City of Seattle v. Rainwater, 43722

• Decision Date: 26 February 1976
• Docket Number: No. 43722,43722
• Parties: The CITY OF SEATTLE, Respondent, v. Henry Lorence RAINWATER, Appellant.
• Court: Washington Supreme Court

Page 567

86 Wn.2d 567

546 P.2d 450

The CITY OF SEATTLE, Respondent, v. Henry Lorence RAINWATER, Appellant.

No. 43722.

Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc.

Feb. 26, 1976.

Peter Berzins, Seattle-King County Public Defender, Robert C. Boruchowitz, Seattle, for appellant.

John P. Harris, Corp. Counsel, Walter L. Williams, Asst. Corp. Counsel, Seattle, for respondent.

FINLEY, Associate Justice.

This criminal appeal was certified to this court by the Court of Appeals and we accepted it for review. The appellant, Henry L. Rainwater, was tried before a judge of the Municipal Court of Seattle and found guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor (Seattle Code § 21.26.020) count 1, and of negligent driving (Seattle Code § 21.26.130) count 2. On appeal de novo to the King County Superior Court, appellant again was found guilty of both charges by a jury. Sentences imposed by the court were as follows: $200 fine and 5 days in jail on the charge of driving under the influence, with $150 and the 5 days in jail suspended, and $25 fine suspended on the negligent driving charge.

In this appeal, appellant claims (1) that a chemical breath test was given improperly by arresting police officers and the result should not have been admitted into evidence against him, and (2) that the trial court erred in giving instruction No. 6, Infra, and in refusing instructions Nos. 3, 8 and 10, Infra, offered in behalf of appellant. We find no error and affirm the trial court.

On February 2, 1974, Seattle Police Officers C. D. Winther and R. J. Rispoli were dispatched to investigate an accident in a parking lot adjacent to an Arco Service Station located in south Seattle. The officers observed three damaged vehicles in the parking lot at the filling station. Investigation revealed that appellant had attempted to drive between two rows of cars which were waiting in line for gasoline. His car had struck a lamp post, a pickup truck's left front fender, and the rear of a Lincoln Continental. Upon observing appellant's appearance and physical condition, the officers asked him to perform several field sobriety tests. Failing these tests, he was arrested, advised of his Miranda rights, and transported to the Georgetown precinct. He again was advised of his Miranda rights and was requested to take a chemical breath test. He consented. The chemical breath test was administered and recorded a reading of 0.18 percent. ¹ Appellant raises no issue regarding his conviction for Negligent driving.

Pursuant to RCW 46.61.506, the state toxicologist, in WAC 448--12--020, approved 11 steps that should be followed in administering a chemical breath test. Prior to 1972, only step 10 of the testing procedure required a 1 1/2 minute waiting period during the operation of the machine. In 1972, WAC 448--12--020 was revised to require an additional 1 1/2 minute waiting period during step 7 because a new and somewhat different Breathalyzer machine, model No. 900A, had been developed and was being sold.

In the instant case, Seattle police used an older model 900 Breathalyzer machine. That model does not have the automatic timing device that the newer model 900A has and which requires the operator to wait a 1 1/2 minute period in both steps 7 and 10. In step No. 7, the machine is flushed out with room air to remove any air from a previous test. After the 900A machine is flushed with room air, the timing device is automatically activated and prevents the operator of the machine from going on to the next step for 1 1/2 minutes. A 1 1/2 minute waiting cycle is automatically repeated in step 10. The automatic timing device installed in the model 900A was designed basically to insure that the sample of alveolar air taken from the subject had sufficient time to react with the chemical solution in the ampule. The subject blows into the machine and the air is forced through a test ampule containing a chemical solution. Any alcohol present in the breath sample reacts with the solution in the test ampule, thereby causing a change in the color of the solution. The change in color is measured by photoelectric cells, and a reading may be obtained from a galvanometer which reflects the percentage of alcohol in the subject's blood. State v. Baker, 56 Wash.2d 846, 851--52, 355 P.2d 806 (1960).

Officers Peterson and Schusster, Breathalyzer technicians, testified that the 1 1/2 minute waiting period at step 7 is not necessary and would have no effect upon an accurate reading. Because at this point the machine has been purged and is without traces of alcohol, no chemical reaction could occur. On the other hand, a chemical reaction takes place in step 10. There the alcohol in the breath sample and the chemical solution in the ampule react and the failure to wait the prescribed 1 1/2 minute period possibly could result in a lower reading which would Favor the individual taking the breath test.

Officer Rispoli testified that he completed all of the steps required in the operation of the model 900 machine. Officer Peterson testified that he tested the machine used to administer the test to appellant on February 2 and February 14 and that it was in good order and operating properly. We are convinced that there is no merit to the contention that the Breathalyzer machine was operated improperly in a manner prejudicial to the appellant.

In addition to the chemical breath test, there was ample testimony and evidence by Officer Rispoli and other witnesses to sustain the finding of the jury that appellant was guilty of the charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

In appellant's second assignment of error, it is argued that the trial court erred in giving instruction No. 6 ² and in failing to give proposed instructions 3, 8 and 10. ³

CrR 6.15(c) provides, in part:

The party objecting shall state the reasons for his objection, specifying the number, paragraph, and particular part of the instruction to be given or refused.

It has been stated many times that the purpose of the rule is to afford the trial court an opportunity to know and clearly understand the nature of the objection to the giving or refusing of an instruction in order that the trial court may have the opportunity to correct any error. State v. Louis, 68 Wash.2d 304, 311--12, 413 P.2d 7 (1966); Dravo Corp. v. L. W. Moses Co., 6 Wash.App. 74, 83, 492 P.2d 1058 (1971). See State v. Scherer, 77 Wash.2d 345, 352, 462 P.2d 549 (1969). In the instant case, the trial court was not advised...