Chance v. State

• Decision Date: 18 October 1989
• Docket Number: No. A89A1509,A89A1509
• Citation: 387 S.E.2d 437,193 Ga.App. 242
• Parties: CHANCE v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 437

387 S.E.2d 437

193 Ga.App. 242

CHANCE v. The STATE.

No. A89A1509.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Oct. 18, 1989.

Stephen E. Curry, Augusta, for appellant.

Robert W. Hunter III, Sol. and Carl P. Dowling, Asst. Sol., for appellee.

CARLEY, Chief Judge.

After a bench trial, appellant was found guilty of improper lane usage and of driving under the influence in violation of OCGA § 40-6-391(a)(1). He appeals from the judgments of conviction and sentences entered on the trial court's findings of guilt and from the denial of his motion for new trial.

1. Over objection, law enforcement officers were permitted to testify that, based upon their personal observations, it was their opinions that appellant was under the influence of alcohol to the extent that he was rendered a less safe driver. The trial court's refusal to sustain the objections to this opinion testimony is enumerated as error.

Although appellant concedes that it was permissible to allow the officers to testify to opinions that he was intoxicated, he urges that it was error to allow the officers to testify to opinions that the extent of his intoxication was such as to render him a less safe driver. It is clear, however, that "[a] witness who satisfactorily shows that he had opportunity to observe, and did observe, the condition of another, may testify whether that person was under the influence of intoxicants and the extent thereof, stating the facts upon which the opinion is based. [Cits.]" (Emphasis supplied.) Lawrence v. State, 157 Ga.App. 264(2), 277 S.E.2d 60 (1981). Appellant's further contention that testimony concerning the extent of his intoxication would be inadmissible as the expression of an opinion on the ultimate issue has likewise previously been rejected. See Fisher v. State, 177 Ga.App. 465(1), 339 S.E.2d 744 (1986). The trial court did not err in allowing the officers' opinions into evidence.

2. On October 24, 1988, appellant and his counsel signed a written waiver of the right to trial by jury. The case was specially set for trial on October 28, 1988. After the case was called for trial and the rule of sequestration had been invoked by appellant, the trial court heard and denied appellant's motion in limine. Only after the adverse ruling on his motion in limine did appellant seek to withdraw his waiver of jury trial. The State opposed the withdrawal. The trial court refused to allow appellant to withdraw his waiver of jury trial, finding that the case "was set specially for trial this afternoon at two o'clock. No request was made earlier ... to reinstitute the jury demand in the case. It's the Court's position that the [S]tate is ready at this time, all witnesses are present, apparently ready to go, and it appears the defense is also ready to go in the matter." Appellant enumerates as error the refusal to allow him to withdraw his waiver of jury trial.

" 'The right of trial by jury in criminal prosecutions is a great constitutional right of which the accused cannot be deprived except of his own accord. While he may voluntarily waive it, yet he may revoke such waiver by making timely application therefor. This right of revocation must be exercised in such season as not substantially to delay or impede the cause of justice.' [Cits.] ' "If the statute sets no time limit within which the demand (for jury trial)...