State v. Grabowski

• Decision Date: 26 June 2006
• Docket Number: MUNICIPAL APPEAL NO. 4600.
• Citation: 908 A.2d 861,388 N.J. Super. 431
• Parties: The STATE of New Jersey, Plaintiff, v. Ronald GRABOWSKI, Defendant.
• Court: New Jersey Superior Court

908 A.2d 861

388 N.J. Super. 431

The STATE of New Jersey, Plaintiff, v. Ronald GRABOWSKI, Defendant.

MUNICIPAL APPEAL NO. 4600.

Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Passaic County.

Decided June 26, 2006.

Jennifer Bedrin, Assistant County Prosecutor, for plaintiff (James F. Avigiliano, Passaic County Prosecutor).

Joel P. Bogorad, for defendant.

DELUCCIA, J.S.C.

The issue raised in this appeal is whether a defendant, having been convicted of a third or subsequent violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, may be sentenced to periodic imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2B:12-22 notwithstanding the provisions of Michael's Law (L. 2003, c. 315), which amended N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 and N.J.S.A. 39:4-51, and the ruling in State v. Luthe, 383 N.J.Super. 512, 892 A.2d 736 (App.Div. 2006). For the following reasons, this court concludes that periodic sentences authorized under N.J.S.A. 2B:12-22 are permitted dispositions for third and subsequent violations of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a)(3).

Defendant, appearing pro se, was found guilty by the Pompton Lakes Municipal Court for driving while intoxicated. Thereafter, continuing his self-representation, defendant appealed to the Superior Court, Law Division. The Law Division, at defendant's request, dismissed his appeal and remanded the matter to the municipal court for execution of judgment.

The defendant retained counsel to represent him at the remand hearing before the municipal court. His attorney unsuccessfully argued for the imposition of a periodic sentence in respect of the mandatory imprisonment required under the statute (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a)(3)) for third and subsequent offenders. The municipal court rejected defendant's arguments and sentenced defendant to ninety days in the county jail, ninety days of community service,¹ forty-eight hours in the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) and a ten-year loss of driver's privileges. Appropriate fines were also imposed. This represents the defendant's fourth conviction for violating N.J.S.A. 39:4-50. The matter is now before the Law Division upon defendant's appeal of the denial of his request for periodic incarceration.

The municipal court rejected defendant's request for periodic incarceration based upon the court's apparent, but mistaken, belief that the vicinage assignment judge had issued a "directive" prohibiting third and subsequent DWI offenders' admission into the Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program (SLAP), see N.J.S.A. 2B:19-5, or other "non-custodial" alternative programs. The municipal court apparently perceived that periodic sentences fell within the ambit of non-custodial sentences. Neither the parties' nor the court's independent research has uncovered the existence of any order or directive issued by the assignment judge of this vicinage prohibiting the sentencing of third and subsequent DWI offenders to non-custodial alternatives such as SLAP, work release or periodic sentences.

The court, however, is aware of a September 15, 2004, letter authored by the Honorable James J. Murner, Jr., Presiding Judge of the Municipal Courts in the Passaic vicinage, advising municipal court judges in this vicinage that the Conference of Presiding Judges of the Municipal Courts had reached a "consensus" that third-time DWI offenders were ineligible for SLAP sentences. Judge Murner's memorandum also stated that the Conference's "consensus" is in "full conformity" with the positions advanced by the Passaic Vicinage Assignment Judge and Criminal Presiding Judge.

The Appellate Division's decision in Luthe has resolved the issue as to whether SLAP, work release or other non-custodial alternatives are available for third and subsequent DWI offenders. That decision postdated the decision rendered by the municipal court in this case. To the extent, if at all, the municipal court relied upon Judge Murner's letter of September 15, 2004, as a "directive" to the municipal court judges of the Passaic vicinage in respect of their sentencing authority, such a directive would not be binding upon the various municipal courts or the Superior Court. See Booker v. N.J. State Parole Bd., 265 N.J.Super. 191, 199 n. 4, 625 A.2d 1153 (App.Div.1993) (noting that directives issued by the Administrative Office of the Courts have no substantive effect in the interpretation of statutes or prior case law). Moreover, any such directive issued in the absence of a controlling judicial precedent would be ultra vires. "The judiciary does not determine the punishment for crimes. That is up to the Legislature." State v. Cannon, 128 N.J. 546, 559-60, 608 A.2d 341 (1992).

Defendant argues that the municipal court's determination that the assignment judge's "directive" regarding sentencing options for third and subsequent DWI offenders supersedes the statutory authorization for periodic sentencing is erroneous. The State essentially agrees with defendant's position that the municipal court misapplied the law when it concluded that it lacked authority to allow periodic incarceration based upon the purported directive. Notwithstanding the apparent agreement between the parties as to their respective positions on the law, this court is nevertheless obligated to independently review the law and render its own conclusions. Stipulations as to law do not bind the court. State v. Elysee, 159 N.J.Super. 380, 384, 388 A.2d 254 (App.Div.1978).

In order to determine whether periodic imprisonment is authorized for third and subsequent DWI offenders, the court must analyze the statutes implicated. N.J.S.A. 2B:12-22 authorizes municipal courts to order a custodial sentence be served periodically on particular days rather than consecutively. This section was enacted as part of L. 1993 c. 293 and became effective February 15, 1994. The legislation repealed N.J.S.A. 2A:8-30.1, which statute previously permitted the imposition of periodic confinement for municipal court sentences of up to three months' duration. The subject section is part of a general law enacted concerning the establishment of the`municipal courts and providing for their operation. The statute does not limit its operation to particular offenses.

On the other hand, N.J.S.A. 39:4-51 is a specific legislative enactment addressing sentencing options and dispositions for persons convicted of violating our drunk driving laws, i.e. N.J.S.A. 39:4-50. On January 20, 2004 the Legislature enacted L. 2003, c. 315, which amended N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 and N.J.S.A. 39:4-51. The act, known as "Michael's Law," authorized significant changes with respect to sentencing options for third and subsequent offenders of our drunk driving statute. Prior to the enactment of Michael's Law, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a)(3) required third and subsequent offenders to

be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 180 days, except that the court may lower such term for each day, not exceeding 90 days, served performing community service in such form and on such terms as a court shall deem appropriate under the circumstances. ...

Michael's Law eliminated community service as a sentencing option for third and subsequent offenders. See State v.Luthe, supra, 383 N.J.Super. at 515, 892 A.2d 736.

Michael's Law also amended N.J.S.A. 39:4-51 which had authorized work release as a sentencing option for persons convicted of DWI. Previously, persons convicted of violating N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 were eligible to be released from the county jail or workhouse to a work release program in the discretion of the sentencing court. Michael's Law eliminated that option for third and subsequent offenders. Consequently, with the adoption of Michael's Law, the Legislature has limited authorized dispositions for persons convicted of third and subsequent offenses under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 to imprisonment for 180 days in the county jail or workhouse or up to 90 days in an inpatient rehabilitation program with the balance of the sentence to be served in confinement.

Prior to Michael's Law, N.J.S.A. 39:4-51 required that all persons convicted of DWI offenses not be released from imprisonment in the county jail or workhouse after commitment until their term of imprisonment had been served. Specifically, the statute provided:

no warden or other officer having custody of the county jail workhouse shall release there from a person so committed, unless the person has been released by the court on a work release program, until the sentence has been served. [N.J.S.A. 39:4-51]

This language remains unchanged by the amendments incorporated by Michael's Law. However, as it is presently enacted "[t]here can be no question but that the statute applies solely to `[a] person who has been convicted of a first or second violation of Section 39:4-50....'" State v. Luthe, supra, 383 N.J.Super. at 515, 892 A.2d 736.

N.J.S.A. 39:4-51 contains no corresponding requirement respecting third and subsequent offenders. Moreover, an examination of the other revisions enacted by Michael's Law, as they pertain to sentencing for third and subsequent offenders, does not reveal any analogous provisions relating to the sequencing of a custodial sentence.

This court concludes that the literal and plain language of N.J.S.A. 39:4-51 compels the conclusion that the requirement for continuous confinement to jail for violators of our drunk driving statute does not extend to third and subsequent offenders. Penal statutes that are open to more than one reasonable construction must be construed strictly against the State. State v. Solarski, 374 N.J.Super. 176, 180, 863 A.2d 1095 (App.Div.2005). To construe the statute to prohibit periodic sentencing for third and subsequent offenders would require more than judicial interpretation. It would require the court to re-write the statute entirely. The revisions to our drunk driving statutes affected by Michael's Law were substantial. Ordinarily, a change of statutory language implies a purposeful alteration in the substance of the law. DiProspero v. Penn, 183 N.J....