State v. Ransom

• Decision Date: 26 May 1981
• Docket Number: No. 65396,65396
• Citation: 309 N.W.2d 156
• Parties: STATE of Iowa, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. James John RANSOM, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: Iowa Court of Appeals

Page 156

309 N.W.2d 156

STATE of Iowa, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. James John RANSOM, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 65396.

Court of Appeals of Iowa.

May 26, 1981.

Thomas J. Miller, Atty. Gen., and Thomas N. Martin, Asst. Atty. Gen., for plaintiff-appellant.

Chris Odell, Appellate Defender Office, Des Moines, for defendant-appellee.

Submitted to OXBERGER, C. J., and DONIELSON, SNELL, CARTER and JOHNSON, JJ.

JOHNSON, Judge.

Plaintiff, State of Iowa, brings this interlocutory appeal for review of trial court's order suppressing evidence of certain blood test results in a prosecution for involuntary manslaughter arising out of defendant, James John Ransom's, operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The State asserts that the requirements of chapter 321B, The Code 1979, which constituted the basis of trial court's order, do not apply when a defendant is not arrested or charged with OMVUI. We reverse and remand to trial court.

On November 21, 1979, an automobile driven by defendant collided with a bicycle, killing the cyclist. Defendant was asked to accompany an officer to a patrol vehicle where, after a short time, he was advised of his Miranda rights and asked if he would submit to a "routine" blood test. Defendant consented to the blood test and was transported to the hospital where a blood sample was taken. Defendant had not been placed under arrest for OMVUI or any other public offense. Although the hospital personnel attempted to comply with the procedures under chapter 321B, the officers insisted that the sample was to be taken without compliance because it was a medical rather than a legal specimen. The officers made no written request from defendant and gave no explanation of the consequences of refusal.

On December 26, 1979, defendant was charged by county attorney's information with involuntary manslaughter in violation of section 707.5(1), The Code 1979. On February 14, 1980, defendant filed a motion to suppress the blood test results, alleging that the blood sample was not taken voluntarily. After a hearing trial court found defendant's consent was voluntary and overruled the motion. On June 2, 1980, defendant filed a second motion to suppress and a motion in limine, alleging that chapter 321B was applicable to this case and that the procedures had not been followed. This issue was submitted to trial court on the transcript of the first suppression hearing. Trial court sustained defendant's motions, ruling that chapter 321B was applicable, that the procedures had not been followed, and that defendant had not voluntarily, freely and knowingly waived his right to have the statutory procedures followed. The supreme court granted the State's application for discretionary review on August 22, 1980.

I. Scope of Review. Our review in this matter is limited to correction of errors at law only. Iowa R.App.P. 4 II. Applicability of Chapter 321B. The State asserts that the provisions of chapter 321B, The Code, do not apply where the defendant motor vehicle operator is not arrested and consents, after oral request, to the taking of a blood sample. Defendant, on the other hand, alleges that the statutory provisions apply when a peace officer requests the operator to submit to a blood test, unless the statutory requirements are knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived. There is no dispute that the statutory provisions of chapter 321B were not followed in this case.

We first note that the requirements of chapter 321B have no application outside 321B circumstances. Henkel v. Heri, 274 N.W.2d 317, 320-322 (Iowa 1979). The Iowa Supreme Court has established an alternative foundational showing for those civil and criminal actions outside the scope of that chapter. (emphasis added). Id. at 322. Although the supreme court has found that civil actions wherein the intoxication of a motor vehicle driver is at issue are outside the scope of 321B, Henkel, 274 N.W.2d at 320, there are no reported cases definitively establishing what criminal actions are similarly outside the scope of 321B. But see e. g., State v. Davis, 269 N.W.2d 434, 441 (Iowa 1978), and State v. Petersen, 219 N.W.2d 665 (Iowa 1974) (motor vehicles not involved). We do not believe the supreme court's agreement with defendant's assertion in Henkel ("that the foundational requirements of chapter 321B should not be applied beyond the prosecution of individuals for operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated state" Henkel, 274 N.W.2d at 319) provides a sufficient basis with which to base our decision in this case because that case involved prosecution of a civil action for wrongful death. Nor do we believe State v. Boner, 186 N.W.2d 161 (Iowa 1971), controls here because that case, although involving a trial for involuntary manslaughter, fell within the exception of section 321B.5. We conclude, however, that the facts of this case place it outside the scope of 321B.

The purpose of chapter 321B is "to aid the enforcement of laws prohibiting operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of an alcoholic beverage." § 321B.1, The Code 1981; see also State v. Hitchens, 294 N.W.2d 686, 687 (Iowa 1980). To effect this purpose, "the statute establishes the basic principle that a driver impliedly agrees to submit to a test in return for the privilege of using the public highways ...," id. citing State v. Jensen, 216 N.W.2d 369, 373 (Iowa 1974), and "provides authority to take blood tests when a person is suspected of driving while intoxicated ....' " Henkel, 274 N.W.2d at 320, quoting Lessenhop v. Norton, 261 Iowa 44, 52, 153 N.W.2d 107, 112 (1967). "Briefly summarized The Implied Consent Law provides that when a person has been placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating beverage, a blood or other chemical test ... may be demanded by written request of a peace officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person guilty of that offense." (emphasis added). State v. Wallin, 195 N.W.2d 95, 96-97 (Iowa 1972). The court further stated in State v. Young, 232 N.W.2d 535, 537 (Iowa 1975), that "(i)t is apparent chapter 321B procedures relate almost exclusively to the post-arrest withdrawal and testing of body specimens...." (emphasis added). Thus, except for those situations enumerated in section 321B.5 wherein the arrest requirement is obviated, ¹ we conclude that a peace officer must place a defendant under arrest for OMVUI before the procedures of chapter 321B are mandatory.

As a result of this conclusion, we must address defendant's assertion that he was functionally under arrest because he was in the custody of the police and had been given his Miranda rights. We do not agree. Although section 804.5 defines arrest as "the taking of a person into custody when and in the manner...