Dawson v. Austin, Docket No. 13167

• Decision Date: 17 January 1973
• Docket Number: Docket No. 13167,No. 1,1
• Citation: 205 N.W.2d 299,44 Mich.App. 390
• Parties: Herman Jean DAWSON, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Richard H. AUSTIN, Secretary of State, Defendant-Appellant
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 299

205 N.W.2d 299

44 Mich.App. 390

Herman Jean DAWSON, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Richard H. AUSTIN, Secretary of State, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 13167.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 1.

Jan. 17, 1973.

Released for Publication March 27, 1973.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Theresa Doss, Asst. Atty. Gen., for defendant-appellant.

Melvyn J. Kates, Detroit, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before V. J. BRENNAN, P.J., and LEVIN and O'HARA, ^* JJ.

V. J. BRENNAN, Presiding Judge.

On July 2, 1970, an officer of the Detroit Police Department placed the plaintiff, Herman Jean Dawson, under arrest for drunken driving following the officer's investigation of a traffic accident. Mr. Dawson, the plaintiff herein, refused to take a breath test after being informed of the consequences of such refusal. The arresting officer then filled out a report on a form furnished by the Department of State for this purpose. (See M.C.L.A. § 257.625d; M.S.A. § 9.2325(4).) The officer signed the report and handed it to a Detroit police sergeant who signed it as 'clerk of record'. The officer did not, however, raise his right hand and sewear to the authenticity of the information in the report.

The report of the plaintiff's refusal to take the breach test was then forwarded to the Secretary of State who promptly began to take the steps necessary to suspend the plaintiff's operator's license. Plaintiff requested and was granted a hearing before the License Appeal Board, at which time it was determined that plaintiff's license should be suspended for 90 days.

Plaintiff appealed to the Wayne County Circuit Court, and a judge thereof held that the fact that the police officer did not swear to the report renders the entire proceeding before the License Appeal Board invalid. Defendant Secretary of State now appeals to this Court and raises only one issue: Does the failure of the police officer to raise his right hand and 'solemnly swear' render the suspension of the plaintiff's license by the License Appeal Board invalid?

As the trial court observed in its well-reasoned opinion, the statutes involved herein clearly and unequivocally require the police officer's report to be sworn.

'A person under arrest shall be advised of his right to refuse to submit to chemical tests; and if he refuses the request of a law enforcement officer to submit to chemical tests, no test shall be given. A Sworn report shall be forwarded to the department by the law enforcement officer * * *.' (Emphasis Added.) M.C.L.A. § 257.625d; M.S.A. § 9.2325(4).

'Upon receipt of the Sworn statement, the department shall immediately notify the person in writing, mailed to his last known address, that the Sworn statement has been received and that within 14 days of the date of the notice he may request a hearing * * *.' (Emphasis Added.) M.C.L.A. § 257.625e; M.S.A. § 9.2325(5).

The court also noted that the proper form for taking the necessary oath is prescribed by statute:

'The usual mode of administrating oaths now practiced in this state, by the person who swears holding up the right hand, shall be observed in all cases in which an oath may be administered by law except in the cases herein otherwise provided. The oath should commence, 'You do solemnly swear or affirm'.' M.C.L.A. §...