The opinion
STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT
AROOSTOOK,ss CIVIL ACTION
DOCKET NO. CARSC-AP-16-003
DANA BEAULIEU )
)
)
)
VS. ) DECISION AND ORDER
)
) RULE 80C APPEAL
)
)
)
)
SECRETARY OF STATE )
)
On August 12, 2016 Dana Beaulieu, the Petitioner, filed a Petition for Review
pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. BOC and 5 MRSA Section 11002 seeking to overturn the
suspension of his driver's license by the Secretary of State.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND AND FACTS
A review of the record supports the following findings. On March 17, 2016 the
Secretary of State sent to Petitioner a notice of suspension of his driver's license
pursuant to 29-A MRSA Section 2453. Petitioner requested a hearing and the
Secretary of State issued a Notice of Hearing setting the matter for June 3, 2016. The
Notice of Hearing incorrectly identified the statutory issues as Section 2453-A,
which is an OUJ-ctrug hearing rather than a Section 2453 OUI hearing.
All parties were present for the June 3, 2016 hearing. At the beginning of the
hearing, the hearing officer correctly identified the issues as being pursuant to
Section 2453. Evidence was presented on the Section 2453 issues, and Petitioner
fully participated with an extensive cross-examination of the arresting officer. Only
at the end of the hearing was it noticed or pointed out that the notice of hearing
incorrectly referenced Section 2453-A. 1 Petitioner moved to rescind the
suspension, which was denied. But the hearing examiner did allow Petitioner
additional time to brief and submit a memorandum supporting his position. In
1 In fact the Hearing Officer had closed the hearing and gone off record, and during
that off record period the inaccuracy in the hearing notice was detected. Tr. 98.
2 The intoxilyzer test was conducted by a certified operator, whose certification
1
addition, before issuing a final written decision, a corrected notice was issued. There
is no evidence on the record to demonstrate or indicate that the Petitioner was
prejudiced by the inaccurate hearing notice 01· that the Petitioner would have
conducted the hearing differently.
At the June 3, 2016 hearing the issues litigated were: 1. Was there probable cause to
believe the Petitioner was operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above the
legal limits; and 2. Did the Petitioner operate a motor vehicle with an alcohol level
above the legal limits.
Regarding probable cause, at the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer orally
made on the record preliminary findings of erratic operation(difficulty keeping,
maintaining the vehicle in the lane), an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and
unsteadiness on his feet "even without considering the various specific field
sobrieties." Tr. 96-97.
In her written decision, the hearing officer made findings which included:
-the officer observed Petitioner's vehicle weaving in its lane, and touching or
crossing the yellow line four times;
-the officer detected an odor of alcohol, the Petitioner's speech was slul'red
and he was unsteady on his feet;
-the field sobriety tests administered by the officer were not done in
accordance with NHTSA guidelines but were corroborative of his observations of
unsteadiness.
In addition, the intoxilyzer test results indicating the Petitioner's blood alcohol level
was 0.16 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath was admitted as evidence. 2 Based
on these findings, the hearing examiner ruled there was probable cause to believe
the Petitioner operated a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level above the legal
limits and that he did operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level above the
legal limits.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In reviewing directly the record of an administrative hearing, the court determines
whether the hearing examiner abused her discretion, committed an error oflaw, or
made findings not supported by substantial evidence in the whole !'ecord. Abraham
v. Secretary ofState, 584 A.2d 688,670 (Me. 1991). The Court will not substitute its
own judgment for that of the hearing examiner merely because the record could
support more than one result. Id. Where the Superior Court acts as an intermediate
2 The intoxilyzer test was conducted by a certified operator, whose certification
number was noted on the test; therefore the test result was admitted without
testimony from that certified operator.
2
appellate court, ''we review the hearing examiner's decision directly for abuse of
discretion, error of law, or findings not supported by substantial evidence in the
record." Payson v. Secretary of State, 634 A.2d 1278, 1279 (Me. 1993). The agency's
factual determinations must be sustained unless shown to be clearly erroneous."
lmagineering Inc. v. Superintendent ofIns. 593 A.2d 1050, 1053 (Me. 1991) The party
seeking to vacate the agency decision bears the burden of persuasion on appeal.
Zegel v. Board ofSocial Licensure, 2004 ME 31, P. 14.
Probable Cause
Petitioner asserts that the arresting officer was not properly trained or
knowledgeable in the administration of field sobriety tests or other aspects of OUI
investigations, and therefore any determinations or findings by him of probable
cause were compromised and unreliable. Petitione1· also asserts the field tests were
not performed properly.
However, the probable cause standard to require a person to take a blood test has a
very low threshold. State v. Webster, 2000 ME 115, P.7. And that is because a person
can be found guilty of operating under the influence if his senses are "impaired
however slightly" or" to any extent".ld, Therefore, for probable cause, the officer
needs only evidence that the person's senses are affected to the slightest degree, or
to any extent, by alcohol. Jd.
In Webster~ the court found that the arresting officer's testimony of unsteadiness,
and failure of field sobriety tests was inaccurate. None-the-less, observations of
driving maneuvers, the odor of alcohol and statements about consumption were
found to be sufficient probable cause. The field sobriety tests are not contrnlling. /d.
In this case, the record shows the officer observed erratic operation, detected an
odor of alcohol, and observed slurred speech and unsteadiness. Those observations
without field sobriety tests are sufficient probable cause to believe the Petitioner
was operating under the influence and are sufficient to support the hearing officer's
findings of probable cause.
The arresting officer did not conduct the field sobriety tests in accordance with
NHTSA guidelines. But an officer's failure to strictly adhere to those guidelines or
procedures does not render evidence regarding the field sobriety tests inadmissible
or without value in determining whether a suspect is under the influence. State v.
Fay, 2015 ME 160, P.7. In her written decision, the hearing officer wrote "Field
sobriety tests were not conducted precisely according to NHTSA guidelines, but
were generally corroborative of the prior observation of unsteadiness." The hearing
officer's consideration of the field sobriety tests under such constraints is proper
and consistent with Fay.
3
The hearing officer's finding of probable cause is supported by substantial evidence
in the record and are not erroneous, and therefore will be sustained.
Petitioner also asserts the intoxilyzer test results should not have been admitted
since the evidence suggests that the arresting officer was pre-occupied writing
notes during the 15 minute wait period. However, the test was not administered by
the arresting officer but instead by a certified intoxilyzer operator. There is no
evidence of irregularities in the test administration by the certified operator. The
written test report signed by the certified operator was properly admitted into
evidence and properly considered by the hearing officer.
Due Process and Inaccurate Notice of Hearing
Petitioner argues he was denied due process by being issued a notice of hearing that
incorrectly identified the statutory issues to be addressed as pursuant to Section
2453-A. Due process does require notice of the issues, an opportunity to be heard,
the right to introduce evidence and present witnesses, the right to respond to claims
and evidence, and an impartial factfinder. In re Kristy YL2000 ME 98. And a court
may vacate an agency's action if it results in "procedural unfairness". Hopkinsy.
Dep't ofHuman Servs., 2002 ME 129, P.12. However, with respect to defective notice,
a petitioner must show he was prejudiced by the defective notice. Id. at P. 13.
In Hopkins, plaintiffs were issued a technically improper notice that did not inform
them of the specific sections on which DHHS was acting. However because the
plaintiffs were aware of the reasons for the action and could not show prejudice
arising from the defective notice, the Court ruled their due process rights were not
violated.
The facts of this case are very similar to Hopkins. Although the notice of hearing
incorrectly referenced Section 2453-A, Petitioner was originally notified his license
was suspended pursuant to Section 2453. Section 2453 was cited at the beginning of
the hearing, and the issues addressed at the hearing were Section 2453 issues. In
other words, the hearing was conducted and petitioner fully participated with
Section 2453 issues being litigated. The record indicates neither party was aware of
the incorrect notice until the end of the hearing. The hearing was closed and off
record when apparently the discrepancy was identified. Once alerted to the mistake,
the Petitioner was afforded time to brief the issue more fully and submit additional
information. However, there is no evidence in the record which even remotely
suggests the Petitioner was prejudiced or his due process rights violated. In addition
to allowing petitioner additional time, a corrected notice was issued. But the
issuance of a corrected notice was not necessary. In short, at the hearing held June 3,
2016, the proceedings were conducted, evidence was admitted and subjected to
examination and the parties otherwise conducted themselves as if on notice of a
Section 2453 hearing despite the written notice incorrectly referencing Section
2453-A. Nothing different would have occurred had the notice referenced Section
2453. There is simply no evidence of prejudice.
4
'd.
Dated: November~2 016
Justice, Superior Court
s
Appeal
Date 08/12/2016 Aroostoo Docket CARSC-AP-2016-003
Filed k No.
County
Action soc
Plaintiff Dana Beaulieu Defendant State of Maine
vs.
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Attorney Gene Sullivan, Jr. Attorney Donald Macomber
Date of Entry
2016
08/22/2016 Petition and request for Stay filed on 08/12/2016 by Atty Sullivan.
08/26/2016 Respondent's Opposition to Petitioner's Mtn for Stay filed by AAG
Donald Macomber on 08/22/2016.
09/12/2016 Record of Proceeding filed by AAG Macomber on 09/09/2016.
09/15/2016 Order on Petitioner's Motion for Stay- "denied" (J. Stewart)
09/13/2016.
Notice and Briefing Schedule issued 09/14/2016.
10/19/2016 Petitioner's Brief filed by Atty. Sullivan by email on 10/18/2016.
Hard copy to follow by mail.
10/20/2016 Original Petitioner's Brief filed by Atty. Sullivan on 10/19/2016.
10/24/2016 Brief of the Respondent, the Secretary of State filed by AAG Macomber
on 10/24/2016.
11/21/2016 Petitioner's Reply Brief filed 11/07/2016 by Atty. Sullivan.
11/21/2016 Decision and Order signed by Justice Stewart on 11/16/2016.