People v. Bennett

• Citation: 189 Cal.Rptr. 77,139 Cal.App.3d 767
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Calvin E. BENNETT, Defendant and Appellant. A017183.
• Decision Date: 09 February 1983
• Court: California Court of Appeals

Page 77

189 Cal.Rptr. 77

139 Cal.App.3d 767

PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Calvin E. BENNETT, Defendant and Appellant.

A017183.

Court of Appeal, First District, Division 1, California.

Feb. 9, 1983.

George Deukmejian, Atty. Gen., Robert H. Philibosian, Chief Asst. Atty. Gen., William D. Stein, Asst. Atty. Gen., Thomas A. Brady, Mark S. Howell, Deputy Attys. Gen., San Francisco, for plaintiff and respondent.

LeRue Grim, San Francisco, for defendant and appellant.

ELKINGTON, Associate Justice.

Defendant Bennett pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cocaine (Health & Saf.Code, § 11350), a felony, and driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs (Veh.Code, § 23102, subd. (a)), a misdemeanor. Imposition of judgment was suspended and he was placed upon conditional probation. He appeals from the order granting probation, which he terms "judgment" in his notice of appeal. His only appellate contention is that the trial court erroneously denied his motion to suppress certain evidence, claimed to be the fruit of his unlawful detention and arrest, on his Penal Code section 1538.5 suppression hearing.

For reasons as follow we find no merit in the contention and affirm the judgment.

A highway patrol officer at about 2:30 o'clock one morning observed an automobile traveling upon a freeway in such a manner as to swing "into the south guard rail and [swing] back to prevent the vehicle from striking the wall." The car then "crossed three lanes accelerating to 70 miles per hour"; and passed many other automobiles. As it continued, it was "weaving" on both sides of a lane marker. It continued to be so driven for about one and a half miles, whereupon its driver was ordered to, and did, turn onto an off ramp. Upon being stopped a short distance beyond that point the car's driver, who was defendant Bennett, emerged from it. As he "stood up he stumbled back into the open car door." Asking for his driver's license, the officer observed a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot watery eyes, and slurred speech. The officer "explained" Bennett's violation to him and told him why he had been stopped. And a field sobriety test was then conducted.

The field sobriety test, as explained by the officer consisted of the following: " The subject is requested to stand erect with his heels and toes right tight together. He is asked to leave his arms at his sides, lean his head back and shot [sic 'shut'?] his eyes and stay in position approximately ten or 15 seconds.... The subject is requested to just stand with one foot raised off the ground and then repeat it with the other foot raised off the ground.... The subject is requested to just place one foot right directly in front of the other foot touching heel to toe.... The fourth test was walking heel to toe.... It's basically the same as standing heel to toe with the difference you take steps each time placing one foot in front of the other touching heel to toe as you walk a straight line.... The last test, No. 5, was the hand pat.... The subject is requested to use whatever hand he feels most comfortable with and strike with the palm down, lift, turn and strike the back of his hand, and keep repeating the test and building up his speed...."

Bennett "flunked" all but the first of the five tests. He was not until then placed under arrest, for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, in violation of Vehicle Code section 23102, subdivision (a).

Bennett makes no contention that he was arrested, following the field sobriety tests, on less than probable cause. He argues instead that the highway patrol officer's detention of him and administration of the tests, before his arrest on probable cause, was proscribed by the Fourth Amendment.

Closely apposite to the contention, we think, is the wise and timely comment of Chief Justice Traynor in People v. Sudduth, 65 Cal.2d 543, 546, 55 Cal.Rptr. 393, 421 P.2d 401: "In a day when excessive loss of life and property is caused by inebriated drivers, an imperative need exists for a fair, efficient, and accurate system of detection, enforcement and, hence, prevention.... A wrongful refusal to cooperate with law enforcement officers does not qualify for such protection. A refusal that might operate to suppress evidence of intoxication, which disappears rapidly with the passage of time ... should not be encouraged as a device to escape prosecution."

A like contention was made by the defendant in Whalen v. Municipal Court, 274 Cal.App.2d 809, 79 Cal.Rptr. 523. We quote at length from the Court of Appeal's opinion (pp. 811-812, 79 Cal.Rptr. 523) of that case:

"Defendant contends that the evidence obtained from the field sobriety tests should be suppressed because it violates both the privilege against self-incrimination of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and the right to counsel as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. These contentions are interrelated and must be considered together.

"Our initial inquiry must be directed to whether the evidence secured as a result of field sobriety tests is the type which the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is designed to protect. As stated in Miranda v. Arizona, supra, 384 U.S. at page 439 [86 S.Ct. 1602 at p. 1609, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 at p. 704], '[W]e deal with the admissibility of statements obtained from an individual who is subjected to custodial police interrogation and the necessity for procedures which assure that the individual is accorded his privilege under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution not to be compelled to incriminate himself.' (Italics added.) When discussing the type of evidence which the Fifth Amendment protects, courts have repeatedly distinguished between 'testimonial' and 'physical' evidence. (See Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757 [86 S.Ct. 1826, 16 L.Ed.2d 908], involving chemical blood tests; People v. Ellis, 65 Cal.2d 529 [55 Cal.Rptr. 385, 421 P.2d 393], involving voice identification; People v. Sudduth, 65 Cal.2d 543 [55 Cal.Rptr. 393, 421 P.2d 401], involving breathalyzer test; People v. Graves, 64 Cal.2d 208 [49 Cal.Rptr. 386, 411 P.2d 114],...