State v. Petty

[Cite as State v. Petty, 2019-Ohio-4241.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
WASHINGTON COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, : Case Nos. 18CA26
18CA27
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
v. : DECISION AND
JUDGMENT ENTRY
MATTHEW E. PETTY, :
Defendant-Appellant. : RELEASED 10/11/2019
APPEARANCES:
Brian A. Smith, Brian A. Smith Law Firm, LLC, Akron, Ohio, for appellant.
Daniel Everson, City of Marietta Law Director’s Office, Marietta, Ohio, for appellee.
Hess, J.
{¶1} A state trooper stopped Matthew E. Petty and charged him with operating
a motor vehicle under the influence and possession of marijuana. Petty pleaded no
contest, and the Marietta Municipal Court sentenced him to 90 days in jail, with 80 of the
days suspended, suspended his driving privileges for two years, fined him, and sentenced
him to a two-year probationary period.
{¶2} Petty asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress
because the officer did not have reasonable suspicion to make the traffic stop. Petty
argues that the left turn statute does not require a driver to turn into the lane closest to
the center line. We find that although the left turn statute does not require a driver to turn
into the lane closest to the center line, we find the officer’s belief that the statute requires
such a turn is an objectively reasonable mistake of law. Therefore, the officer had
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 2
reasonable suspicion to make the stop. The trial court properly denied Petty’s motion to
suppress. We reject his argument and affirm his conviction.
I. FACTS
{¶3} Trooper Jordan C. Hutton observed Petty driving a vehicle unusually slow
in the City of Marietta at 1:00 am in the morning. Trooper Hutton continued to observe
Petty until he stopped at a traffic light. Trooper Hutton reported that Petty’s front tires were
in front of the marked stop bar at the flashing red traffic light. His vehicle then turned left
into the outside lane of the four-lane roadway. After observing these violations, Trooper
Hutton activated his lights and initiated a traffic stop. Trooper Hutton detected the smell
of alcohol and performed field sobriety tests. Petty failed the field sobriety tests and
refused breath and urine tests. After a K-9 officer performed an exterior sniff of the
vehicle, authorities searched Petty’s car and discovered marijuana and a smoking pipe.
{¶4} Trooper Hutton issued traffic violations for operating a motor vehicle under
the influence in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) and (A)(2); a stop signal violation under
R.C. 4511.13(C); possession of drug paraphernalia in violation of R.C. 2925.141; and
possession of marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.11(C)(3). Perry pleaded not guilty and
filed a motion to suppress all the evidence from the traffic stop on the ground that Trooper
Hutton had no probable cause for the stop.
{¶5} At the suppression hearing the state introduced the dashboard video from
Trooper Hutton’s cruiser. Trooper Hutton testified that he witnessed Petty’s vehicle
stopped at a flashing red light signal with the front vehicle tires stopped beyond the
marked stop bar. Petty then turned left and immediately turned to the far outside lane of
the four-lane road. Trooper Hutton testified that he stopped Petty because of both the
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 3
marked stop bar violation and the improper turn violation. Trooper Hutton agreed that
because of the location of the marked stop bar, there is an inadequate view of oncoming
traffic and it is necessary to stop at the marked stop bar and then pull farther up in front
of the bar to see if it is safe to turn. Trooper Hutton testified that under R.C. 4511.36(A)(2),
when making a left-hand turn onto a four-lane road, the driver is required to turn into the
lane closest to the center lane; it is a violation to turn into the outside lane.
{¶6} The trial court found that there was no marked stop bar violation. The trial
court found that at that stop location, when the signal is controlled by a flashing red light
at night, and not the normal working light, it is necessary to stop at the marked stop bar
and then, as Trooper Hutton agreed, move forward in order for better visibility to make a
turn with safety. The trial court reviewed the dashboard video and determined that
Trooper Hutton’s cruiser approached Petty’s vehicle from a distance behind Petty and it
was not possible to determine if Petty had initially stopped behind the mark stop bar.
Trooper Hutton’s testimony was not probative on this point.
{¶7} However, the trial court found that Petty violated R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) by
making an improper left turn because the statute requires motorists to turn left into the
lane closest to the center lane – not the far outside lane. The trial court found that
although this is a de minimis violation of the traffic law, it is a violation and provided
reasonable suspicion for making the stop. The trial court denied Petty’s motion to
suppress on the ground that the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop Petty based on
a left turn violation of R.C. 4511.36(A)(2).
{¶8} Petty changed his plea to no contest to possession of marijuana and
operating a vehicle under the influence and the state dismissed the remaining charges.
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 4
The trial court sentenced him to 90 days in jail, with 80 of the days suspended, suspended
his driving privileges for two years, fined him, and sentenced him to a two-year
probationary period.
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶9} Petty assigns the following error for our review:
1. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO
SUPPRESS, IN VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S RIGHTS UNDER THE
FOURTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTIONS AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 14 OF THE
OHIO CONSTITUTION.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶10} In general “appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed
question of law and fact.” State v. Codeluppi, 139 Ohio St. 3d 165, 2014-Ohio-1574, 10
N.E.3d 691, ¶ 7. “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.’ ” Codeluppi at ¶ 7, quoting Burnside at ¶ 8.
IV. LAW AND ANALYSIS
A. General Principles
{¶11} To determine whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to
suppress, we must consider the reasonableness of the traffic stop. “The Fourth
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 5
Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section
14 prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures.” State v. Emerson, 134 Ohio St. 3d 191,
2012-Ohio-5047, 981 N.E.2d 787, ¶ 15. This constitutional guarantee is protected by the
exclusionary rule, which mandates the exclusion at trial of evidence obtained from an
unreasonable search and seizure. Id.
{¶12} This case involved an investigatory stop, which must be supported by a
reasonable, articulable suspicion that the driver has, is, or is about to commit a crime,
including a minor traffic violation. See State v. Hudson, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 17CA19,
2018-Ohio-2717, ¶ 14; State v. Fowler, 4th Dist. Ross No. 17CA3599, 2018-Ohio-241, ¶
16, citing United States v. Williams, 525 Fed.Appx. 330, 332 (6th Cir.2013), and Florida
v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 501-507, 103 S. Ct. 1319, 75 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1983). “To justify a
traffic stop based upon reasonable suspicion, the officer must be able to articulate specific
facts that would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that the driver has
committed, or is committing, a crime, including a minor traffic violation.” State v. Taylor,
2016-Ohio-1231, 62 N.E.3d 591, ¶ 18 (4th Dist.). The existence of reasonable suspicion
depends on whether an objectively reasonable police officer would believe that the
driver's conduct constituted a traffic violation based on the totality of the circumstances
known to the officer at the time of the stop. Id.
{¶13} Moreover, a police officer may stop the driver of a vehicle after observing
even a de minimis violation of traffic laws. See State v. Williams, 4th Dist. Ross No.
14CA3436, 2014-Ohio-4897, ¶ 9, citing Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 116 S. Ct.
1769, 135 L. Ed. 2d 89 (1996), and Dayton v. Erickson, 76 Ohio St. 3d 3, 665 N.E.2d 1091
(1996), syllabus. “[A] traffic stop with the proper standard of evidence is valid regardless
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 6
of the officer's underlying ulterior motives as the test is merely whether the officer ‘could’
have performed the act complained of; pretext is irrelevant if the action complained of
was permissible.” See State v. Koczwara, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 13MA149, 2014-Ohio-
1946, ¶ 22, citing Erickson at 7 and 11, 665 N.E.2d 1091.
{¶14} And the mere fact that an officer may have wrongly believed that a
defendant could be convicted of the traffic offenses would not obviate reasonable
suspicion for the stop. See Bowling Green v. Godwin, 110 Ohio St. 3d 58, 2006-Ohio-
3563, 850 N.E.2d 698, ¶ 15 (“The trial court correctly concluded that the fact that appellee
could not be convicted of failure to obey a traffic-control device is not determinative of
whether the officer acted reasonably in stopping and citing him for that offense. Probable
cause does not require the officer to correctly predict that a conviction will result”); see
also Heien v. North Carolina, 574 U.S. 54, 135 S. Ct. 530, 190 L. Ed. 2d 475 (2014)
(officer's mistake of law in stopping a vehicle with one functioning brake light, when the
state vehicle code requires only one working brake light, was a reasonable mistake that
did not violate the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches and
seizures); State v. Levine, 4th Dist. Washington No. 18CA19, 2019-Ohio-265, ¶ 24-25,
citing Heien, supra; State v. Hudson, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 17CA19, 2018-Ohio-2717, ¶ 14-
17, appeal not allowed, 154 Ohio St. 3d 1422, 2018-Ohio-4496, 111 N.E.3d 20.
B. Failure to Stop at Marked Stop Bar
{¶15} The trial court made the factual determination based on the dashboard
video and Trooper Hutton’s testimony that Petty had not committed a marked stop bar
violation. Then the trial court made the legal determination that Trooper Hutton’s mistaken
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 7
belief that Petty committed a marked stop bar violation was not objectively reasonable
under the circumstances.
{¶16} Because the trial court is the trier of fact and is in the best position to resolve
factual questions, we must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by
competent, credible evidence. State v. Burnside at ¶ 8. The dashboard video, which
showed the considerable distance the cruiser was behind Petty’s stopped vehicle as
Trooper Hutton approached Petty, the length of time Petty’s vehicle remained stopped,
the sequences of brake light activity on Petty’s vehicle, and Trooper Hutton’s testimony
concerning the need to stop and then pull forward again to gain visibility needed provide
competent, credible evidence to support the trial court’s finding that Petty did not commit
a marked stop bar violation. Thus, we accept the trial court’s factual finding that no marked
stop bar violation occurred.
{¶17} However, even though Trooper Hutton was mistaken about this fact, “the
Fourth Amendment allows for some mistakes on the part of government officials, giving
them ‘fair leeway for enforcing the law in the community’s protection.’ ” Heien v. North
Carolina, at 536, quoting Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 176, 69 S. Ct. 1302, 93
L. Ed. 1879 (1949); State v. Levine, at ¶ 24. “The limit is that ‘the mistakes must be those
of reasonable men.’ ” Heien at 536, quoting Brinegar at 176.
{¶18} Therefore determining whether a traffic stop violates the Fourth Amendment
“requires an objective assessment of a police officer's actions in light of the facts and
circumstances.” Bowling Green v. Godwin, 110 Ohio St. 3d 58, 2006-Ohio-3563, 850
N.E.2d 698, ¶ 14. “The existence of probable cause [or reasonable suspicion] depends
on whether an objectively reasonable police officer would believe that [the driver's]
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 8
conduct * * * constituted a traffic violation, based on the totality of the circumstances
known to the officer at the time of the stop.” Id. at ¶ 16. A traffic stop complies with the
Fourth Amendment's reasonableness requirement if an officer possesses probable cause
or a reasonable suspicion to believe that a driver committed a violation. See State v.
Levine, 4th Dist. Washington No. 18CA19, 2019-Ohio-265, ¶ 25, appeal not allowed, 155
Ohio St. 3d 1457, 2019-Ohio-1759, 122 N.E.3d 217; State v. Crocker, 2015-Ohio-2528,
38 N.E.3d 369, ¶ 62 (4th Dist.); State v. Littlefield, 4th Dist. Ross No. 11CA3247, 2013-
Ohio-481, ¶ 15; State v. Matzinger, 2017-Ohio-324, 81 N.E.3d 841, ¶ 31-33 (4th Dist.).
Here, based on the dashboard video showing the distance and location of Trooper
Hutton’s cruiser from Petty’s vehicle, Trooper Hutton was approaching Petty’s vehicle in
the same lane as Petty and from behind, it was physically impossible to determine the
location of Petty’s front vehicle tires during the entire time Petty was stopped at the
flashing red light. Based on the totality of the circumstances, we find that an objectively
reasonable police officer would not believe that a marked stop bar violation had occurred.
Thus, the trial court properly found no reasonable suspicion for a stop based on a marked
stop bar violation.
C. Improper Left Turn
{¶19} Although there was no basis for a stop under a marked stop bar violation,
the trial court found the stop justified because of a left turn violation. Trooper Hutton
observed Petty make a left turn into the far, outside lane on a four-lane roadway. The
trial court found that Petty had violated R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) when he turned left into the
far, outside lane rather than the inside lane closest to the center line – a de minimis
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 9
violation of traffic law – but a violation that provided reasonable suspicion that an improper
left turn violation occurred.
{¶20} Rules for turning at intersections are provided in R.C. 4511.36. R.C.
4511.36(A)(2) provides:
At any intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on
each roadway entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be
made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line
thereof and by passing to the right of such center line where it enters the
intersection and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so
as to leave the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway
being entered. Whenever practicable the left turn shall be made in that
portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection.
{¶21} At the suppression hearing, Petty’s counsel cited, State v. Kirkpatrick, infra,
and argued that R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) requires that the driver “square into the turn” and
“says nothing about whether the driver must take the turn into the right or left side of the
right lane.” See State v. Kirkpatrick, 2017-Ohio-7629, 97 N.E.3d 871, (1st Dist.). The
trial court rejected this argument and cited its own prior decision in State v. Attaway,
Marietta Municipal Court No. 17TRC4979, unreported, in which it found that a left turn
into the far outside lane violated R.C. 4511.36(A)(2).
{¶22} The interpretation of R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) appears to be a case of first
impression in our district. We recently interpreted right turns under R.C. 4511.36(A)(1),
which states “Approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as
practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.” See State v. Levine, supra. In
Levine, we found the officer had reasonable suspicion to make a stop where the driver
made a right turn into two neighboring lanes of travel – a wide swing – even when the two
lanes run in the same direction. The wide swing constituted a marked lanes violation
under R.C. 4511.36(A)(1) and R.C. 4511.33(A)(1) (requiring drivers traveling on two or
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 10
more lane roads to drive as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane or line of
traffic). See also State v. Lewis, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 08CA3226, 2008-Ohio-6691
(interpreting R.C. 4511.36(A)(3) involving turns where traffic is restricted to a single
direction).
{¶23} In State v. Coles, 4th Dist. Athens No. 95CA166, 1996 WL 334423 (June 7,
1996), we found that an officer has reasonable suspicion to make a stop where the driver
made a wide left turn outside the marked lane and drove through three or four metered
spaces before returning to the travelled portion of the roadway. The state argued that the
driver’s wide left turn was sufficient to justify the stop considering that the defendant
travelled well outside of the proper lane, through three or four parking spaces before
entering the far left lane. Id. at *2. We found that the marked lane violation provided
reasonable suspicion for the stop. Id.
{¶24} However, in dicta,1 we discussed the left turn violation and found that the
driver arguably violated the left turn statute, R.C. 4511.36(B) (now R.C. 4511.36(A)(2))
because of the “extreme wideness” of the turn:
The appellant arguably violated this statute when he made his wide left turn
in that he failed to enter the road he was turning onto in the lane just right
of center. At least one other court has held that a wide left turn in which the
driver drives through parking spaces is sufficient to justify a stop for a traffic
offense. See City of Bryan v. Alwood (Sept. 14, 1979), [6th Dist.] Williams
App. No WMS-79-4, [1979 WL 207224].
* * * In view of the totality of the circumstances, such as the extreme
wideness of the appellant’s left turn and the fact that he drove through
several parking spaces, we find that the officer had reasonable articulable
suspicion that the appellant was operating his vehicle in violation of the law.
1 Courts have defined dicta as “statements made by a court in an opinion that are not necessary for
the resolution of the issues.” State v. Lewis, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 10CA24, 2011-Ohio-911, ¶ 19, quoting
Gissiner v. Cincinnati, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C–070536, 2008–Ohio–3161, ¶ 15 (citations omitted).
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 11
State v. Coles, at *3.
{¶25} In State v. Kirkpatrick, supra, the appellate court interpreted the left turn
statute, R.C. 4511.26(A)(2). Kirkpatrick at ¶ 11-14. The appellate court acknowledged
that it had previously determined that the left turn statute “lends itself to the interpretation”
that drivers turning left must turn into the lane nearest the center line. See State v.
Stadelmann, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130138, 2013-Ohio-5035. However, it decided that
the rationale of the dissenting judge in Stadelmann was more persuasive and adopted
the dissent:
Former Judge, now Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick DeWine dissented
in Stadelmann, stating that R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) was clear and
unambiguous:
It simply requires the driver ‘square into the turn,’ as we are all
taught in drivers' education class. The driver must proceed
through the intersection and across the center line before turning
left. The statute says nothing about whether the driver must
make the turn into the right or left side of the right lane. Under
the plain language of the statute, a turn into either side is
perfectly legal.
Stadelmann at ¶ 14.
State v. Kirkpatrick, 2017-Ohio-7629, 97 N.E.3d 871, ¶ 11 (1st Dist.), appeal not
allowed, 152 Ohio St. 3d 1422, 2018-Ohio-923, 93 N.E.3d 1004. The court disagreed with
the finding in Stadelmann that R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) is ambiguous. “The plain language of
R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) does not prohibit a driver from turning into the outside, right lane,
instead of the inside, left lane.” Id. at ¶ 13.
{¶26} We agree with the rationale in Kirkpatrick and find that R.C. 4511.36(A)(2)
is not ambiguous and does not prohibit a driver from turning into the far outside lane when
making a left turn onto a roadway with two or more lanes. It “simply requires the driver
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 12
‘square into the turn.’ ” Kirkpatrick at ¶ 11, quoting Stadelmann dissent, ¶ 14. The state
argues that this interpretation of the statute would hypothetically place a right turning
driver heading southbound in the same space at the same time with a left turning driver
heading northbound. We disagree. The left turning driver must yield the right of way to
any vehicle approaching in the opposite direction. See R.C. 4511.42(A) (“The operator of
a vehicle * * * intending to turn to the left within an intersection* * * shall yield the right of
way to any vehicle * * * approaching from the opposite direction, whenever the
approaching vehicle * * * is within the intersection or so close to the intersection * * * as
to constitute an immediate hazard”).
{¶27} Although R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) does not prohibit a left turn into the far right
lane, Trooper Hutton’s belief that Petty’s turn violated the statute is an objectively
reasonable mistake of law in this case. The Cole decision found that R.C. 4511.36(A)(2)
“arguably” required a driver to turn into the lane just right of center, albeit in dicta. “The
Fourth Amendment tolerates only reasonable mistakes, and those mistakes—whether of
fact or of law—must be objectively reasonable. We do not examine the subjective
understanding of the particular officer involved.” Heien v. North Carolina, 574 U.S. 54,
135 S. Ct. 530, 539, 190 L. Ed. 2d 475 (2014); Bowling Green v. Godwin, 110 Ohio St. 3d
58, 2006-Ohio-3563, 850 N.E.2d 698, ¶ 15 (2006) (“We agree with the sentiment
expressed in a federal case involving an officer who had stopped a vehicle based on the
mistaken belief that the windows were tinted darker than the law permitted. The court
observed that the officer ‘was not taking the bar exam. The issue is not how well [the
officer] understood California's window tinting laws, but whether he had objective,
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 13
probable cause to believe that these windows were, in fact, in violation.’ ”). Thus, the trial
court properly denied Petty’s motion to suppress.
V. CONCLUSION
{¶28} We overrule Petty’s assignment of error and affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 14
Smith, P.J., concurring:
{¶29} While I agree with the result contained in the majority opinion, I do so
reluctantly. The United States Supreme Court’s holding in Heien v. North Carolina, supra,
essentially held that reasonable mistakes of law are no less compatible with the concept
of reasonable suspicion than reasonable mistakes of fact. Thus, under Heien, law
enforcement’s initiation of a traffic stop based upon the mistaken belief that a legal
violation had occurred is still supported by reasonable suspicion and is justified as long
as the mistake of law is reasonable. While I personally disagree with this concept, I agree
that we are duty-bound to apply the legal principles set forth in Heien.
{¶30} Although I understand law enforcement officers are “ ‘not taking the bar
exam’ ” every time they initiate a traffic stop,2 in my view they should be held to a higher
standard and should have an accurate understanding of the laws which they purport to
enforce. It appears the Sixth District Court of Appeals has shared this view. See State v
Babcock, 2013-Ohio-2366, 992 N.E.2d 1215 (holding “that the exclusionary rule operates
to bar the admission of evidence obtained as a result of a traffic stop based on conduct
that a police officer mistakenly believes is a violation of the law” and noting that two other
districts in Ohio “have refused to allow a mistake of law exception to the application of the
exclusionary rule in situations in which a defendant is stopped for a traffic violation when,
in fact, the defendant's conduct was lawful.”).3 Admittedly, Babcock was decided prior to
Heien.
2 City of Bowling Green v. Godwin, 110 Ohio St. 3d 58, 2006–Ohio–3563, 850 N.E.2d 698, ¶ 15, quoting
United States v. Wallace, 213 F.3d 1216, 1220 (C.A.9, 2000).
3 The Babcock court ultimately declined the State’s invitation to apply the reasoning set forth in Godwin to
mistakes of law. Babcock at ¶ 22. It reasoned that permitting “traffic stops founded upon an officer's
mistake of law ‘would defeat the purpose of the exclusionary rule, for it would remove the incentive for
police to make certain that they properly understand the law that they are entrusted to enforce and obey.’ ”
Id., quoting United States v. Lopez–Soto, 205 F.3d 1101, 1106 (9th Cir.2000); see also United States v.
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 15
{¶31} However, turning our attention back to the holding in Heien, I note that the
Heien Court acknowledged that the ultimate “ ‘touchstone’ ” of the Fourth Amendment is
“ ‘reasonableness.’ ” Heien at 536, quoting Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 134 S.Ct. 2473,
2482, 189 L. Ed. 2d 430 (2014). This Court recently determined a mistake of law in a law
enforcement officer’s interpretation of a local ordinance governing right turns at
intersections was not reasonable and thus the traffic stop he initiated based upon his
mistaken understanding of the law was not supported by reasonable suspicion. See State
v. Ware, 2019-Ohio-3885, --N.E.3d-- (4th District). In Ware, however, this Court was not
bound to apply reasoning from other districts, or bound by prior precedent, indicating the
ordinance at issue was ambiguous. Finding the ordinance at issue in Ware was clear
and unambiguous and not subject to varying interpretations, we found the officer’s
mistaken application of the ordinance to be unreasonable and therefore reversed the trial
court’s decision denying Ware’s motion to suppress the evidence obtained as a result of
the illegal stop. Ware at ¶ 45, 48.
{¶32} Unfortunately, other districts, as well as this Court, have previously opined
that the statute at issue herein, R.C. 4511.36(A)(2), which governs left turns in
intersections, is ambiguous and thus subject to varying interpretations. See State v.
Stadelmann, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C–130138, 2013-Ohio-5035, ¶ 2-3 (stating that “[t]he
portion of the statute relevant to our analysis seems to allow for two interpretations.”), but
see Former Judge DeWine’s dissenting opinion (finding the statute to be unambiguous);
Lopez–Valdez, 178 F.3d 282, 289 (5th Cir.1999) (“[I]f officers are allowed to stop vehicles based on their
subjective belief that traffic laws have been violated even where no such violation has, in fact, occurred,
the potential for abuse of traffic stops as pretext for effecting stops seems boundless and the costs to
privacy rights excessive”). The Babcock court further opined that Godwin actually involved a mistake of
fact by the officer, not a mistake of law. Babcock at ¶ 16.
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 16
State v. Cole, 4th Dist. Athens No. 95CA166, 1996 WL 334423, *3 (stating in dicta that
“appellant arguably violated this statute when he made his wide left turn in that he failed
to enter the road he was turning onto in the lane just right of center.”) However, of
importance, in a more recent case the First District Court of Appeals determined this
particular statute to be clear and unambiguous. State v. Kirkpatrick, 2017-Ohio-7629, 97
N.E.3d 871, ¶ 13 (1st Dist.) (“We disagree with the finding in Stadelmann that R.C.
4511.36(A)(2) is ambiguous. The plain language of R.C. 4511.36(A)(2) does not prohibit
a driver from turning into the outside, right lane, instead of the inside, left lane.”). In
reaching its decision the Kirkpatrick court acknowledged and expressly adopted “[f]ormer
Judge, now Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick DeWine[’s]” dissenting opinion in
Stadelmann, supra. Id.
{¶33} Nonetheless, determining it was bound by its prior reasoning in
Stadelmann, albeit in dicta, that mistakes regarding the application of R.C. 4511.36 were
objectively reasonable, the Kirkpatrick court ultimately held that a mistake by law
enforcement in the enforcement of this statute was an objectively reasonable mistake of
law as contemplated by Heien, and thus it affirmed the trial court’s denial of Kirkpatrick’s
motion to suppress. Id. at ¶ 14. In light of our prior statements in Cole, supra, I believe
we are now constrained to do the same.
{¶34} Prior to concluding, however, I would note that at least one court has
refused to follow Heien v. North Carolina, supra, on state law grounds. See Baldwin v.
Estherville, Iowa, N.D. Iowa, Central Division, 333 F. Supp. 3d 817 (2018). The Baldwin
court explained as follows in support of its reasoning:
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 17
* * * ‘the mistake-of-law doctrine is broader under the United States
Constitution than it is under the Iowa Constitution,’ because Iowa does not
recognize even a reasonable mistake of law as supporting probable cause
or reasonable suspicion. [State v.] Scheffert, 910 N.W.2d [577,] 585 n.2.
The Iowa Supreme Court has maintained this distinction even after the
United States Supreme Court decided in Heien v. North Carolina, [574] U.S.
[54], 135 S. Ct. 530, 539–40, 190 L. Ed. 2d 475 (2014), that a reasonable
mistake of law could support reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop.
Scheffert, 910 N.W.2d at 585 n.2; State v. Coleman, 890 N.W.2d 284, 298
n.2 (Iowa 2017) (‘Of course, the ruling in [State v.] Tyler [, 830 N.W.2d 288
(2013)] under the Iowa Constitution is unaffected by Heien. Further, the
approach in Heien would be very difficult to square with our rejection of the
good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule under article I, section 8 of the
Iowa Constitution in [State v.]Cline, 617 N.W.2d [277,] 293.).
{¶35} It does not appear any such precedent has been set by the Supreme
Court of Ohio. In the absence of a distinction in Ohio law similar to the distinction
in Iowa law, I conclude we are bound to follow the dictates of the United States
Supreme Court on this issue. Accordingly, I concur with the opinion of the majority
herein.
Washington App. Nos. 18CA26, 18CA27 18
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the
costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Marietta
Municipal Court to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS
BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is
temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously
posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme
Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court.
If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the
sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme
Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules
of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio
dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date
of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Smith, P.J.: Concurs with Concurring Opinion.
McFarland, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: ________________________
Michael D. Hess, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with
the clerk.