People v. Brown

• Decision Date: 28 October 1988
• Docket Number: No. 2-87-1142,2-87-1142
• Citation: 175 Ill.App.3d 676,530 N.E.2d 74,125 Ill.Dec. 156
• Parties: , 125 Ill.Dec. 156 The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Randy L. BROWN, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

Page 74

530 N.E.2d 74

175 Ill.App.3d 676, 125 Ill.Dec. 156

The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Randy L. BROWN, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 2-87-1142.

Appellate Court of Illinois Second District.

Oct. 28, 1988.

Rehearing Denied Nov. 21, 1988.

Cynthia R. Lyons (argued), Law Offices of Cynthia R. Lyons, Naperville, for Randy L. Brown.

James E. Ryan, DuPage County State's Atty., Wheaton, William L. Browers, Deputy Director, Martin P. Moltz, State's Attys. Appellate Prosecutor (argued), Elgin, for the People.

Justice INGLIS delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant was arrested on September 26, 1986, and charged with the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol pursuant to section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-501).

Prior to trial, the State went forward with a petition to revoke supervision with respect to defendant's prior 1985 DUI conviction. After a full evidentiary hearing as to the subsequent 1986 arrest, the trial court granted the State's petition to revoke supervision. Defendant appeals. We affirm.

On September 26, 1986, at approximately 3:50 in the morning, Naperville police officers Cunningham and Gustin were on routine patrol doing business checks at the Naperville Plaza Shopping Center. Officer Cunningham testified that his attention was drawn to defendant's vehicle because it had its parking lights on. The car was parked across from a drinking establishment called Benjamin's. When the officers approached the vehicle they noticed that the interior dash lights were on, that the radio was on, and that there were keys in the ignition. Defendant was slumped over the steering wheel on the driver's side of the car. The engine of the vehicle was not running. Officer Gustin had to shake defendant on his shoulder to wake him up. The officer observed that defendant had vomited on his clothing and also observed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on defendant's breath. When asked what he was doing there, defendant stated that he had fallen asleep. The officers administered field sobriety tests to defendant and, based on their opinion of defendant's demeanor and performance on the tests, arrested him for DUI. Officer Gustin stated that the key was in the on position and the dashboard lights were illuminated. Officer Gustin also testified that he put his hand on the hood of the car and it felt warm.

Defendant testified that at the time of the arrest, he was living with his parents, two blocks away from the shopping center. He further testified that he arrived at Benjamin's at approximately 10 p.m. the evening before the arrest. After about 45 minutes, defendant encountered Nancy Markham in the bar. He testified that during the time he was in the bar he played darts and had a few beers. He also testified that he left the bar with Nancy and went with her to Corporate Headquarters, a bar south of Naperville in Will County. Defendant testified that Nancy drove them in her car and that his car remained in the same place that he parked it when he arrived at Benjamin's earlier that evening. Defendant testified that he remained at Corporate Headquarters for about one hour, after which he and Nancy drove to Elmwood School parking lot where they talked for a while. Nancy then drove him back to his car, which had remained parked in Benjamin's parking lot. Defendant testified that he got out of his car, put his seat back, rolled down the windows, and then threw up. He testified that he decided not to drive and that he went to sleep after putting the seat in a reclining position. Defendant further testified that the windows in his car were electric and that the key is needed to operate the windows. Defendant also stated that he did not believe that the key was in the on position as the officer stated, but that it was in the accessory position.

Nancy Markham testified that she arrived at Benjamin's at approximately 8 p.m. that evening and stayed there until 1 a.m. when it closed. She testified that she then drove in her car with defendant to Corporate Headquarters outside of Naperville. She further testified that they stayed there approximately one half hour to an hour and that they then went to Elmwood School parking lot, where they talked for about 20 minutes. Markham testified that she then went back to Benjamin's and dropped defendant off by his car. Markham further stated that she never saw defendant operate his vehicle in any way that evening.

The parties stipulated that defendant was administered a breathalyzer test on September 26, 1986, and that the result of that test was .19.

The trial court found that the facts were sufficient to prove that defendant was in control of the vehicle by a preponderance of the evidence. The trial court then revoked defendant's supervision.

On appeal, defendant contends that to be convicted of DUI, defendant must be proved to have driven or attempted to drive. We disagree.

Section 11-501 states:

"A person shall not drive or be in...