Town of Grand Chute v. Kowalewski

• Decision Date: 20 September 2016
• Docket Number: No. 2015AP1788.,2015AP1788.
• Citation: 888 N.W.2d 23 (Table),372 Wis.2d 185
• Parties: TOWN OF GRAND CHUTE, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. Shelley L. KOWALEWSKI, Defendant–Appellant.
• Court: Wisconsin Court of Appeals

372 Wis.2d 185

888 N.W.2d 23 (Table)

TOWN OF GRAND CHUTE, Plaintiff–Respondent,

v.Shelley L. KOWALEWSKI, Defendant–Appellant.

No. 2015AP1788.

Court of Appeals of Wisconsin.

Sept. 20, 2016.

¶ 1 HRUZ, J.¹

Shelley Kowalewski appeals an order adjudging her guilty of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant (OWI) and operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration (PAC), both as a first offense.² She also appeals an order denying her motion to suppress evidence. Kowalewski contends the police lacked both reasonable suspicion and probable cause to initiate a traffic stop of her vehicle, such that the stop represented an unconstitutional seizure. Because we conclude that, at the time of the stop, the police had probable cause to believe that Kowalewski had committed a traffic violation, we affirm the circuit court.

BACKGROUND

¶ 2 The relevant facts are taken primarily from the May 15, 2014 hearing on Kowalewski's motion to suppress. Town of Grand Chute police officer Shawn Enneper testified that in the early hours of January 27, 2013, he was working patrol duties in his marked squad car. As he was traveling westbound on West College Avenue, he observed Kowalewski's vehicle ahead of him. Enneper testified the time was approximately 2:30 a.m., and there was normally "bar traffic" proceeding through the Town at that time.

¶ 3 While Enneper could not remember the distance he was behind Kowalewski's vehicle, he testified that her driving behavior initially drew his attention because the vehicle was drifting within its lane of traffic. Based on that observation, Enneper activated the mobile camera in his squad car. According to Enneper, he saw both the front and rear passenger tires on the vehicle touch the dotted white lane line separating lane one and lane two on College Avenue.³ He also testified "he believed that he observed that [touching] another time as well." As the vehicle approached State Highway 41, the driver maneuvered the vehicle into the turn lane in order to turn southbound onto the highway, but the driver, later identified as Kowalewski, entered the turn lane without activating the vehicle's directional signal. Also, as the vehicle pulled into the turn lane, its passenger-side tires touched the solid white lines separating the turn lane from lane one. At that point, Enneper activated his overhead emergency lights and stopped Kowalewski's vehicle.⁴

¶ 4 On cross-examination, Kowalewski's counsel played Enneper's squad video. Enneper acknowledged that, besides his and Kowalewski's vehicles, there were no other vehicles on the road when Kowalewski moved into the turn lane for the southbound Highway 41 ramp. As to Kowalewski's failure to use her turn signal while changing lanes, Enneper was traveling to the rear of her vehicle, and he testified that Kowalewski should have recognized his vehicle located behind her. Enneper further acknowledged that the video accurately represented what he observed that night.

¶ 5 In summarizing his reasons for stopping Kowalewski's vehicle, Enneper testified he considered "the totality of the circumstances." Specifically, in addition to the aforementioned observations, he took into account that it was 2:30 in the morning on a weekend night. According to Enneper, "Being a Saturday evening, Sunday morning, Saturdays in downtown Appleton are typically a heavy restaurant or bar crowd, and the fact it was near that closing time of those businesses, 2:30 in the morning."

¶ 6 Kowalewski was arrested and charged with OWI and PAC, contrary to WIS. STAT. § 346.63(1)(a) and (b), respectively, both as first offenses. Appearing before the Town of Grand Chute Municipal Court, Kowalewski entered a not-guilty plea to both charges and simultaneously filed a motion for suppression of evidence, challenging the lawfulness of the traffic stop. On August 21, 2013, a hearing on the motion to suppress and a trial to the municipal court were held. The municipal court orally denied Kowalewski's motion and then found her guilty of both charges.

¶ 7 On September 5, 2013, Kowalewski appealed to the Outagamie County Circuit Court, and later refiled her motion to suppress.⁵ The motion was heard on May 5, 2014. The Town argued Enneper was justified in initiating the stop based solely on his observation of Kowalewski failing to use her turn signal when entering the turn lane, as a violation of WIS. STAT. § 346.34. It further argued the evidence presented was sufficient to establish reasonable suspicion to stop Kowalewski's vehicle to investigate a possible OWI offense. Kowalewski argued she did not commit any traffic violation, including a violation of § 346.34, and Enneper did not have the requisite level of suspicion that she was operating while intoxicated in order to lawfully stop her vehicle.

¶ 8 The circuit court found credible Enneper's testimony regarding the bases for the stop, including Enneper's statement regarding his understanding of the statute governing the use of turn signals. It also concluded Enneper had a reasonable basis to believe Kowalewski committed a traffic law violation with respect to failure to use a turn signal when she entered the turn lane. The court further concluded, "as a secondary basis," that Enneper articulated sufficient facts to support the stop, apparently on the basis that Enneper had reasonable suspicion of an OWI offense being committed. These facts included the "two to three lane deviations" Enneper observed, the day of the week and time of day, and Enneper's training and experience. The court thus denied Kowalewski's motion to suppress, and a written order to that effect was later filed.

¶ 9 The circuit court subsequently held a bench trial, which was based largely on numerous stipulations by the parties. The circuit court found Kowalewski guilty of both charges, and a final written order of guilt was entered on July 13, 2015.⁶ Kowalewski now appeals.

DISCUSSION

¶ 10 Kowalewski argues Enneper had neither probable cause to believe that she had committed a traffic violation nor reasonable suspicion that she was operating while intoxicated in order to lawfully stop her vehicle to investigate that suspicion. Because we conclude Enneper lawfully stopped the vehicle based upon his conclusion a traffic law violation had occurred, we need not address whether Enneper possessed reasonable suspicion to believe Kowalewski was operating while intoxicated. See Sweet v. Berge, 113 Wis.2d 61, 67, 334 N.W.2d 559 (Ct.App.1983) (holding that appellate courts need not address other issues when one issue is dispositive of the appeal).

¶ 11 Review of an order granting or denying a motion to suppress evidence, including one based on the reasonableness of a traffic stop, is a question of constitutional fact involving a two-step standard of review. See State v. Post, 2007 WI 60, ¶ 8, 301 Wis.2d 1, 733 N.W.2d 634 ; State v. Hughes, 2000 WI 24, ¶ 15, 233 Wis.2d 280, 607 N.W.2d 621. First, we uphold the circuit court's findings of fact unless they are clearly erroneous. Post, 301 Wis.2d 1, ¶ 8, 733 N.W.2d 634 ; Hughes, 233 Wis.2d 280, ¶ 15, 607 N.W.2d 621. When, as here, "evidence in the record consists of disputed testimony and a video recording, we will apply the clearly erroneous standard of review when we are reviewing the [circuit] court's findings of fact based on that recording." State v. Walli, 2011 WI App 86, ¶ 17, 334 Wis.2d 402, 799 N.W.2d 898. In the second step, we review de novo the application of any findings of fact to constitutional principles. Post, 301 Wis.2d 1, ¶ 8, 733 N.W.2d 634 ; Hughes, 233 Wis.2d 280, ¶ 15, 607 N.W.2d 621.

¶ 12 The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures. State v. Maddix, 2013 WI App 64, ¶ 13, 348 Wis.2d 179, 831 N.W.2d 778.⁷ A traffic stop is a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. See State v. Popke, 2009 WI 37, ¶ 11, 317 Wis.2d 118, 765 N.W.2d 569. The State asserts, and Kowalewski agrees, that Enneper's stop of Kowalewski's vehicle was reasonable if Enneper had probable cause to believe Kowalewski committed a traffic violation.⁸ See State v. Gaulrapp, 207 Wis.2d 600, 605, 558 N.W.2d 696 (Ct.App.1996) ; see also Popke, 317 Wis.2d 118, ¶ 11, 765 N.W.2d 569 ("A traffic stop is generally reasonable if the officers have probable cause to believe that a traffic violation has occurred, or have grounds to reasonably suspect a violation has been or will be committed." (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)). Probable cause refers to the quantum of evidence that would lead a reasonable officer to believe a traffic violation had occurred. Popke, 317 Wis.2d 118, ¶ 14, 765 N.W.2d 569 (citing Johnson v. State, 75 Wis.2d 344, 348, 249 N.W.2d 593 (1977) ).

¶ 13 Without regard to any indicia of the driver potentially operating while intoxicated, Enneper testified he also stopped Kowalewski's vehicle on the basis that its driver failed to use a turn signal when moving from the lane of traffic into the turn lane. WISCONSIN STAT. § 346.34(1)(a)3. requires that no person "[t]urn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety." Meanwhile, § 346.34(1)(b) states, in relevant part, that "[i]n the event any other traffic may be affected by the movement, no person may turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in s.346.35. ..." (Emphasis added.)

¶ 14 On appeal, Kowalewski's arguments against the reasonableness of Enneper stopping her vehicle based on a perceived violation of this law are quite limited. First, in her initial brief, she points to Enneper's acknowledgement during the hearing that there was no other traffic in any lane as somehow overcoming the fact that Enneper's vehicle was on the road behind her in the same lane of traffic. Enneper's vehicle certainly constitutes "any other...