State Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles v. Padilla, 93-1710

• Decision Date: 02 November 1993
• Docket Number: No. 93-1710,93-1710
• Citation: 629 So.2d 180
• Parties: 18 Fla. L. Weekly D2331 STATE of Florida, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY & MOTOR VEHICLES, Petitioner, v. Sheryl PADILLA, Respondent.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

Page 180

629 So.2d 180

18 Fla. L. Weekly D2331

STATE of Florida, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY & MOTOR VEHICLES, Petitioner, v. Sheryl PADILLA, Respondent.

No. 93-1710.

District Court of Appeal of Florida,

Third District.

Nov. 2, 1993.

Rehearing Denied Jan. 18, 1994.

Rafael E. Madrigal, Miami, for petitioner.

Essen & Essen and Nancy C. Wear, North Miami Beach, for respondent.

Before NESBITT, JORGENSON and GERSTEN, JJ.

NESBITT, Judge.

In July 1992, a hearing officer sustained the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Bureau of Driver Improvement (the Department) administrative suspension of Sheryl Padilla's driver's license under section 322.2615, Florida Statutes (1991). Padilla petitioned the circuit court appellate division for a writ of certiorari to review the order. Finding a failure of proof at the administrative hearing, the circuit court appellate division granted the writ and directed the Department to vacate the suspension. The Department here requests this court to issue a writ of certiorari and to quash the lower court's order. The jurisdiction of this court is invoked pursuant to Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.030(b)(2) and 9.100. We grant the petition for writ of certiorari and quash the order of the circuit court and order the administrative suspension of Padilla's driving privilege reinstated.

Section 322.2615(2), Florida Statutes (1991) requires "an affidavit stating the officer's grounds for belief that the person arrested was in violation of section 316.193." Below, Padilla challenged the competency of the evidence received proving the requirement in section 322.2615(7)(b)1, "[w]hether the arresting law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe that the person driving was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances." The proof of probable cause in the instant case consisted of the arresting officer's written statement to which he swore, "The above statement is correct and true to the best of my knowledge and belief." There is no evidence to dispute that the affiant was fully and properly sworn before an authorized attesting officer.

Section 92.525 states, in part, as follows:

(1) When it is authorized or required by law, by rule of an administrative agency, or by rule or order of court that a document be verified by a person, the verification may be accomplished in the following manner: (a) Under oath or affirmation taken or administered before an officer authorized under s. 92.50 to administer oaths; or (b) By the signing of the written declaration prescribed in subsection 2.

(2) A written declaration means the following statement: "Under penalties of perjury, I...