ROBIN KEN LEE V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
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RENDERED : JUNE 17, 2010
TO BE PUBLISHED
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2009-SC-000371-DG
ROBIN KEN LEE
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APPELLANT
ON REVIEW FROM COURT OF APPEALS
CASE NO . 2009-CA-000524-DR
HARDIN CIRCUIT COURT NO . 09-XX-00003
V.
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
APPELLEE
OPINION OF THE COURT BY JUSTICE CUNNINGHAM
AFFIRMING
At approximately 6:50 p.m. on the evening of November 28, 2007, in
Hardin County, Appellant was arrested for driving under the influence, second
offense. He was given a breathalyzer test which resulted in a reading of .209 .
Subsequent to the breathalyzer, Appellant requested a blood test. He
was immediately taken to Hardin Memorial Hospital. There, the doctor on duty
refused to give the blood test, citing in his medical records that there was no
medical basis to administer the test. Appellant was then "cleared medically to
go to jail . . . ."
Appellant entered a conditional plea to DUI, second offense, in Hardin
District Court after his motion to suppress/dismiss the case against him was
denied. The basis for Appellant's motion was that he had not been allowed to
secure an independent blood alcohol test as required by law . The trial court
ruled that the police officer had made reasonable allowances for Appellant to
have a blood alcohol test and, therefore, was in compliance with the statute .
The Hardin Circuit Court affirmed the district court's refusal to suppress
the evidence . We granted Appellant's motion for discretionary review from the
order entered by the Court of Appeals denying review in that court.
The only issue before us is whether actions of the police officer were
sufficient to accommodate Appellant's right under KRS 189A .103(7) to have an
independent blood test performed by "a person of his own choosing ."
The sparse facts involved in this case were apparently uncontested.
Therefore, whether the trial court was in error in denying the motion to
suppress is a question of law, and the standard of review is de novo. Jackson
v. Commonwealth, 187 S.W .3d 300, 305 (Ky. 2006) ; Welch v. Commonwealth,
149 S .W .3d 407, 409 (Ky. 2004) .
At the heart of this issue is KRS 189A.103(7) and the Court of Appeals'
interpretation of that statute in Commonwealth v. Long, 118 S.W .3d 178
(Ky.App . 2003) . We cite in full KRS 189A.103(7) :
After the person has submitted to all alcohol
concentration tests and substance tests requested by
the officer, the person tested shall be permitted to have
a person listed in subsection (6) of this section of his
own choosing administer a test or tests in addition to
any tests administered at the direction of the peace
officer . Tests conducted under this section shall be
conducted within a reasonable length of time .
Provided however, the nonavailability of the person
chosen to administer a test or tests in addition to
those administered at the direction of the peace officer
within a reasonable time shall not be grounds for
rendering inadmissible as evidence the results of the
test or tests administered at the direction of the peace
officer.
The Court of Appeals has adopted the "totality of the circumstances"
approach to determine whether the officer made a reasonable effort to
accommodate the request for independent testing. Long, id. In adopting this
standard, that Court also approved the five factors previously adopted by
Georgia's appellate court in State v. Buffington, 377 S .E.2d 548 (Ga.App. 1989) .
Those factors are : (1) availability of or access to funds or resources to pay for
the requested test; (2) a protracted delay in the giving of the test if the officer
complies with the accused's requests ; (3) availability of police time and other
resources; (4) location of requested facilities ; and (5) opportunity and ability of
accused to make arrangements personally for the testing. Long, 118 S.W. 3d at
184 .
In the Long case, the officer refused to take the subject to the hospital
where she worked and could have received the test, either without charge or on
credit. He also refused to allow her to make arrangements for her roommate to
bring money, so she could pay for the test at the hospital of the officer's
choosing . As a result of the officer's actions, the defendant was denied her
request for an independent blood test "by a person of his or her own choosing."
Id. at 183.
From the record here, it does not appear that Appellant requested a
particular medical provider for the test; therefore, the officer took Appellant to
the Hardin Memorial Hospital . There, the attending physician diagnosed
alcohol intoxication and declined to perform the blood test. Appellant did not
ask to be taken anywhere else. There was no testimony to suggest that the
officer had reason to suspect that that hospital or that doctor would refuse to
perform the test. As explained in Long, all that is required of the officer is
"some level of facilitation" in providing the person accused with an independent
blood test. Id.
Two pivotal facts loom over this case.
First, there is no evidence that Appellant requested a second test. Had
he done so, then the five factors in Long would have been implicated .
Secondly, there was no evidence of bad faith of the officer. More
particularly, there was no showing that the officer knew, or even had reason to
know, that the doctor at Hardin Memorial would refuse to administer the test.
Obviously, the officer had no authority over the refusing physician.
Appellant correctly argues that, under the statutory scheme as
interpreted by Long, individuals charged with driving under the influence are
required to be informed of their right to an independent test at least two
different times. Id. We do not believe that this requirement comes into play in
this case since Appellant obviously knew of his rights by requesting an
independent test, and by evidence that the officer attempted to accommodate
this request.
For the foregoing reasons, the opinio of the Court of Appeals is affirmed.
All sitting. All concur.
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT :
James Andrew Maples
420 Georgia Lane
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
Jack Conway
Attorney General
Mark Anthony Shouse
Special Assistant County Attorney
109 East Dixie Blvd .
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
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