District Court
03/17/2011
Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 Operation of Motor Vehicle
Operation of Motor Vehicle
Defendant appealed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-27-2.1 (refusal to submit). Defendant argued that the officer lacked reasonable grounds to believe that he had operated a vehicle while under the influence because the officer never observed the defendant drive, did not administer field sobriety test, and only observed the defendant standing outside of the vehicle when he responded to the scene. The District Court held that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant had operated a vehicle while under the influence because the officer observed the defendant standing “bloodied” next to a vehicle that had recently been in an accident, he admitted that he had been the driver of the vehicle, he admitted to consuming alcohol, he had water and bloodshot eyes, and he emitted an odor of alcohol. Accordingly, the Court sustained the violation against the defendant.Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 (March 17, 2011).pdf
District Court
03/17/2011
Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 Arrest
Arrest
Defendant appealed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-27-2.1 (refusal to submit). Defendant argued that the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation was in error because he was not under arrest at the time he was read the “Rights for Use at the Station/Hospital.” The Court held that the defendant was read the “Rights for Use at the Station/Hospital” after he had been arrested because he had been turned over to the police by the medical personnel and the officers considered the defendant to be under their control. Accordingly, the Court sustained the violation against the defendant. Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 (March 17, 2011).pdf
District Court
03/17/2011
Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 Reasonable Grounds
Reasonable Grounds/Probable Cause
Defendant appealed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-27-2.1 (refusal to submit). Defendant argued that the officer lacked reasonable grounds to believe that he had operated a vehicle while under the influence because the officer never observed the defendant drive, did not administer field sobriety test, and only observed the defendant standing outside of the vehicle when he responded to the scene. The District Court held that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant had operated a vehicle while under the influence because the officer observed the defendant standing “bloodied” next to a vehicle that had recently been in an accident, he admitted that he had been the driver of the vehicle, he admitted to consuming alcohol, he had water and bloodshot eyes, and he emitted an odor of alcohol. Accordingly, the Court sustained the violation against the defendant. Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 (March 17, 2011).pdf
District Court
03/17/2011
Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 Right for Use at the Scene
Rights for Use at the Scene
Defendant appealed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-27-2.1 (refusal to submit to a chemical test). The Court held that there was ample evidence that the defendant was operating a vehicle under the influence because he admitted numerous times that he was the driver, had bloodshot and watery eyes, emitted an odor of alcohol from his breath, and looked as if he was going to fall asleep on the side of the road. The Court held that the officer complied with G.L. 1956 § 31-27-3 (Right to a Physical Examination) even though he failed to read the defendant his rights while at the scene of the accident because he immediately read the defendant his rights as soon as he was arrested, which was before the defendant was asked to take a chemical test. Thus, the Court affirmed the violation against the defendant.
Craig Huntley v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 2010-0157 (March 17, 2011).pdf