People v. Hall

61 N.Y.2d 834 (1984)

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Edward W. Hall, Appellant.

Court of Appeals of the State of New York.

Argued January 6, 1984.

Decided February 21, 1984.

Bruce J. Miller for appellant.

Denis Dillon, District Attorney (Douglas R. Noll and Anthony J. Girese of counsel), for respondent.

Chief Judge COOKE and Judges JASEN, JONES, WACHTLER, MEYER and KAYE concur; Judge SIMONS taking no part.

*835MEMORANDUM.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

Defendant was convicted after a jury trial of criminally negligent homicide (Penal Law, § 125.10), arising out of a single-car accident on November 3, 1979 in which defendant was the operator of the vehicle and as a result of which his passenger was killed. After the impact and while unconscious, defendant was taken to a hospital. While there and still in that condition, he was arrested and a blood sample was extracted which indicated that he was intoxicated at the time of the occurrence.

Defendant argues that, under this court's decision in People v Moselle (57 N.Y.2d 97), the chemical blood test results should have been suppressed because a blood sample taken pursuant to section 1194 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, without a separate court order, may not be used in prosecutions brought under the Penal Law. This argument was not properly preserved for this court's review as defendant failed to raise that specific argument at the suppression hearing (see People v Colon, 54 N.Y.2d 913, 914-915; People v Thomas, 50 N.Y.2d 467, 471).

Alternatively, defendant claims that the results of the analysis of his blood should not have been admitted because it was not taken in compliance with section 1194 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. This is not persuasive, as the sample was taken within two hours of the arrest by a registered nurse at the request of a police officer, who had reasonable grounds to believe that defendant had been operating a vehicle in violation of section 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Defendant's consent to provide a blood sample was implied under section 1194 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, notwithstanding that he was unconscious at the time of the blood withdrawal (see People v Kates, 53 N.Y.2d 591, 595-596). The statute's requirements having been met, there was no basis for suppression.

Defendant's other arguments have been considered and found to be without merit.

Order affirmed in a memorandum.