HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-5805
v.
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: NO. C>~- SFo5 Ct-ulL ~~
IAN H. LEREW
Petitioner
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING
Respondent
LICENSE SUSPENSION APPEAL
AND NOW, this _ day of November, 2005, comes Petitioner Ian H. Lerew, through his attomeys,
Mancke, Wagner & Spreha, who respectfully represent:
1. Petitioner Ian H. Lerew, is an adult individual residing in the Cumberland County Prison, Carlisle,
Pennsylvania and is a licensed Pennsylvania motor vehicle operator.
2. The occurrences allegedly giving rise to the suspension hereinafter occurred on or about
September 18, 2005 in Cumberland County.
3. Petitioner has received notice of an 18-month suspension and a copy of said license suspension
notice is attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit A.
4. The license suspension is illegal, unjust and improper for reasons which include, but are not
limited to, the following:
a. there was no valid, proper and/or timely request to take chemical testing;
b. there was no valid, intelligent or knowing refusal to take a chemical test;
c. the Petitioner agreed to take a chemical test;
d. any wamings conceming a refusal to submit were inadequate and untimely;
e. ~1547 and ~3802, facially and as applied to the Petitioner, are in violation of the
State and Federal Constitutions;
f. any alleged refusal would violate equal protection of the laws in violation of the State
and Federal Constitutions;
g. Petitioner was not properly advised and/or timely advised of his rights and/or
obligations to submit to chemical testing;
h. the statement of the officer(s) were confusing and/or misleading;
i. the booking officer improperly advised the Petitioner concerning his rights and his
requirements;
j. the warnings failed to comply with Act 177 of 2004, 75 Pa.C.SA ~1547(b)(ii) and/or
were inadequate to advise the Petitioner of his rights and/or obligations;
k. Petitioner was misadvised about his right to a lawyer and further denied the right to
a lawyer as required by 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, ~9 of
the Pa. Constitution;
I. the Petitioner's right to counsel, pursuant to 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
and Article I, ~9 of the Pa. Constitution, were violated at the time of the request for
testing;
m. under the circumstances at the booking center, Petitioner had a right to counsel
under the State and Federal Constitutions before deciding to take a chemical test;
n. ~1547 and/or ~3802 of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code constitutes:
(i) Violation of substantive due process under the Pa. (Article I, ~9) and U.S.
Constitutions (5th and 14th Amendments) as being vague and overbroad
facially and as applied to the Petitioner and as impermissibly delegating a
legislative function to the judiciary in violation of the Pa. and U.S. Constitutions.
See Commonwealth v. Noel and Travis, 857 A.2d 1283 at 1288 (2004),
concurring opinion.
(ii) Act 24 of 2003, Chapter 38, ~3802 and/or ~1547 and their related provisions
violate procedural due process under Article I, ~9 of the Pa. Constitution and
the 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution facially and as applied
to the Petitioner.
(iii) Chapter 38 of Act 24 of 2003, ~3802 and/or ~ 1547 and their related provisions
violate equal protection guaranteed by the State and Federal Constitutions,
facially and as applied to the Petitioner, in that they treat similarly situated
persons differently and such different treatment is not rationally related to the
protection of the public from intoxicated drivers.
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(iv) Act 24 of 2003, ~3802 and/or ~1547 (suspension of 18 months) violate the
constitutional and due process protections against ex post facto laws in
violation of U.S. Constitution, Article I, ~10 and Pa. Constitution, Article I, ~17,
facially and as applied to the Petitioner and improperly provide for an
impermissible retroactive application.
(v) If the Petitioner was advised that there was no right to an attorney at the time
of a request for the chemical test or refused such right then such action
violates the Defendant's 6th Amendment (U.S. Constitution) and Article I, ~9
(Pa. Constitution) right to counsel, facially and as applied to the motorist.
(vi) It is believe that the Petitioner may have been advised if he remained silent
during the request process, his silence would be a refusal and it is believed
that the refusal would be used against him in any subsequent criminal
proceedings which statements were in violation of his right to remain silent as
guaranteed by the 5th Amendment ofthe U.S. Constitution and Article I, ~9 of
the Pa. Constitution.
WHEREFORE, Your Petitioner prays Your Honorable Court to hold a hearing to determine the validity
of the license suspension outlined in Exhibit A.
submitted,
Dated: November 8, 2005
John B. ancke, Esq., ID No. 07212
Mancke, Wagner & Spreha
2233 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-234-7051, Attorney for Petitioner
3
VERIFICATION
I hereby verify that the statements made in this document are true and correct. I understand that
false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. Section 4904, relating to unsworn
falsification to authorities.
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Date [
/
Ian H. Lerew
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau of Driver Licensing
Mail Date: OCTOBER 13. 2005
IAN H LEREW
1003 DREXEL HILLS BLVD
WID. 052796122749277 001
PROCESSING DATE 10/06/2005
DRIVER LICENSE' 27134854
DATE OF BIRTH 11/21/1984
NEW CUMBERLAND PA 17070
Dear MR. LEREW:
This is an Official Notice of the Suspension of your Driving
Privilege as authorized by Section 1547BIII of the
PennsYlvania Vehicle Code. As a result of your violation
of Section 1547 of the Vehicle Code, CHEMICAL TEST REFUSAL.
on 09/18/2005:
. Your driving privilege is SUSPENDED fo~ a pe~iod of 18
MONTH(S) effective 11/17/2005 at 12:01 a.m.
COMPLYING WITH THIS SUSPENSION
You must return all current Pennsylvania driver's licenses.
learner's permits, temporary driver's licenses (camera
cards) in your possession on or before 11/17/2005. You may
surrender these items before, 11/17/2005, for earlier
credit; however. you may not drive after these items are
surrendered.
YOU MAY NOT RETAIN YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES. However, you may apply for and obtain a photo
identification card at any Driver License Center for a cost
of $10.00. You must present two (2) forms of proper iden-
tification (e.g.. birth certificate. valid U.S. passport,
marriage certificate. etc.) in order to obtain your photo
identification card.
You will not ~eceive c~edit towa~d se~ving any suspension
until we ~eceive you~ license(s). Complete the following
steps to acknowledge this suspension.
1. Return all current PennsYlvania driver's licenses,
learner's permits and/or camera cards to PennDOT. If
you do not have any of these items. send a sworn nota-
rized letter stating you are aware of the suspension of
your driving privilege. You must specify in your letter
why you are unable to return your driver I s license.
Remember: You may not retain your driver's license for
identification purposes. Please send these items to:
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
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EXHIBIT
052796122749277
Bureau of Driver Licensing
P.O. Box 68693
Harrisburg. PA 17106-8693
2. Upon receipt. review and acceptance of your PennsYlvania
driver's licensees). learner's permit(s), and/or a sworn
notarized letter. PennDOT will send yoU a receipt con-
firming the date that credit began. If you do not re-
ceive a receipt from us within 3 weeks. please contact
our office. Otherwise. yoU will not be given credit
toward serving this suspension. PennDOT phone numbers
are listed at the end of this letter.
3. If you do not return all current driver license pro-
ducts, we must refer this matter to the Pennsylvania
State Police for prosecution under SECTION 1571 (a) (4)
of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
PAYING THE RESTORATION FEE
You must pay a restoration fee to PennDOT to be restored
from a suspension/revocation of your driving privilege. To
pay Your restoration fee. complete the following steps:
1. Return the enclosed Application for Restoration. The
amount due is listed on the application.
2. Write your driver's license number (listed on the first
page) on the check or money order to ensure proper
credit.
3. Follow the payment and mailing instructions on the back
of the application.
APPEAL
You have the right to appeal this action to the Court of
Common Pleas (Civil Division) within 30 days of the mail
date, OCTOBER 13, 2005, of this letter. If YOU file an ap-
peal in the County Cou~t, the Cou~t will give you a time-
stamped ce~tified COpy of the appeal. In order for your
appeal to be valid, you must send this time-stamped certi-
fied copy of the appeal by certified mail to:
PennsYlvania Department of Transportation
Office of Chief Counsel
Third Floor, Riverfront Office Center
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2516
Remember, this is an OFFICIAL NOTICE OF SUSPENSION. You
must return all current Pennsylvania driver license products
to PennDOT by 11/17/2005.
052796122749277
SincerelY,
bre~
Janet L. Dolan. Acting Director
Bureau of Driver Licensing
IN STATE
OUT-OF-STATE
WEB SITE ADDRESS
INFORMATION 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
1-800-932-4600 TDD IN STATE
717-391-6190 TDD OUT-OF-STATE
www.dmv.state.pa.us
1-800-228-0676
717-391-6191
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: IN THE COURT OF COMMON Pi:
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: NO.DS- SJ'oS CiviL ~~
! HECEIVF:D. 1/1
NOV 0 I,l 2005
: M
IAN H. LEREW
Petitioner
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING
Respondent
ORDER
AND NOW, this ~ dayof 111!7N/JnA..I~, 2005, upon consideration ofthewithin Petition,
it is hereby ordered and decreed that a hearing be held on the / $-t6day of '~.ud./J;!! , 200 ~ ,
at ~ ;~() o'clock in Courtroom~, Cumberland County Courthouse, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Notice of said hearing shall be sent by certified mail to the Department ofT ransportation by Petitioner's
attorney at least sixty days prior to the date of the hearing.
By the Court,
Distribution:
Prothonotary's Office
An B. Mancke, Esq., 2233 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
~A Depl. of Transportation, Office of Chief Counsel, 1101 S. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104
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v.
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: NO. 05-5805 CIVIL TERM
IAN H. LEREW,
Petitioner
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING
Respondent
ORDER
AND NOW, this 3~ day of FeJ.>..v, ' 2006, it is hereby ordered and decreed that
the hearing scheduled for February 15, 2006 at 3:00 '" is continued to April 26, 2006 at1 :30 pm in Courtroom
No.4, Cumberland County Courthouse, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Notice of said hearing shall be sent by certified mail to the Department ofT ransportation by Petitioner's
attorney at least sixty days prior to the date of the hearing.
By the Court,
Distribution:
Prothonotary's Office
John B. Mancke, Esq., 2233 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
George Kabusk, Esq., PA Department of Transportation, Office of Chief Counsel,
1101 S. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104
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LAW OFFICES
MANCKE, WAGNER Be SPREHA
2233 NORTH FRONT STREET
JOHN B. MANCKE
P. RICHARD WAGNER
EDWARD F. SPREHA. JR.
HARRISBURG.
PA
17110
PHONE (717) 234-7051
FAX (717) 234-7080
February 1, 2006
Hon. Kevin A. Hess
Altn: Robbi
Cumberland County Courthouse
One Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
RE: Ian H. Lerew v. Comm. of PA, Dept. of Transportation
No. 05-5805 Civil Term
Dear Robbi:
Per our conversation, please find enclosed Order relative to the above-{;aptioned hearing along with
self-addressed, stamped envelopes for George Kabusk and for us. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
~ R. God-
Holly R. Cook
Secretary to John B. Mancke
Enclosures
,.
I
IAN H. LEREW,
Petitioner
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYL VAN IA
v.
: NO. 05-5805 CIVIL TERM
: (Judge Kevin A. Hess)
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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING
Respondent
c,,:,
MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE
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AND NOW, this 13th day of April 2006, comes Ian H. Lerew, through his attorneys, Mancke, Wagner
& Spreha, who respectfully represent:
1. Your Petitioner is an adult individual residing at 1835 Creek View Drive, New Cumberland,
Pennsylvania.
2. Petitioner filed a license suspension appeal on November 8, 2005 in response to a Notice of
Suspension from Penn Dot dated October 13, 2005.
3. The license suspension appeal hearing is currently scheduled for April 26, 2006 at1 :30 pm in
Courtroom No.4.
4. On April 12, 2006, Petitioner's attorney, John B. Mancke, Esq., received an Order scheduling him
for a criminal trial on April 26, 2006 at 2:00 pm at the Dauphin County Courthouse before the Honorable
Joseph Kleinfelter.
5. Petitioner's attorney, John B. Mancke, Esq., contacted, George Kabusk, Esq., attorney with the
Department of Transportation, who has indicated he has no objection to the granting of the Motion for
Continuance.
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WHEREFORE, Your Petitioner prays Your Honorable Court to grant a continuance of the hearing
scheduled for April 26, 2006 at 1 :30 pm in Courtroom NO,4.
Respectfully submitted,
\ L.-"
John . Mancke, Esq., ID No. 07212
Manc ,Wagner & Spreha
2233 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-234-7051, Allorney for Petitioner
Dated: April 13, 2006
,
,
IAN H. LEREW,
Petitioner
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: NO. 05-5805 CIVIL TERM
: (Judge Kevin A. Hess)
v.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING
Respondent
MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE
AND NOW, this 13th day of April 2006, comes Ian H. Lerew, through his attorneys, Mancke, Wagner
& Spreha, who respectfully represent:
1. Your Petitioner is an adult individual residing at 1835 Creek View Drive, New Cumberland,
Pennsylvania.
2. Petitioner filed a license suspension appeal on November 8, 2005 in response to a Notice of
Suspension from Penn Dot dated October 13, 2005.
3. The license suspension appeal hearing is currently scheduled for April 26, 2006 at 1 :30 pm in
Courtroom NO.4.
4. On April 12, 2006, Petitioner's attorney, John B. Mancke, Esq., received an Order scheduling him
for a criminal trial on April 26, 2006 at 2:00 pm at the Dauphin County Courthouse before the Honorable
Joseph Kleinfelter.
5. Petitioner's attorney, John B. Mancke, Esq., contacted, George Kabusk, Esq., attorney with the
Department of Transportation, who has indicated he has no objection to the granting of the Motion for
Continuance.
,-
WHEREFORE, Your Petitioner prays Your Honorable Court to grant a continuance of the hearing
scheduled for April 26, 2006 at1 :30 pm in Courtroom NO.4.
Respec
John . ancke, Esq., ID No. 07212
Man e, Wagner & Spreha
2233 . Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-234-7051, Attorney for Petitioner
Dated: April 20, 2006
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: APR 2 4 2006
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BY;__ __.
IAN H. LEREW,
Petitioner
v.
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: NO. 05-5805 CIVIL TERM
: (Judge Kevin A. Hess)
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
BUREAU OF DRIVER LICENSING
Respondent
ORDER
AND NOW, this 21f~ day of ~ ~..1, , 2006, it is hereby ordered and decreed that
the hearing scheduled for April 26, 2006 at 1 :30 pm is continued to the .JLrrdayof ~.
2006 at J" W <lI;I/pm in Courtroom No.4, Cumberland County Courthouse, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Notice of said hearing shall be sent by certified mail to the Department ofT ransportation by Petitioner's
attorney at least sixty days prior to the date of the hearing.
By the Court,
Distribution:
P.!9thonotary's Office
00hn B. Mancke, Esq., 2233 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
~orge Kabusk, Esq., PA Department of Transportation, Office of Chief Counsel,
1101 S. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104
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IAN H. LEREW,
Petitioner
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V. CIVIL ACTION - LAW
COMMONWEALTH OF NO. 05-5805 CIVIL TERM
PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, BUREAU:
OF DRIVER LICENSING,
Respondent
IN RE: TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings held before the
HONORABLE KEVIN A. HESS, J.,
Cumberland County Courthouse,
Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
on Wednesday, May 31, 2006,
in Courtroom Number 4.
APPEARANCES:
GEORGE KABUSK, Esquire
Office of Chief Counsel
For Department of Transportation
JOHN MANCKE, Esquire
For the Respondent
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INDEX TO WITNESSES
FOR THE COMMONWEALTH DIRECT CROSS REDIRECT
Officer James Stewart 4 17 21
Joshua Sheaffer 23 26 31
FOR THE DEFENDANT
Ian H. Lerew 33 35
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
FOR THE COMMONWEALTH MARKED ADMITTED
Ex. No. 1 - certified
driving record 3 33
FOR THE DEFENDANT
Ex. No. 1 - DL-26 (2-05) 18 36
Ex. No. 2 - Intake & Chain
of Evidence Form 29 36
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1 (Whereupon, Commonwealth's Exhibit No.1
2 was marked for identification.)
3 MR. KABUSK: Good afternoon, Your Honor.
4 MR. MANCKE: Good afternoon.
5 THE COURT: Good afternoon. Go ahead.
6 MR. KABUSK: This is the case of Ian H. Lerew
7 versus Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of
8 Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing, Case No.
9 05-5805. This is an appeal from a notice of suspension
10 dated October 13th, 2005, in which the Department notified
11 the petitioner that as a result of his violation of Section
12 1547 of the Vehicle Code, relating to chemical test refusal
13 on 9/18/2005 his driving privilege was being suspended for a
14 period of eighteen months. The Department is ready to
15 proceed, Your Honor.
16 THE COURT: Anything you want to say before
17 we get started, Mr. Mancke?
18 MR. MANCKE: Your Honor, as it relates to the
19 arrest, we are conceding there was an arrest. And we are
20 conceding that there reasonable grounds to request a
21 chemical test.
22 THE COURT: Fine.
23 MR. KABUSK: With leave of Court though the
24 Department respectfully requests that the whole story be
25 told in order to get a better perspective of the refusal.
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THE COURT: We will certainly let you do
that, but it is conceded.
MR. MANCKE: Your Honor, we would request, if
the Commonwealth is going to have more than one witness,
that the witnesses be sequestered.
THE COURT: If you have witnesses on the same
set of facts...
MR. KABUSK: Yes, Your Honor.
(Whereupon, the witness was sequestered.)
MR. KABUSK: The Department now calls Officer
James Swartz.
Whereupon, OFFICER JAMES SWARTZ, having been
duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q Officer Swartz, please state your name and
spell your last name for the record.
A Officer James Daniel Swartz, S-w-a-r-t-z,
sir.
Q And where are you employed?
A I am employed as a full-time police officer
in the Borough of Newville, Cumberland County, and a
part-time police officer in the Borough of Shiremanstown,
Cumberland County.
Q And do you have Act 120 certification I
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believe it is?
A Yes, sir. I completed the Police Academy
last year.
Q During the course of your official duties
have you had occasion to investigate an alleged incident of
DUI on or about September 18th, 2005?
A Yes, sir.
Q Could you please tell the Court about that
incident.
A Yes, sir. On the evening of September 18th,
2005, I was running a traffic control detail, specifically
speed, at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad
Avenue. At approximately 0033 hours I observed a silver
Acura Integra traveling westbound on Main Street at a high
rate of speed.
I proceeded to follow the vehicle, activated
the lights and siren. The vehicle continued out of my
jurisdiction, into I believe it is -- West Pennsboro -- not
West Pennsboro, it is Hampden Township.
Q Did you get a clock on the speed?
A I got a -- yes, sir. I got a very good
clock, of approximately seventy-four miles an hour.
Q And where did you initially see the vehicle?
A At Railroad Avenue and Main Street, sir.
Q Please proceed.
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A The vehicle proceeded west on Main Street,
out of my jurisdiction, into, as I said, Hampden Township, I
believe. It turned south on Wesley Drive and then made
another left-hand turn into the Wesley Apartments -- I
believe it is the Wesley Apartments.
Q Did you notice anything unusual about the
vehicle?
A Other than the extreme speed, sir?
Q Yes.
A The vehicle had quite a substantial lead over
me, until he made a hard break at the intersection of Wesley
Drive and Simpson Ferry, at which point I closed the
distance considerably. I observed him turning into the
Wesley Apartments. And then whenever I turned into Wesley
Apartments, the defendant, Mr. Lerew, seated there next to
his attorney, was exiting his vehicle.
Q And what did you notice then?
A As Mr. Lerew was existing his vehicle, he was
actually parked very close to an SUV. I believe he almost
hit a trash dumpster that was not in the parking spot he was
in. He was blocking traffic. As he was exiting his
vehicle, he stumbled and fell, and placed his left hand on
the fender of his vehicle and his right hand on the SUV and
attempted to rise. At which point I exited my vehicle and
assisted Mr. Lerew back into his vehicle.
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1 At that point I could smell an extremely
2 strong smell of alcohol -- of an alcoholic beverage coming
3 from Mr. Lerew. I requested that he reenter his vehicle for
4 his safety and remain there, to please close his door and
5 lower his window. It took him some time. He had some
6 slurred speech. He was very uncoordinated in his movements,
7 searching for the controls, as if he was unfamiliar with the
8 vehicle.
9 He did get his window lowered, get the door
10 shut. I requested the driver's license, registration and
11 proof of insurance from Mr. Lerew. He could not provide the
12 documentation. It took him several minutes to locate a
13 driver's license, at which point I took the driver's license
14 and instructed him to remain in his vehicle, not to exit his
15 vehicle. I returned to my vehicle and requested backup for
16 a DUI evaluation.
17 Q And then what happened?
18 A Upon arrival of two backup units, we both
19 reapproached the vehicle, removed Mr. Lerew from the vehicle
20 with assistance, brought him to the back of the SUV and sat
21 him on, sort of standing, half standing, half sitting on the
22 rear bumper of the SUV. We determined that with his level
23 of intoxication it would be unsafe for him to perform an
24 SFST, as he could not stand on his own.
25 We gave him a PBT at that point, myself and
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one of the backup units, Unit 1830 I believe. He was a .22
on a PBT.
MR. MANCKE: Your Honor, I am going to object
to a specific number of a PBT, as it is not a calibrated or
a certified number.
THE COURT: I think we all understand that.
Go ahead.
THE WITNESS: Mr. Lerew attempted on two
separate occasions to provide a breath sample. On both
attempts he was not providing a sufficient sample. He was
puffing his cheeks out as if he were attempted to blow but
was holding his breath.
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q Are you referring to his performance of the
PBT test?
A Yes, sir.
Q Please proceed.
A Mr. Lerew was told if he did not stop
interfering with the test and provide a sufficient breath
sample, he would be taken into custody immediately for
suspicion of DUI and transported to Holy Spirit Hospital for
a blood test. At which point he did supply a sufficient
breath, and we got the stated reading.
Mr. Lerew was taken into custody. He was
handcuffed, searched, placed in the back of my patrol
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vehicle, transported to Cumberland County Booking for
processing.
Q Did you tell him why he was being handcuffed
and transported?
A Yes, sir. On the .22 reading on the PBT, he
was immediately instructed, sir, at this point you are under
arrest for suspicion of drunken driving, driving under the
influence of alcohol, please place your hands behind your
back.
Q Please proceed. Then what happened?
A Upon arrival at Booking, Mr. Lerew was
escorted upstairs to the processing center.
Q Did you have any conversations with him on
the way to the Booking Center?
A Yes, sir. On the way to the Booking Center
Mr. Lerew was trying to negotiate his way out of being
arrested. He stated several times that he used and was
willing to set up in his words his suppliers of marijuana,
if I would just pullover and let him walk home.
Q Did he indicate to you whether he had been
drinking alcohol or not?
A Yes, sir. He did make the statement that,
yes, I know I am -- excuse me, I believe the statement was
okay, okay, I know I am drunk. Let me go, and I will set up
some of my friends for you, something to that, very close to
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that effect, sir.
Q Okay. Then what happened?
A Upon arrival at Booking, Mr. Lerew was
escorted upstairs. He was read the implied consent
form -- he was released to the custody of the Booking Center
staff. They started the background checks on Mr. Lerew.
Q Let me back you up. You said he was read the
implied consent. Is that what you said?
A Yes, sir. He was read the implied consent.
He was first taken into the Booking Center, formally
released to the custody or turned over to the custody of the
Booking Center staff. They started the background
investigation on him. They searched him again, secured his
personal belongings. He was placed in the processing chair
right inside the door. I read Mr. Lerew his DL-26.
MR. KABUSK: May I approach the witness, Your
Honor?
THE COURT: Certainly.
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q I want to show you what has been marked
Subexhibit No.2 in the State's Exhibit No.1.
A Yes, sir.
Q Would you identify that document, please?
A Yes, sir. This is the DL-26 that I read to
Mr. Lerew on the evening of 18 September.
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Q Would you read aloud what you read to him?
A Yes, sir. Mr. Lerew, my name is Officer
Swartz of the Shiremanstown Police Department. Please be
advised that you are under arrest for driving under the
influence of alcohol or controlled substances in violation
of Section 3802 of the Vehicle Code.
I am requesting that you submit to a chemical
test of breath. It is my duty as a police officer to inform
you that if you refuse to submit to the chemical test, your
operating privilege will be suspended for at least one year.
In addition, if you refuse to submit to the chemical test,
and you are convicted of, plead guilty to, or adjudicated
delinquent with respect to violating Section 3802(a) of the
Pennsylvania Vehicle Code because of your refusal, you will
be subject to more severe penalties set forth in Section
3804(c) of the Vehicle Code, which includes a minimum of
seventy-two hours in jail and a minimum fine of $1,000.00.
It is also my duty as a police officer to
inform you that you have no right to speak with an attorney
or anyone else before deciding whether to submit to testing.
And any request to speak with an attorney or anyone else
after being provided these warnings, or remaining silent
when asked to submit to the chemical testing, will
constitute a refusal, resulting in suspension of your
operating privileges and other enhanced criminal sanctions
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if you are convicted of violating Section 3802(a) of the
Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
Q Thank you. And you read that to him word for
word?
A Yes, sir.
MR. KABUSK: May I approach the witness, Your
Honor?
THE COURT: Sure.
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q Then what happened?
A Mr. Lerew asked several questions about --
well, he kept interrupting me during the reading. I would
have to back up and start each paragraph over again until I
got through with that paragraph during these interruptions.
After I completed reading it, I asked him if he understood.
He said he did not understand certain portions of it, and I
went back and clarified those portions for him, reading them
again.
After that was done, Mr. Lerew -- and I asked
him again, Mr. Lerew, again, if he understood and was
willing to sign the form. At that point he said he wished
to examine it and read it for himself. I put the form on
the desk and let Mr. Lerew read it for himself. He was
given approximately five to ten minutes to examine the form.
At which point he finally did submit and voluntarily signed
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the form.
Q Okay. Now, earlier you said when you were
reading the DL-26 he kept on interrupting?
A Yes, sir.
Q What sort of interruptions was he -- how was
he interrupting you?
A Several times he tried to stand up. We would
have to ask him to be seated in the chair again. He would
just make -- I don't know if the word -- snide comments. He
would just keep interrupting the reading of the form, sir.
Q And what sort of questions was he asking?
You said then he asked questions?
A Yes, sir. He was asking what does that mean.
How long will I get suspended for. Will this go to my PO.
Will I go back in. Just other questions along that nature,
sir.
Q And how did you respond?
A I kept trying to tell him to be patient. We
will answer those questions as soon as I get done with this
form.
Q Then you stated he signed the form?
A Yes, sir.
Q Was that his signature on the form?
A Yes, sir.
Q Then what happened after he signed the form?
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1 A After I got done reading the form to him, one
2 of the Booking Center officers took custody of Mr. Lerew.
3 Mr. Lerew asked him if he could use the bathroom. The
4 officer escorted Mr. Lerew to the bathroom and told him
5 before he escorted him to the bathroom, he told him don't
6 shut the door. Don't flush the toilet. Don't put anything
7 in your mouth. Don't drink anything. He escorted him to
8 the bathroom. It was around the corner.
9 Myself and the other Booking Center officer
10 heard a commotion. We went around the corner and observed
11 the officer bringing Mr. Lerew out of the bathroom, stating
12 that Mr. Lerew was drinking from the faucet.
13 Mr. Lerew was brought back into the Booking
14 Center -- the booking area. He was sat in the booking
15 chair. The twenty minute wait period started again. Mr.
16 Lerew, after approximately ten to twelve minutes, tried to
17 make himself vomit, continuously burping, trying to make
18 himself vomit. We had to stop and check his mouth again,
19 restart the twenty minute wait period.
20 Mr. Lerew continued to burp, inducing
21 burping, not just naturally. Mr. Lerew was informed that if
22 he continued to interfere with the twenty minute wait
23 period, he would be taken to the hospital for a blood test.
24 Mr. Lerew calmed down, sat in the chair calmly for twenty
25 minutes. The processing continued.
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When the twenty minute period was up, Mr.
Lerew was asked if he was going to submit to the breath test
at that point. And his statement I believe very closely it
resembles, fuck you, I ain't taking no damn blood test.
Q Was that you that asked that?
A If he was ready to submit to the test?
Q Yes.
A Yes, sir.
Q Okay. Then what happened?
A Shortly after that we got the call back from
Mr. Lerew's parole officer, who, when informed of the
charges against him, lodged a detainer. Mr. Lerew became
instantly very combative. He, I don't want to say jumped,
but he tried to energetically leave his chair. He had to be
restrained by all three members, myself and both members of
the Booking Center staff. He was handcuffed, placed in a
holding cell.
We went back into the Booking Center to
continue the paperwork. We heard a banging corning from the
booking cell or from the holding cell rather. When we
went around the corner to the holding cell, Mr. Lerew was
banging his head against the bars, and made a statement to
the effect that I am going to tell my lawyer you kicked the
shit out of me.
Mr. Lerew slipped his cuffs in the front. We
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recuffed him in the rear and put him in leg shackles. And
at that point I pointed out the camera on the wall to him,
and actually read the warning on the wall, video and audio
recordings are being made. And informed him that, yes, sir,
you can see the camera right there, pointed to it. At which
point he became docile, curled up in the booking cell and
started to cry.
Q Did he ever submit to the requested test?
A No, sir.
Q Now, when he told you something to the effect
of f-u, I ain't taking no blank test, what did you do then?
A I immediately stopped. During that process,
as soon as the twenty minute wait period was successfully
completed, one of the Booking Center officers was there to
read him his Miranda Rights, read him another form. That
officer was in the process of doing that when Mr. Lerew
stated what he stated. That officer immediately stopped and
looked at me, and asked me if we should continue. And my
comment to the Booking Center officer was that's as
clear-a-cut refusal as I have ever heard. Stop immediately.
Put him in a booking cell.
Q Okay. Once again, did he ever submit to the
requested test?
A No, sir.
MR. KABUSK: No further questions.
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CROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. MANCKE:
Q Officer, when you brought my client to the
'Booking Center, did he request to make telephone calls
repeatedly?
A Yes, sir, he did.
Q And did he tell you who it was he wanted to
call?
A No, sir. He did not.
Q What was the response by you to his request
to make telephone calls?
A He was informed that as soon as Booking was
finished, he would be allowed to call anyone he chose.
Q Was he told that he couldn't make a call at
that time?
A Yes, sir. He was told at this time you
cannot make a call. We need to complete booking. When
booking is completed, you will be allowed to call anyone you
choose.
Q Had you given him his Miranda warnings before
he requested to make telephone calls?
A No, sir. I did not.
Q Now, at the point when you read him the
DL-26, you were using a form DL-26 with parentheses 12-03 on
it, is that correct?
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A Yes, sir.
(Whereupon, Defendant's Exhibit No.1
was marked for identification.)
Q At the time you read him that, were you aware
of PennDOT form DL-26 with the dates (2-05)?
A No, sir. I was not.
Q Who supplied the DL-26 to you?
A They are kept on file in processing packets
at the Booking Center, sir. When we bring a suspected 3802
into the Booking Center, a manila envelope packet with all
the relevant paperwork in it, we remove it from the file,
and the paperwork included in that file is what is used to
process them.
Q And on the date of September 18th, '05, were
you aware that there was a PennDOT form DL-26 dated February
'OS?
A No, sir. I was not.
Q Did you read to him anything other than what
was on the DL-26, dated December '03, to Mr. Lerew
concerning penalties that he might have if he refused?
A No, sir. I read paragraphs one through four
verbatim from the 1203 statement, sir -- or form, sir.
Q Now, after he signed the DL-26, was he given
a chance to take a chemical test?
A Yes, sir. The twenty minute wait period was
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started three or four times before it was successfully
completed. At which point he was -- the last twenty minute
wait period was completed. He was given an opportunity to
take the test. At which point he made the statement
previously stated.
Q Now, did he ever agree to take the chemical
test?
A Yes, sir. After he was placed in the cell.
After he became combative, he was placed in the cell, was
informed of the camera, and finally calmed down, he started
pleading to take the test. At which point he was informed,
sir, you have already stated you do not wish to take the
test. I am not allowed to let you take the test at this
point. It would be a violation of your rights.
Q And that's what you told him as to the reason
why you wouldn't allow him to take the chemical test?
A I am sorry, sir.
Q Is that the reason why you told him you
wouldn't allow him to take the chemical test?
A After he stated the fuck you, I ain't taking
the test, and became combative and was placed in the cell,
yes, sir. It was my training in the -- it has been my
experience in DUI training that once a defendant states they
will not take the test, any further compelling to take the
test or allowing to take the test after that is not allowed.
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Q And was his agreement to take a chemical test
within two hours of the time that he drove, operated or was
in actual physical control of the movement of a motor
vehicle?
A Yes, sir.
Q And do you know what time it was that he
agreed to take the test?
A No, sir. I do not.
Q But you know it was within the two hours?
A The initial request was within the two hours.
Once he was in the booking cell and requested -- after he
refused the second request, I am not aware of what time that
was, no, sir. I cannot sit here and tell you that was
within the two hour period.
Q Do you have in your records there when it was
you left the Booking Center?
A It would be in my police report, sir. Do you
have a copy of my report, sir?
Q I have what the District Attorney's Office
gave me, but I don't know that your log was in that.
A I do not have the documentation with me, sir.
Q Now, you had indicated that my client was
being audiotaped and videotaped. Can you tell me what
happened to the audiotape and the videotape?
A The District Attorney's Office would have
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that, sir.
Q
You know that there was one done, is that
right?
A Well, there is a camera on the wall and a
sign there, sir.
Q And you had told him that he was being
audiotaped and videotaped, is that right?
A Yes, sir. I read the statement -- the posted
sign on the wall. I read that sign to him. The sign states
warning, audio and video recordings are being made.
Q And had he been read the warnings by the
booking officer in your presence?
A Miranda, sir?
Q No. The audio and visual warnings.
A Yes, sir.
MR. MANCKE: That's all I have.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q Officer Swartz.
A Yes, sir.
Q After he told you f-u, he wasn't going to
take the test, and after he became combative, you say he
settled down?
A Yes, sir.
Q And that was in the holding cell?
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A Initially, no, sir. He was in the Booking in
the wooden chair directly inside the door of the old Booking
Center. He became violent when his parole officer called
back, earlier when we started the processing, we ran his
background and determined that he was on parole. They
called the on-call parole officer and had to leave a
message. When the on-call parole officer called back, and
stated Mr. Lerew was having a detainer lodged against him,
that's when he became combative and had to be restrained and
placed in the holding cell.
Q Then he calmed down after that?
A Temporarily, yes, sir.
Q Now, is that the period of time where he
requested to take the test?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you ask him to take the test?
A No, sir. Once he stated he wasn't taking the
test, we stopped interaction as much as possible with Mr.
Lerew.
Q So you didn't ask him again after he calmed
down would he take the test?
A No, sir.
Q He just asked you?
A Yes, sir.
Q And you told him.. .
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A That, no, sir, once his initial statement of
refusal was on record, we could not allow him to take the
test after that.
Q So you didn't ask him again if he would
submit to the test?
A No, sir.
Q Now, regarding the audio visual tape, do you
know if a recording exists of the incident?
A I have no idea, sir.
MR. KABUSK:
MR. MANCKE:
THE COURT:
MR. KABUSK:
No further questions.
I have nothing further.
Thank you.
If I may get my other witness,
Your Honor.
Whereupon, JOSHUA SHEAFFER, having been
duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q Mr. Sheaffer, please state your name, and
spell your last name for the record?
A Joshua Sheaffer, S-h-e-a-f-f-e-r.
Q Where are you employed?
A Cumberland County Prison.
Q What are your duties?
A I work in the Records Department doing the
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intakes for the prison and processing of persons arrested in
Cumberland County.
Q Were you involved in the investigation of an
alleged incident of DUl on or about September 18th, 2005?
A Yes.
Q At that time where were you employed and what
were your duties?
A At that time I was employed by the Cumberland
County Prison, working out of the Central Processing
Department on the third floor of the courthouse.
Q Could you please tell us your role in this
incident?
A I was the processing officer for the DUl.
Q And are you a certified breath test operator?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did the petitioner inform you of any physical
or medical conditions that may have prevented him from
properly performing the test?
A No.
Q Did the petitioner exhibit any symptoms that
would indicate the presence of a physical or medical
condition that may have affected his ability to perform the
test?
A None that I know of.
Q Would you please explain what happened once
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he was brought into the Booking Center?
A Once he was brought in, we did the mouth
check to begin the twenty minute observation. During which
time the defendant needed to use the bathroom. He was taken
there and observed. After using the bathroom he did take
several drinks of water. At which point a mouth check was
conducted again. And the twenty minute observation was
restarted.
Sometime after that it appeared that the
defendant was either trying to vomit or had vomited into the
trash can. At which point we did another mouth check and
restarted the twenty minute observation again.
Q Then what happened?
A At that point Officer Swartz began to read
the defendant the implied consent.
Q And what happened then?
A During this the defendant was up and down in
his behavior, from cooperative to being agitated. The
longer that it went on with the reading of the implied
consent, the more agitated the defendant became. And at one
point he stated that I am not going to take the breath test.
Q Then what happened?
A Officer Swartz at that point deemed it a
refusal.
Q Did he ever submit to the requested test?
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A No.
Q What happened after that?
A The defendant continued with his agitated
state, became aggressive, at which point for safety of the
officers working in the center he was placed in restraints
and placed into a holding cell.
Q Did he ever submit to the requested test?
A No.
Q Do you know if there is a audio visual
recording of the incident?
A Not that I know of.
MR. KABUSK: No further questions.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. MANCKE:
Q When my client was brought to the Booking
Center, was there a check to find out whether or not he was
on probation?
A Yes.
Q And what did that check reveal?
A It revealed that the defendant was on
probation through Cumberland County.
Q And did it reveal what it was for?
A It should have. At this time I cannot recall
what it was for.
Q Do you recall whether it was for a DUI?
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A It may have been. Like I said before, at
this time I cannot recall what he was on probation for.
Q And when he was brought to the Booking
Center, did he request repeatedly to make a telephone call?
A Yes.
Q And do you know who it was that he wanted to
call?
A I cannot recall who he wanted to call.
Q And when he made that request, what was he
told?
A He was told that not at this point you cannot
make a phone call.
Q Now, we have heard testimony that the Booking
Center supplies the DL-26 forms to the police officers when
they arrive, is that correct?
A There are DL-26 forms there if needed for the
officers.
Q And in this particular case did you supply
the DL-26 form to the officer?
A I believe I did.
Q Now, the DL-26 that was used in this case is
form DL-26 (12-03). Is that the form as you recall was
given to my client?
A It looks like the forms that we had in the
Center at the time.
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Q Now, were you aware of what we have marked as
Defendant's Exhibit No.1, and that being a DL-26 dated
February '05?
A I knew that there was a new February '05
version. I did not know at that time which form we had in
the center.
Q Well, on the date this incident occurred,
9/18/2005, were you aware of the DL-26, dated February '05?
A I should have been.
Q Why should you have been aware of that?
A Because we were originally made aware of
updates to the forms through the supervisors of the
department at the time.
Q So if the form came out in February '05, you
would have been made aware of that form by your supervisors
at that time?
A Yes.
Q Why was it then that the February '05 form
was not used?
A I do not know, sir. I am not the one that
made the copies of the forms to be put out for use by the
officers.
Q But you knew that there was such a form?
A Yes.
Q Now, as it relates to this audio and visual
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form -- or audio visual tape, and you said that you weren't
aware whether there was one or not, is that correct?
A As far as I know there was not one done
because of the security cameras that recorded the Center
that are not the dedicated DUI tape are recycled -- were
recycled at a time that I think at approximately every
thirty days.
Q Well, was there one done?
A There was not a DUI processing tape done.
Q Did you prepare the Cumberland County
District Attorney's Office Central Processing Intake and
Chain of Evidence form in this case?
A I am not exactly sure if I know what you are
referring to, sir.
Q You are not aware of an intake and chain of
custody form?
A That's what the front sheet of the DUI
processing packet is. That's why I want to make sure
exactly what you are referring to, sir.
(Whereupon, Defendant's Exhibit No.2
was marked for identification.)
Q I am going to show you what we have marked as
Defendant's Exhibit No.2, and ask you whether you can
identify that form?
A Okay. The front page of the DUI packet,
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which would be the intake form, yes.
Q Who prepared that?
A That would have been me, sir.
Q Well, I am going to look at where it says
video. What indicates whether there was a video or not?
A
Q
It is marked yes there.
Would that refresh your recollection that
there was a videotape?
A That would have been an oversight on mine
going through the paperwork, because there was not a DUI
videotape that was done.
Q Well, doesn't it even show that that was
placed into custody?
A The evidence custody part there on the bottom
is for the whole packet of information, not just a
videotape.
Q And here on video where it says yes, you are
saying that that's wrong?
A That was a mistake made on my part, sir.
Q Why wasn't an audiotape and videotape done?
A At the time before we were able to -- we were
not able to move the defendant to the location where we do
the audio and video recording for the DUI processing due to
his agitated and aggressive behavior.
Q Was he ever placed next to the breath test
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Q
Not that I recall.
Now, did my client ever agree to take the
A After Officer Swartz had deemed it as a
I believe there was a point where the defendant
7 said that he would take a breath test.
8 Q Was he given the opportunity to take the
9 breath test?
10 A No.
11 MR. MANCKE: That's all I have.
12 REDIRECT EXAMINATION
13 BY MR. KABUSK:
refusal,
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Q Regarding the DL-26 form that was read, are
you familiar with the form?
A Yes.
Q Did Officer Swartz read the form paragraphs
one through four in their entirety?
He read them to him, however, during the
he was interrupted several times by the
A
process of it
defendant.
Q
A
Q
But did he read the form?
Yes.
Has it ever happened that the operator, the
videotape operator, or the equipment malfunctioned that the
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operator made a mistake or that the equipment malfunctioned?
A Yes.
Q Could that potentially be an explanation
for --
MR. MANCKE: Your Honor, I don't know that he
can answer that question. It assumes facts which the
officer has already said he doesn't know.
THE COURT: Well, I understand the question
is whether it is a possibility. I don't know what weight I
will give that.
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q When do you generally start taping the
procedure?
A After the twenty minute observation has
expired, right before the performance of the breath test.
Q So you would tape the performance of the
test, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q But he never took a test, is that correct?
A That's correct.
Q Now, regarding the question of whether -- I
believe you were asked whether the petitioner asked if he
could take -- did the petitioner then ask if he could take a
test?
A As I recall, the defendant stated that, after
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1 it was deemed a refusal, that he would take the breath test.
2 Q But did either you or Officer Swartz ask him
3 if he would submit to the test after the initial refusal?
A
Not that I recall.
MR. KABUSK:
MR. MANCKE:
THE COURT:
MR. KABUSK:
No further questions.
Nothing further, Your Honor.
Thank you.
I move for the admission of
what's been marked Commonwealth's Exhibit No.1. And
additionally I would refer the Court to the driving record,
to show that there is a prior offense, a DUI offense,
explaining the suspension for eighteen months.
THE COURT: Okay. Any objection to the
exhibit?
MR. MANCKE: No objection.
THE COURT: We will make it part of the
record.
MR. MANCKE: Mr. Lerew.
Whereupon, IAN H. LEREW, having been
duly sworn, testified as follows:
21 DIRECT EXAMINATION
22 BY MR. MANCKE:
23 Q Will you state your full name, please?
24 A Ian Lerew, L-e-r-e-w.
25 Q And your residence address?
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A 1835 Creekview Drive, New Cumberland,
Pennsylvania.
Q And when you were taken to the Booking
Center, did you make repeated requests to make a phone call?
A Yes, I did.
Q And what was the response to your request?
A I was not allowed to make any phone calls.
Q Did they tell you why at that point?
A No.
Q Now, it has been introduced, the DL-26, and I
think you saw a copy of it. Is that your signature on the
DL-26?
A Yes, it is.
Q And can you tell the Court what you recall as
to when you signed the DL-26?
A I signed the DL-26 after it was deemed a
refusal.
Q After you had signed it, were you given an
opportunity to take the test?
A No. I was not.
Q Now, there has been testimony that you had in
the cell indicated that would you take the breath test?
A That is correct.
Q And how many times did you say that you would
take the breath test?
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A I had made a few requests.
Q And was that within two hours after you
drove, operated or were in actual physical control of the
movement of a motor vehicle?
A That was within two hours.
Q Now, what was the response that the officer
gave you to your request to take the chemical test?
A I was not allowed to take the test.
MR. MANCKE: That's all I have.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. KABUSK:
Q Mr. Lerew, do you recall being arrested by
Officer Swartz?
A Yes, I do.
Q Do you recall being handcuffed and
transported to the Booking Center?
A Yes.
Q Do you recall Officer Swartz reading to you
the PennDOT form DL-26?
A Yes, I do.
Q Do you recall being warned of the
consequences of refusing?
A I was not told of any consequences.
Q Do you recall Officer Swartz requesting you
to submit to the breath test?
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A Yes.
Q And do you recall what your response was?
A I did not want to take the breath test at
first.
Q Do you recall what you told him?
A No. I do not recall my exact words.
Q Did you ever submit to the test as requested
by Officer Swartz?
A Not at the time.
MR. KABUSK: No further questions.
THE COURT: Anything else?
MR. MANCKE: I have nothing further, Your
Honor, other than to move for the admissibility of our two
documents, Exhibits 1 and 2.
MR. KABUSK: No objection.
THE COURT: They are admitted.
Do you have any rebuttal testimony, Mr.
Kabusk?
MR. KABUSK: No, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Where would you like to go from
here? Do you have anything you would like to say?
MR. MANCKE: Yes, Your Honor. I just wanted
to indicate to the Court that we are preserving all of the
issues that were raised in our petition, and note that the
issue concerning whether Miranda warnings are required
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before PennDOT can suspend for a refusal, that issue is
pending before the Supreme Court in the Whitmer (phonetic)
versus Penn DOT at 880 A.2d
THE COURT: Tell you what. Back up. Which
numbered paragraph is it, and I may just go ahead and mark
this in pencil. The right to counsel issue?
MR. MANCKE:
THE COURT:
Yes.
That's L?
MR. MANCKE:
Yes.
THE COURT:
MR. MANCKE:
Among others.
And K. And then as it relates
to the constitutionality in N, the overall constitutionality
of Act 24.
THE COURT: In terms of the 5th amendment in
particular. And that's before the Supreme Court?
MR. MANCKE: That is correct. The
Commonwealth Court ruled adversely to the position that we
are taking in this case in the Whitmer versus PennDOT case.
To my knowledge --
THE COURT: You were about to give me the
cite on that.
MR. MANCKE: Yes. 880 A.2d 716, 2005, of
Commonwealth Court. The Commonwealth Court then in a
subsequent opinion granted a supersedeas in that case for
the Supreme Court to consider the issue. And that
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supersedeas opinion is at 889 A.2d 638, also 2005,
Commonwealth Court.
THE COURT: And the underlying argument, as I
understand it to be, is that because the new DUI law results
in enhanced penalties --
MR. MANCKE:
THE COURT:
The criminal penalties.
The criminal penalties, that
there would be arguably a right to speak to a lawyer about
whether or not to refuse or not because of the penalties.
MR. MANCKE: That is correct. And, in
addition, as it relates to multiple offenders, it may affect
a person's right to a jury trial as well. Because in the
second offense, tier one and two, it is an ungraded
misdemeanor, no right to a jury trial. And tier three,
second offense, has a right to a jury trial, and is graded
as an M-l, up to five years as a criminal penalty. So it is
not only the penalty issue, it also affects a person's right
to a trial by jury.
THE COURT: Which would be an argument
facially, but as applied to this petitioner, does that also
have significant application?
MR. MANCKE: Well, we would say that it would
in the sense that they have put him into the refusal setting
which automatically gave him a jury trial. If he wanted a
nonjury trial, then he should have taken the test and then
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1 taken his chances that he would have ended up in one or two
2 tier.
3 THE COURT: Oh, I see, he is now highest rate
4 because he refused?
5 MR. MANCKE: Correct.
6 THE COURT: I see. I follow.
7 MR. MANCKE: And we don't have the right to
8 waive a jury trial now unless the District Attorney agrees
9 to it. So there is implications even beyond the penalty.
10 THE COURT: I am so glad this DUI law has
11 been clarified and simplified for all of us, a great piece
12 of legislation.
13 MR. MANCKE: And then as it relates to the
14 DL-26 and the sufficiency, and the reason why we introduced
15 -- well, they introduced the one, we introduced the other,
16 there are differences between the two as it relates to
17 telling a motorist about the enhanced penalties for multiple
18 offenders. And the issue
19 THE COURT: Surely not as a result of the
20 opinion that I wrote on the matter?
21 MR. MANCKE: It may have everything to do
22 with that, Your Honor, but I will let Mr. Kabusk address
23 that.
24 THE COURT: I will read the February '05
25 version with great interest.
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1 MR. MANCKE: So that case is Weaver versus
2 PennDOT. And that's --
3 THE COURT: What paragraph are you talking
4 about?
5 MR. MANCKE: That relates to the sufficiency
6 of the warnings under 0, as to whether they were adequate.
7 THE COURT: That's DL-26?
8 MR. MANCKE: That's correct. And G also, and
9 I, and J. And the issue on the adequacy of a DL-26 in a
10 multiple offender situation was decided adversely to our
11 position by the Commonwealth Court in Weaver versus PennDOT
12 at 873 A.2d, page 1, Pa. Commonwealth 2005. The appeal,
13 however, was granted by the Supreme Court at 890 A.2d 1061
14 Pennsylvania Superior Court, 2005.
15 THE COURT: That's Superior Court?
16 MR. MANCKE: That's Pennsylvania Supreme
17 Court. If I said Superior, I meant Supreme, 2005. And it
18 is my understanding that was actually argued but not decided
19 at this point.
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THE COURT: Did you argue it, Mr. Kabusk?
MR. KABUSK: No, Your Honor.
THE COURT: They don't let you do that?
MR. KABUSK: No.
THE COURT: You are stuck with us.
MR. MANCKE: And then as it relates to the
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overall constitutionality of Act 24 of 2003, the case of
Commonwealth versus McCoy (phonetic) , which was decided by
the Superior Court
THE COURT: Which argument are you talking
about?
MR. MANCKE: Those would be items N, small i,
ii, iii, iv, v and vi.
THE COURT: Those you said, I am sorry, are
covered by what?
MR. MANCKE: The case of Commonwealth versus
McCoy by the Superior Court, and I don't have that cite,
which is embarrassing since I was the one that lost that
case, and maybe that's why I don't want to give the cite.
THE COURT:
MR. MANCKE:
THE COURT:
But it is Superior Court?
Superior Court.
It had to do with the prosecution
of a DUI case and not a license suspension?
MR. MANCKE: That is correct. But we raised
those items that are listed in this appeal.
THE COURT: Do you want to just send that to
me in a letter or call my secretary?
MR. MANCKE: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: That would be helpful.
MR. MANCKE: And as it relates to that case,
we have filed the petition for allowance of appeal. And
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1 that has not been acted upon by the Supreme Court.
2 THE COURT: That's pending.
3 MR. MANCKE: Having said that, we would
4 request the Court to leave the record open in this case
5 pending the decisions by the Supreme Court in those pending
6 cases, so that my client is not faced with having to also
7 file an appeal to the Commonwealth Court and a supersedeas
8 because of the costs involved.
9 THE COURT: Can we go down then a few of
10 these other paragraphs just to see what is not well, you
11 say you have waived nothing, but taking a look at some of
12 the things in paragraph four the issues that you have
13 just alluded to are the issues, right?
14 MR. MANCKE: Yes. With the addition --
15 THE COURT: I mean, for example, no valid
16 timely request to take a chemical test, the officer
17 requested the test within two hours.
18 MR. MANCKE: It would be a case of whether or
19 not in terms of my client's testimony, he says that he
20 was read the DL-26 and signed that later in time. And,
21 therefore, it is our position that he should have been given
22 the opportunity after he signed it to take a chemical test.
23 The officer has said that it was a different
24 set of facts, that he requested it, and that my client
25 refused. Our position is that if the Court believes my
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1 client's version, then he should have been given an
2 opportunity to submit to the chemical test after he signed
3 it, because the form itself indicates that.
4 THE COURT: In what regard? In the very end
5 it says and now I am going to ask you whether you take the
6 test or not...
7 MR. MANCKE: It says on it in capital letters
8 underlined officer note. I don't think that's changed, but
9 I want to be accurate on this. Officer Note: The refusal
10 to sign this form is not a refusal to submit to the chemical
11 test. You must still give the motorist an opportunity to
12 take the chemical test after reviewing this form. So the
13 Court would have to decide that factual issue as to the
14 timing of the request to take the chemical test and the
15 refusal.
16 THE COURT: Are you conceding if he signs the
17 form and then refuses the test, he can't change his mind and
18 say I decide to take the test?
19 MR. MANCKE: No. I am not conceding that,
20 because my client's indication was that he was willing to
21 take it within two hours. And we say that under the new law
22 two hours is critical, that my client should be given the
23 opportunity if he consents as long as it was within two
24 hours.
25 THE COURT: Well, that raises an interesting
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1 question then, because it could be that within two hours the
2 person would refuse and then leave the Booking Center and be
3 halfway to jail and then change his mind.
4 MR. MANCKE: But that didn't happen in this
5 case.
6 THE COURT: I know. In this case the
7 Breathalyzer was in the next room.
8 MR. MANCKE: And there is no indication that
9 he had consumed any alcohol in the interim period.
10 THE COURT: But there are no cases on
11 changing their mind, I wouldn't think?
12 MR. MANCKE: Not under the new law and not
13 under the two hour rule. There are cases in the past that
14 clearly indicated that if a person changed their mind later
15 that that would not negate the refusal. But under the new
16 law there is not a case yet where the agreement was within
17 the two hours to take the chemical test.
18 THE COURT: And then that's why you say in C,
19 the petitioner agreed to take the test?
20 MR. MANCKE: That's correct.
21 THE COURT: I think I understand how all
22 these paragraphs relate. Okay. Mr. Kabusk, do you want to
23 say anything on this?
24 MR. KABUSK: I guess just very briefly
25 regarding --
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1 THE COURT: Yes. Mr. Mancke really pointed
2 to the authorities, at least for today, to support your
3 position.
4 MR. KABUSK: And that's what I would point
5 to, Your Honor. I would say that the Commonwealth Court or
6 the Superior Court has spoken and the law has settled
7 somewhat --
8 THE COURT: And what about holding my
9 decision in abeyance for the record?
10 MR. KABUSK: That's
11 THE COURT: And see if I retire before he
12 gets his license suspended.
13 MR. KABUSK: That's why I could not concur
14 THE COURT: Could not concur. You have
15 chosen your words very carefully. In other words, you are
16 leaving this to me?
17 MR. KABUSK: Yes, Your Honor.
18 THE COURT: Very well. Okay. I understand.
19 Thank you, gentlemen. Unless there is anything else?
20 MR. MANCKE: Nothing further.
21 (End of proceedings)
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CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the proceedings are
contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me on
the above cause and that this is a correct transcript of
same.
~~t~
Barbara E. Graham
Official Stenographer
-----------------------------
The foregoing record of the proceedings on
the hearing of the within matter is hereby approved and
directed to be filed.
:(v- I ~
D te
'2f11O C,
J.
District
46
-
IAN H. LEREW
vs.
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
NO. 05-5805 CIVIL
COMMONWEALTH OF P A
DEPARTMENT OF BUREAU
LICENSING
AND NOW, this
APPEAL FROM LICENSE SUSPENSION
ORDER
z tt. day of December; 2006, the appeal ofIan H. Lerew from
the suspension of his driver's license is DISMISSED.
~ Mancke, Esquire
For the Appellant
BY THE COURT,
AIL
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