Parrish v. Director of Revenue

• Decision Date: 23 November 1999
• Citation: Parrish v. Director of Revenue, 11 S.W.3d 652 (Mo. App. 1999)
• Parties: (Mo.App. E.D. 1999) . Wilma Lee Parrish, Respondent, v. Director of Revenue, State of Missouri, Appellant. Case Number: ED75805 Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Handdown Date:
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

11 S.W.3d 652 (Mo.App. E.D. 1999)

This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.

Wilma Lee Parrish, Respondent, v. Director of Revenue, State of Missouri, Appellant.

Case Number: ED75805

Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District

Handdown Date: 11/23/99

Appeal From: Circuit Court of Knox County, Hon. Garry D. Lewis

Counsel for Appellant: Evan J. Buchheim

Counsel for Respondent: Larry S. Phillips

Opinion Summary: The Director of Revenue (Director) appeals from the judgment reinstating the driving privileges of Wilma Lee Parrish (Driver) after Director revoked them pursuant to section 577.041, RSMo Cum. Supp. 1997.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

Division Four Holds: The trial court erred in reinstating the driving privileges of Driver because its judgment is against the weight of the evidence where the uncontradicted evidence showed the arresting officer had reasonable grounds to arrest Driver for driving while intoxicated, and Driver refused to take breathalyzer test.

Opinion Author: Mary K. Hoff, Judge

Opinion Vote: REVERSED AND REMANDED. Crandall, Jr., P.J., and Karohl, J., concur.

Opinion:

The Director of Revenue (Director) appeals from the judgment reinstating the driving privileges of Wilma Lee Parrish (Driver). We reverse and remand.

Director revoked the driving privileges of Driver pursuant to section 577.041, RSMo Cum. Supp. 1997. Driver then filed a petition for review with the circuit court. On January 5, 1999, the parties submitted the matter on the record and no hearing was held. Director filed certified records from the Department of Revenue. These records included the notice of revocation, Alcohol Influence Report and Missouri Driver Record of Driver. Driver offered no testimony or evidence.

The records offered by Director were certified by the custodian of records pursuant to section 302.312, RSMo, as exact duplicates of the originals lawfully filed or deposited with the Department of Revenue by the reporting agency. Officer Clair prepared the Alcohol Influence Report, which indicates that on July 16, 1998, at about 11:50 p.m., he observed Driver driving a 1989 white Ford F-150 and approaching the intersection of First and Reid in Edina. Driver failed to stop at the stop sign and proceeded south on First. Officer Clair pulled behind her and then observed her cross the center line about two feet into the northbound lanes. Clair pulled Driver over. While talking with her, Clair noticed a moderate odor of intoxicating beverage on and about her person. Her eyes were also watery and she swayed while walking.

Clair conducted two field sobriety tests. While performing the walk-and-turn test, Driver stopped while walking to steady herself, did not touch her heel to toe and lost her balance. On the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, Clair noted she had no smooth pursuit in either eye and had distinct nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes. In addition, the officer noted the onset before 45 degrees with some white showing in both eyes. Based on her performance on the field sobriety tests, Clair placed her under arrest for driving while intoxicated.

Clair transported Driver to the Knox County Sheriff's office for a breathalyzer test. He advised her of her Miranda warnings. He then advised her of the Missouri Implied Consent Law, informing her that she had been arrested for driving while intoxicated and he was requesting that she submit to a chemical test of her breath. Clair also informed her that if she refused to take the test, her driver's license would be revoked for one year and evidence of her refusal could be used against her in a court of law. At that time, Driver refused to take the breathalyzer test.

After the matter was submitted on the record, the circuit court issued a judgment reinstating the driving privileges of Driver. The court found Director had failed to prove the arresting officer had reasonable grounds to believe Driver was driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated and further failed to prove that she refused to submit to a chemical test. Director appeals.

On appeal, Director contends the trial court erred in reinstating Driver's driving privileges because its decision was against the weight of the evidence. Director argues that it proved a prima facie case supporting the revocation of Driver's driving privileges, while Driver offered no rebuttal evidence. Driver has filed no respondent's brief with this Court. While there is no requirement that a respondent file a brief, Driver's failure leaves us without the benefit of her...