Pennsylvania, like Wisconsin, has a statute permitting the prosecution at a drunk-driving trial to introduce evidence that a defendant refused a requested blood draw. Do such statutes comply with the Fourth Amendment where the defendant refused a warrantless blood draw and no constitutional exception applied? For an argument that they don’t, see the cert petition… Read more
o. Refusal, OWI
Review of an unpublished court of appeals decision; case activity (including briefs); petition for review Issues (composed by On Point) (1) May a prosecutor argue that a defendant’s refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test shows consciousness of guilt? (2) When a circuit court denies a postconviction motion based on arguably inapplicable case law, must the defendant… Read more
State v. George R. Ferrell, Appeal No. 2012AP2602, 9/26/13, (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity A state trooper does not need evidence such as odors, admissions or containers to have probable cause to arrest for OWI. These facts will do the trick: ¶12 . . . [T]he State Patrol received several reports that Ferrell was… Read more
State v. Kurt J. Doerr, 229 Wis.2d 616, 599 N.W.2d 897 (Ct. App. 1999) For Doerr: John M. Carroll. Issue/Holding: Doerr argues that evidence of his refusal to take a chemical test was irrelevant, because it occurred at the police station rather than the arrest scene. The argument is rejected: Though refusal evidence is relevant to… Read more
State v. Rodney G. Zivcic, 229 Wis.2d 119, 598 N.W.2d 565 (Ct. App. 1999) For Zivcic: John J. Carter Holding: A “deficient sample” printout from an Intoxilyzer 5000 test is held admissible – not as a test result, but as Zivcic’s failure to provide adequate breath samples (which equals a refusal)… Read more
