Opinion
No. 19753.
Delivered May 11, 1938. Rehearing denied June 22, 1938. Request to file second motion for rehearing denied (without written opinion) June 24, 1938.
1. — Appeal.
Where the indictment appeared regular, record was before Court of Criminal Appeals without statement of facts or bills of exception, and no error was perceived or pointed out, conviction was affirmed.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.2. — Intoxicated Driver — Suspension of License.
Under statute, providing for the automatic suspension of driver's license upon a first conviction of driving an automobile upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, entering judgment suspending driver's license for six months, in addition to the fine and imprisonment assessed by the jury upon conviction under indictment charging defendant with having driven an automobile on a public street while intoxicated, held proper, as against contention that suspension of license was not warranted by indictment or verdict.
Appeal from the District Court of Tom Green County. Hon. John F. Sutton, Judge.
Appeal from conviction for driving an automobile upon a public highway while intoxicated; penalty, fine of $75 and confinement in county jail for sixty days. Affirmed.
The opinion states the case.
Wm. E. Davenport, of San Angelo, for appellant.
Lloyd W. Davidson, State's Attorney, of Austin, for the State.
The conviction is for driving an automobile upon the public highway while intoxicated; penalty assessed at a fine of $75.00 and confinement in the county jail for sixty days.
The indictment appears regular. The record is before this Court without statement of facts or bills if exception. No error having been perceived or pointed out, the judgment is affirmed.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
Appellant, on her motion for a rehearing, contends that we erred in our original opinion by affirming this cause. She contends that neither the indictment nor the verdict of the jury authorized the suspension of her license to drive an automobile upon the highways of this State for a period of six months. We find ourselves unable to agree with her. It was charged in the indictment that she drove an automobile upon a public street in the City of San Angelo while drunk. The jury found her guilty as charged and assessed her punishment at a fine of $75 and confinement in the county jail for a period of sixty days. She contends that since the court entered judgment in accordance with said verdict and in addition suspended her license to drive an automobile upon the public roads and highways of this State for a period of six months, she is being deprived of a privilege without due process of law.
Sec. 6687a (Sec. 16, R. C. S.) provides that the license of any person shall be automatically suspended or revoked upon final conviction for driving an automobile upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs. Since the license of a person who is found guilty on the charge contained in the indictment is automatically suspended for six months for the first offense, it is of no moment whether such is incorporated in the judgment or not. It follows, as a matter of law, from conviction.
The motion for a rehearing will be overruled.
The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the Court.