Opinion
August 6, 1986.
Motor vehicles — Suspension of motor vehicle operator's license — Scope of appellate review — Findings of fact — Error of law — Abuse of discretion — Burden of proof — Refusal of breath test — Unqualified refusal.
1. In a motor vehicle license suspension case review by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is to determine whether an error of law was committed, discretion was abused or findings of fact were unsupported by the evidence. [468]
2. In a motor vehicle license suspension case for refusal of a breath test, the Commonwealth must prove that the licensee was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, was asked to submit to a breath test and was advised of the consequences of a refusal and refused to submit to the test, and, once such evidence is produced, the burden of going forward shifts to the licensee to show that the refusal was not a conscious or knowing one. [468]
3. Anything less than an unqualified, unequivocal assent to a request to submit to a breath test constitutes a refusal. [469]
4. The consequences of an unqualified and unequivocal refusal of a properly requested breath test cannot be avoided by a subsequent retraction of the refusal and offer to submit. [469]
Judge BARRY concurred in the result only.
Submitted on briefs May 15, 1986, to Judges BARRY and PALLADINO, and Senior Judge KALISH, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 1585 C.D. 1984, from the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, in case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Al Cohen, No. 80 Civil 4631.
Motor vehicle operator's license suspended by Department of Transportation. Licensee appealed to the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County. Appeal sustained. KOSIK, P.J. Department appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Reversed. Suspension reinstated.
Harold H. Cramer, Assistant Counsel, with him, Spencer A. Manthorpe, Chief Counsel, and Jay C. Waldman, General Counsel, for appellant.
Alan P. Schoen, Epstein, O'Neill, Utan Wilson, for appellee.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety, appeals an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County which sustained the license suspension appeal of appellee, Al Cohen. We reverse the trial court and reinstate the suspension of appellee's license.
Appellee is seventy years of age. The trial judge found that appellee had been taken into custody after an accident, and that the officer had reasonable cause to believe that he was intoxicated. Appellee was taken to the police station where the breathalyzer equipment was activated. He was twice asked to take the test and refused. The equipment was deactivated. Immediately thereafter, in a matter of minutes, appellee consented to take the test.
The trial judge found that the appellee did not act in bad faith, and that the retraction of the refusal and the request that the test be administered, all within moments, was sufficient evidence to rebut the refusal.
Our scope of review in a driver's license suspension is to determine whether the findings of the trial court are supported by the evidence, whether there has been an erroneous conclusion of law or whether the trial court's decision shows a manifest abuse of discretion. Schnitzer v. Commonwealth, 85 Pa. Commw. 38, 480 A.2d 388 (1984).
The Commonwealth has the burden of showing that the driver was placed under arrest for driving while under the influence of alcohol; that the driver was asked to take the breathalyzer test; that the driver was warned that a refusal would result in license suspension, and that the driver refused to take the test. Herbert v. Commonwealth, 75 Pa. Commw. 28, 460 A.2d 920 (1983).
Once the Commonwealth has produced evidence of the basic fact of a refusal, procedurally the burden of going forward with the evidence shifts to the driver, to show that the refusal was not a conscious or knowing one. Pratt v. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety, 62 Pa. Commw. 55, 434 A.2d 918 (1981).
The fact finder must then determine from all the evidence on this issue whether the primary fact of refusal is more probably true than not, i.e., whether the Commonwealth has met its burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. This is just another way of saying that whether a driver made a knowing and conscious refusal is a question of fact for the trial court. Capozzoli Appeal, 63 Pa. Commw. 411, 437 A.2d 1340 (1981). Such factual determinations by a trial court, which are supported by competent evidence, will not be disturbed on review. Herring v. Commonwealth, 50 Pa. Ct. 608, 413 A.2d 1171 (1980).
While the established facts may not be disturbed when supported by competent evidence, this court may draw its own inferences and conclusions. Hatfield Township Appeal, 28 Pa. Commw. 109, 367 A.2d 747 (1977). Thus, the issue becomes whether the inference and conclusion drawn by the trial court was logical and reasonable. Here, we have an unqualified refusal — not one where such a refusal is to be inferred from established facts. Anything less than an unqualified, unequivocal assent constitutes a refusal. Hando v. Commonwealth, 84 Pa. Commw. 63, 478 A.2d 932 (1984).
It would appear at first blush that Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Safety v. Tillitt, 49 Pa. Commw. 343, 411 A.2d 276 (1980), is similar to the instant case. There, within four minutes after consultation with his father, the driver agreed to take the test. This court held that there was no refusal. However, that case really turned not on the short lapse of time, but rather on the fact that the driver was not given a prior warning of the consequences of a refusal.
Accordingly, we reverse the trial court and reinstate the suspension of appellee's license.
ORDER
NOW, August 6, 1986, the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, No. 80 CIV 4631, dated April 25, 1984, is reversed. The suspension of appellee's driver's license is reinstated.
Judge BARRY concurs in the result only.