohol/drug of abuse(“OVI”) in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(A) and
(A)(2) and driving left of center in violation of R.C. 4511.25. At her arraignment on April
15, 2014, appellant entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.
{¶3} On August 13, 2014, appellant filed a Motion to Dismiss/Suppress.
Appellant, in her motion, argued that the Trooper who stopped her did not have lawful
cause to stop, detain and/or arrest her. Appellant also argued, in part, that the Trooper
did not have reasonable and articuable suspicion to proceed with the field sobriety tests
and that the tests were not performed in substantial compliance with the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) manual. A hearing on the motion was
held on September 16, 2014.
{¶4} At the hearing, Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Steven Tucci testified
that he was working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift on April 12, 2014 when he observed a
vehicle go left of center at 12:25 a.m. At the time, he was in uniform in an Ohio State
Highway Patrol cruiser. After the Trooper initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle, he
observed appellant in the driver’s seat and one passenger each in the front seat and
back seat. Trooper Tucci testified that he observed “the odor of alcohol emitting from
the vehicle and the driver’s eyes to be red and glassy.” Transcript at 9. He then had
appellant exit the vehicle and sit in the front seat of his patrol car while he ran her
driver’s license and checked the license plate on the vehicle.
{¶5} Trooper Tucci testified that he continued smelling the moderate odor of
alcohol emanating from appellant and asked her how much alcohol she had to drink.
Appellant indicated that she had had one beer and admitted going left of center. The
Trooper testified that he then asked appellant to perform field sobriety tests. According
to Trooper Tucci, he observed four out of six clues on the horizontal gas nystagmus
(“HGN”) test, four clues out of eight clues on the walk-and-turn test, and one out of four
clues on the one legged stand test. Appellant was then arrested for OVI. A videotape of
the stop was played for the court.
{¶6} On cross-examination, Trooper Tucci admitted that appellant’s speech
was not slurred and that she was not fumbling or using the car for balance when she
exited the same. He further testified that she did not drop anything when he asked her
for her license and registration. When questioned as to whether or not he checked if
appellant was wearing contact lenses on the night in question, Trooper Tucci testified
that he did not because contacts would not affect the HGN test.
{¶7} Trooper Tucci further testified on cross-examination that he asked
appellant while she was still sitting in his patrol car if she had any problems walking or
standing and that she indicated that she did not. Appellant did not indicate to him that
she had any physical problems that could affect the walk-and turn- test. The Trooper
further testified on cross-examination that appellant’s vehicle had crossed one tire width
over the center line for a very short distance. Appellant also was weaving in and out of
her lane.
{¶8} At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court took the matter under
advisement. As memorialized in an Opinion and Judgment Entry filed on September 19,
2014, the trial court denied appellant’s Motion to Suppress, finding that Trooper Tucci
had probable cause to initiate the stop for an alleged lanes violation and had reasonable
and articuable suspicion to expand the scope of the initial traffic stop.
{¶9} Thereafter, appellant, on August 18, 2015, withdrew her former not guilty
plea and entered a plea of no contest to OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(A). The
remaining charges were dismissed. Appellant was sentenced to 180 days in jail with
170 days suspended and was placed on probation for a period of two years. In addition,
appellant’s driver’s license was suspended for a period of one year and appellant was
filed $700.00.
{¶10} Appellant now raises the following assignments of error on appeal:
{¶11} THE TRAIL (SIC) COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF THE
APPELLANT WHEN IT FOUND THE TROOPER HAD PROBABLE CAUSE TO
INITIATE THE STOP FOR A DE-MINIMIS VIOLATION.
{¶12} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION TO THE PREJUDICE
OF APPELLANT-DEFENDANT WHEN IT DETERMINED THE TROOPER TO HAVE
REASONABLE SUSPICION TO CONDUCT FIELD SOBRIETY TEST.
{¶13} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF THE APPELLANT
WHEN IT FAILED TO RULE ON HER MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE
TESTIMONY/EVIDENCE OF THE ARRESTING TROOPER REGARDING THE
RESULTS OF APPELLANT’S FIELD SOBRIETY TEST AS SAME WHERE NOT
ADMINISTERED IN SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE TESTING
STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.
I, II, III
{¶13} Appellant, in her three assignments of error, challenges the trial court’s
decision denying her Motion to Suppress.
{¶14} There are three methods of challenging on appeal a trial court's ruling on a
motion to suppress. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's findings of fact. In
reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether said
findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio
St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982); State v. Klein, 73 Ohio App.3d 486, 597 N.E.2d
1141(4th Dist.1991); State v. Guysinger, 86 Ohio App.3d 592, 621 N.E.2d 726(4th
Dist.1993). Second, an appellant may argue the trial court failed to apply the
appropriate test or correct law to the findings of fact. In that case, an appellate court can
reverse the trial court for committing an error of law. State v. Williams, 86 Ohio App.3d
37, 619 N.E.2d 1141 (1993). Finally, assuming the trial court's findings of fact are not
against the manifest weight of the evidence and it has properly identified the law to be
applied, an appellant may argue the trial court has incorrectly decided the ultimate or
final issue raised in the motion to suppress. When reviewing this type of claim, an
appellate court must independently determine, without deference to the trial court's
conclusion, whether the facts meet the appropriate legal standard in any given case.
State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App.3d 93, 641 N.E.2d 1172 (8th Dist.1994); State v. Claytor, 85
Ohio App.3d 623, 620 N.E.2d 906 (4th Dist.1993); Guysinger, supra. As the United
States Supreme Court held in Ornelas v. U.S., 517 U.S. 690, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 1663, 134
L.Ed.2d 911 (1996), “[A]s a general matter determinations of reasonable suspicion and
probable cause should be reviewed de novo on appeal.”
{¶15} Appellant, in her first assignment of error, argues that Trooper Tucci did
not have probable cause to stop her. In order to make an investigatory stop of a vehicle,
a law enforcement officer must merely have reasonable suspicion, not probable cause.
State v. Bobo, 37 Ohio St.3d 177, 524 N.E.2d 489 (1988), paragraph two of the
syllabus. Reasonable suspicion means the officer “must be able to point to specific and
articulable facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts,
reasonably warrant the intrusion [or stop].” Bobo at 178, citing Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S.
1, 20–21, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968).
{¶16} In the case sub judice, Trooper Tucci testified that he observed appellant’s
vehicle go left of center and weave within its lane. He testified that appellant’s vehicle
had crossed one tire width over the center line for a very short distance. Appellant, in
her brief, concedes that based on the decision of this Court in State v. Hodge, 147
Ohio App.3d 550, 2002–Ohio–3053, 771 N.E.2d 331, “the observation of the left of
center traffic violation no matter how minimal/slight gave the Trooper reasonable
suspicion to initiate the stop.” Appellant’s first assignment of error is, therefore,
overruled.
{¶17} Appellant, in her second assignment of error, argues that the trial court
erred in finding that Trooper Tucci had reasonable suspicion to conduct field sobriety
tests. Reasonable suspicion of impairment is sufficient to support the administration of
field sobriety tests. State v. Wilson, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 01 CA 241, 2003–Ohio–
1070, ¶ 17 (“[a]n officer must have reasonable suspicion, based on specific and
articulable facts, to believe a person is under the influence of alcohol in order to
administer field sobriety tests.”) “Reasonable grounds to believe a person had been
driving while under the influence of alcohol will be determined from the totality of all the
facts and circumstances, including the person's actions immediately prior to his driving
the motor vehicle; during the period of time he was driving including, but not limited to,
the manner in which he was driving; and immediately after he discontinued driving,
including his activities immediately after getting out of the motor vehicle.” Atwell v. State,
35 Ohio App.2d 221, 301 N.E.2d 709 (8th Dist.1973), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶18} We find that the trial court did not err in finding that Trooper Tucci had
reasonable suspicion that appellant was under the influence of alcohol and that,
therefore, the Trooper had reasonable suspicion to conduct the field sobriety tests. As
is stated above, the Trooper observed appellant’s vehicle cross the center line by an
entire tire width at approximately 12:25 a.m. Appellant admitted to the violation and also
was weaving in and out of her lane. When Trooper Tucci approached the vehicle that
appellant was driving, he smelled alcohol and observed that appellant’s eyes were red
and glassy. When appellant was later sitting in his patrol car, he continued smelling
alcohol and asked appellant how much alcohol that she had to drink. Appellant admitted
to having one beer. Appellant’s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
{¶19} In her third and final assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial
court erred when it failed to address appellant’s argument that the results of the field
sobriety tests should have been suppressed because they were not administered in
substantial compliance with testing standards and procedures set forth in the NHTSA
manual.
{¶20} Appellant, in her Motion to Suppress, specifically argued that her field
sobriety tests were not administered in accordance with the NHTSA manual, which was
not submitted into evidence. Appellant, in her motion, listed the reasons each test were
not administered properly. However, at the Motion to Suppress hearing, appellant’s
counsel indicated to the trial court that the issues before the court were whether there
was reasonable and articuable suspicion for the traffic stop and to proceed with the field
sobriety tests. Counsel never clarified for the trial court that appellant was challenging
the administration of such tests.
{¶21} R.C. 4511.19(D)(4)(b) provides that evidence and testimony regarding the
results of a field sobriety test may be presented “if it is shown by clear and convincing
evidence that the officer administered the test in substantial compliance with the testing
standards for any reliable, credible, and generally accepted field sobriety tests that were
in effect at the time the tests were administered, including, but not limited to, any testing
standards then in effect that were set by the national highway traffic safety
administration [.]” See also, State v. Schmitt, 101 Ohio St.3d 79, 2004–Ohio–37, 801
N.E.2d 446, at ¶ 9.
{¶22} This Court has held that “some evidence of the NHTSA or other testing
standards is required to prove compliance with the administration of field sobriety tests.
It is only logical that in order to prove substantial compliance with a given standard,
there must be at minimum some evidence of the applicable standard for comparative
purposes. Accordingly, where the suppression motion raises specific challenges to the
field sobriety tests, the state must produce some evidence of the testing standards, be it
through testimony or via introduction of the NHTSA or other similar manual or both.”
State v. Bish, 191 Ohio App.3d 661, 2010–Ohio–6604, 947 N.E.2d 257, ¶ 27. Once the
issue is properly raised by the appellant, the burden shifts to the state to prove by clear
and convincing evidence that it substantially complied with NHTSA, or other similar
standards, in administering the field sobriety tests. Id. at ¶ 24.
{¶23} At the suppression hearing, Trooper Tucci testified that he had training in
how to perform field sobriety tests and testified that he had made approximately 50
driving under the influence stops. He indicated that he was certified in all the required
areas relating to alcohol detection. On cross-examination, Trooper Tucci testified that
his training and certification to conduct field sobriety tests was in accordance with the
rules and regulations set forth in the NHTSA manual. He explained how each test was
performed.
{¶24} Appellant, in her brief, now specifically contends that Trooper Tucci did not
administer the HGN test properly because he did not ask appellant whether or not she
was wearing contact lenses. She also maintains that the Trooper did not administer the
walk-and-turn test properly because he did not question appellant or determine whether
or not she suffered from any injury or medical condition that might affect her ability to
perform the test.
{¶25} Appellant, in her motion in the trial court, never raised any issue related to
contact lenses and thus has waived such issue. With respect to the walk-and-turn test,
Trooper Tucci admitted that he did not ask appellant if she suffered from any injury or
medical condition that may affect her ability to perform such test. However, he testified
that he asked appellant if she had any problems standing or walking and that, after
appellant indicated that she did not, he did not believe that he needed to ask any further
questions. Moreover, a review of the videotape reveals that after Trooper Tucci asked
appellant if she was on any medications, she indicated that she was on thyroid
medication and Lasix, a water pill. We find that Trooper Tucci substantially complied
with the NHTSA manual with respect to the administration of the field sobriety tests.
{¶26} Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not err in overruling
appellant’s Motion to Suppress. Appellant’s three assignments of error are, therefore,
overruled.
{¶27} Accordingly, the judgment of the Columbiana County Municipal Court is
affirmed.
By: Baldwin, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Wise, John, J. concur.