State v. O'CONNOR

Sep 26, 1984
Versions:531 A.2d 741
220 N.J. Super. 104

PER CURIAM.

Defendant appeals his conviction for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a). He was stopped while operating his vehicle at approximately 2:48 A.M. on April 17, 1983. In response to questions asked at the State Police station, defendant acknowledged having consumed three Bloody Marys between 11:00 P.M. and 2:45 A.M. Two breathalyzer readings were then taken, the first at 3:15 A.M. and the second at 3:25 A.M. Both indicated a blood alcohol concentration of .12%. The statute under which he was convicted prohibits any person “with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% or more by weight of alcohol in the ... blood” from operating a motor vehicle.

Defendant argues that N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a) violates the requirements of due process by imposing a mandatory presumption of intoxication. The argument is stopped short, however, by the fact that the statute does not create a presumption. It flatly prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by any driver whose blood alcohol concentration equals or exceeds .10%, and the penal consequences for violations thereof apply without regard to whether the operator‘s ability to drive a motor vehicle is impaired. We find no lack of clarity in the terms of the statute, nor discern any constitutional impediment to their enforcement. For analyses of similar statutes reaching the same result in other jurisdictions see Fuenning v. Superior Ct., County of Maricopa, 139 Ariz. 590, 680 P.2d 121, 126-127 (Sup.Ct. 1983); State v. Thompson, 138 Ariz. 341, 674 P.2d 895, 898-899 (Ct.App. 1983); State v. Lujan, 139 Ariz. 236, 677 P.2d 1344, 1346-1347 (Ct.App. 1984); Burg v. Municipal Ct. for Santa Clara Judicial Dist., 144 Cal. App.3d 169, 192 Cal. Rptr. 531 (Ct.App. 1983), aff‘d 35 Cal.3d 257, 198 Cal. Rptr. 145, 673 P.2d 732, 737-739 (Sup.Ct. 1983) cert. denied, 466 U.S. 967, 104 S.Ct. 2337, 80 L.Ed.2d 812 (1984); City of Seattle v. Urban, 32 Wash. App. 634, 648 P.2d 922, 924-925 (Ct.App. 1982); People v. Ziltz, 98 Ill.2d 38, 74 Ill.Dec. 40, 42-43, 455 N.E.2d 70, 72-73 (Sup.Ct. 1983); State v. Abbott, 15 Or. App. 205, 514 P.2d 355, 357 (Ct.App. 1973); Coxe v. State, 281 A.2d 606, 607-608 (Del. Sup.Ct. 1971); State v. Gerdes, 252 N.W.2d 335, 335-336 (S.D. Sup.Ct. 1977).

We conclude that a breathalyzer reading of .12% obtained 27 minutes after operation of the vehicle is sufficient to support a finding that defendant‘s blood alcohol concentration at the time of operating the motor vehicle was .10% or more.

Affirmed.