People v. Einset, Docket No. 88599

Decision Date14 May 1987
Docket NumberDocket No. 88599
Citation405 N.W.2d 123,158 Mich.App. 608
PartiesPEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Karl Olav EINSET, Defendant-Appellee. 158 Mich.App. 608, 405 N.W.2d 123
CourtCourt of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

[158 MICHAPP 609] Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Louis J. Caruso, Sol. Gen., Paul L. Maloney, Pros. Atty., and Brian S. Berger, Asst. Prosecutor, for the People.

Butzbaugh & Ehrenberg by Ellen W. Butzbaugh, St. Joseph, for defendant-appellee.

Before MacKENZIE, P.J., and T.M. BURNS and JOSLYN, * JJ.

PER CURIAM.

The people appeal by leave granted from a circuit court order dismissing the charge against defendant Karl Einset of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor, contrary to M.C.L. Sec. 257.625; M.S.A. Sec. 9.2325. The sole issue before us is whether M.C.L. Sec. 257.625a; M.S.A. Sec. 9.2325(1) requires police officers to inform a defendant arrested for OUIL that he has an unconditional right to obtain a blood-alcohol level test administered by a person of the defendant's own choice. The circuit court held, as defendant maintained, that the right to an independent blood-alcohol test does not depend upon whether an accused first submits to the test requested by a police officer. We reverse.

On January 18, 1984, Einset was arrested by Michigan State Police troopers for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor. Defendant was transported to the state police post, where he was informed of his chemical test rights by the arresting officer. The pertinent recitation of rights, taken from a standard form, was:

"After taking a chemical test administered at the request of a peace officer, you have a right to [158 MICHAPP 610] demand that a person of your own choosing administer a breath, blood or urine test. You are responsible for obtaining a chemical analysis of a test sample taken by a person of your own choosing."

The officer asked Einset to submit to a Breathalyzer test. Apparently, Einset declined, and no chemical tests were administered.

Defendant first raised his claim of improper advice of rights before the district court. His motion to dismiss was denied, and he obtained leave to appeal to the circuit court. Following the circuit court's grant of defendant's motion to dismiss on appeal, we granted leave to appeal to this Court.

M.C.L. Sec. 257.625a; M.S.A. Sec. 9.2325(1) sets forth the presumptions afforded to blood-alcohol level tests, and regulates the conditions under which the tests may be administered. The crux of this case is found in subsection (5), which provides:

"The tests shall be administered at the request of a peace officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person has committed a crime described in subsection (1). A person who takes a chemical test administered at the request of a peace officer, as provided in this section, shall be given a reasonable opportunity to have a person of his or her own choosing administer 1 of the chemical tests described in this section within a reasonable time after his or her detention, and the results of the test shall be admissible and shall be considered with other competent evidence in determining the innocence or guilt of the defendant. If the person charged is administered a chemical test by a person of his or her own choosing, the person charged shall be responsible for obtaining a chemical analysis of the test sample. The person charged shall be informed that he or she has the right to demand that a person of his or her choosing administer 1 of the tests provided for in subsection (1), [158 MICHAPP 611] that the results of the test shall be admissible and shall be considered with other competent evidence in determining the innocence or guilt of the defendant, and that the person charged shall be responsible for obtaining a chemical analysis of the test sample."

Defendant and the circuit court focused upon the last sentence of subsection 5, which contains no conditional language regarding a defendant's right to an independent test, to conclude that the right to an independent test is unconditional. Since the chemical test rights related to Einset indicated that the right to an independent test was conditional, the circuit court held that Einset had been improperly deprived of the opportunity to obtain exculpatory evidence.

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4 cases
  • People v. Hawkins, Docket No. 116268
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • November 21, 1989
    ...The primary goal of judicial interpretation of statutes is to give effect to the intent of the Legislature. People v. Einset, 158 Mich.App. 608, 611, 405 N.W.2d 123 (1987), lv. den. 428 Mich. 893 (1987). The first criterion is the specific language of the statute. Id. M.C.L. Sec. 257.625(1)......
  • People v. Dewey
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • November 23, 1988
    ...was conditioned upon the taking of a chemical test administered at the request of police officers. Similarly, in People v. Einset, 158 Mich.App. 608, 612, 405 N.W.2d 123 (1987), lv.den. 428 Mich. 893 (1987), this Court held that the statute, as amended, makes the right to an "independent" t......
  • People v. Tipolt, Docket No. 145290
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • January 19, 1993
    ...The primary goal of judicial interpretation of statutes is to give effect to the intent of the Legislature. People v. Einset, 158 Mich.App. 608, 611, 405 N.W.2d 123 (1987). Rule 325.2653 provides the Rule 3. (1) An evidential breath alcohol test instrument shall be verified for accuracy at ......
  • Pietroczewski v. Auto Club Ins. Ass'n, Docket No. 100264
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • February 1, 1989
    ...period, whether this is thirty days or any lesser period. Moreover, a statutory provision must be read as a whole. People v. Einset, 158 Mich.App. 608, 405 N.W.2d 123 (1987). The last phrase of the section indicates that the Legislature was not concerned with a calculated maximum based sole......

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