{
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  "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ERIC C. CARLSON, Defendant-Appellee",
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    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ERIC C. CARLSON, Defendant-Appellee."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "JUSTICE HOMER\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThe defendant, Eric C. Carlson, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). He submitted to a breathalyzer test, which disclosed a blood-alcohol concentration of .10, and his driver\u2019s license was summarily suspended (625 ILCS 5/11\u2014501.1 (West 1998)). The defendant filed a petition to rescind the suspension based on an illegal arrest (625 ILCS 5/2\u2014118.1(b) (West 1998)). The trial court granted the petition, and the State appeals. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.\nFACTS\nAt the rescission hearing, Mercer County Sheriffs Deputy Gordon Nichols testified in the defendant\u2019s case in chief as an adverse witness. Nichols testified that around 3 a.m. on October 9, 1998, he observed the defendant\u2019s vehicle parked along the side of Spur Road at the intersection with Illinois Route 17. Nichols observed no one in the vehicle as he drove by; no lights were on and no exhaust was being emitted. He pulled up behind the vehicle, activated his emergency flashers and approached on foot to investigate. The defendant appeared unconscious in the driver\u2019s seat. Nichols could not tell if he was alive or dead. The keys were in the ignition and there was condensation on the windshield. No one else was in the vicinity.\nNichols tapped on the window and awakened the defendant, who initially moved his hand as if to smoke a cigarette that was not there. At Nichols\u2019 request, the defendant rolled down the window. Nichols immediately detected a strong odor of alcohol. After the defendant identified himself, Nichols asked him to step outside and produce a driver\u2019s license. Nichols said the defendant had trouble locating his license; he had bloodshot eyes; he was unsteady and confused; and he appeared to have wet himself. Nichols also observed a cigarette that had extinguished itself beside the seat. The defendant told Nichols he was waiting for a ride. Nichols then arrested the defendant and transported him to the county jail, where he was given statutory warnings and subsequently failed a breathalyzer test.\nFollowing Nichols\u2019 testimony, the State introduced Nichols\u2019 sworn report of the arrest. No other evidence was presented. The trial court granted the defendant\u2019s petition, finding that the defendant was subjected to an unreasonable search and seizure.\nANALYSIS\nOn appeal, the State argues that the trial court\u2019s ruling is manifestly erroneous and must be reversed because the defendant failed to make a prima facia case that he was entitled to rescission.\nThe statutory summary suspension of a defendant\u2019s driver\u2019s license may be rescinded upon evidence that, at the time of the defendant\u2019s arrest, the officer lacked reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. 625 ILCS 5/2\u2014118.1(b) (West 1998). In a hearing on a petition to rescind, the defendant bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. People v. Hood, 265 Ill. App. 3d 232, 638 N.E.2d 264 (1994). Once the defendant presents a prima facie case for rescission, the State must then come forward with evidence justifying the summary suspension of driving privileges. People v. Orth, 124 Ill. 2d 326, 530 N.E.2d 210 (1988). Generally, a trial court\u2019s ruling on a petition to rescind a summary suspension is entitled to great deference and will not be reversed unless it was against the manifest weight of the evidence. People v. Smith, 266 Ill. App. 3d 362, 640 N.E.2d 647 (1994)). A determination is against the manifest weight of the evidence when the opposite conclusion is clearly evident from the record. Hood, 265 Ill. App. 3d 232, 638 N.E.2d 264.\nThe trial court in this case ruled that Nichols\u2019 encounter with the defendant was a seizure for fourth amendment purposes when Nichols asked him to step out of his car. At that point, the court found, Nichols lacked even a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Therefore, the court concluded, the defendant was illegally arrested and entitled to rescission of the statutory summary suspension of his driver\u2019s license.\nThere are three recognized tiers of police-citizen encounters. People v. Murray, 137 Ill. 2d 382, 560 N.E.2d 309 (1990). Whether an encounter constitutes (1) an arrest, (2) a \u201cTerry\u201d stop (see Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 88 S. Ct. 1868 (1968)) or (3) a \u201ccommunity caretaking\u201d function depends on the degree of the intrusion or coerciveness surrounding the detention. Murray, 137 Ill. 2d 382, 560 N.E.2d 309. To survive fourth amendment scrutiny, an arrest must be supported by probable cause, and a Terry stop requires the officer\u2019s reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. By contrast, a \u201ccommunity caretaking\u201d encounter does not involve a \u201cseizure\u201d of the citizen. Murray, 137 Ill. 2d 382, 560 N.E.2d 309. Thus, the police may question a citizen without triggering fourth amendment protections during a \u201ccommunity caretaking\u201d encounter, so long as the officer does not convey by use of force or a show of authority that compliance with his inquiry is required. Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 115 L. Ed. 2d 389, 111 S. Ct. 2382 (1991). Compelled compliance may be shown by: (1) the presence of several police officers; (2) the display of a weapon; (3) an officer\u2019s physical contact with the citizen; and (4) an officer\u2019s use of language or tone of voice commanding compliance. Murray, 137 Ill. 2d 382, 560 N.E.2d 309; Smith, 266 Ill. App. 3d 362, 640 N.E.2d 647. In the absence of such factors, it has been held that an officer may peaceably approach a parked vehicle, awaken the sleeping driver and request that he step outside and show his driver\u2019s license, all within the officer\u2019s \u201ccommunity caretaking\u201d function. Murray, 137 Ill. 2d 382, 560 N.E.2d 309; see also People v. Crocker, 267 Ill. App. 3d 343, 641 N.E.2d 1237 (1994).\nIn this case, the defendant failed to introduce any evidence that he felt compelled to comply with Nichols\u2019 request to roll down his window or that this initial request constituted a Terry stop or a \u201cseizure.\u201d Nichols was alone and there was no evidence that he displayed a weapon, made physical contact with the defendant, or used a commanding voice. Nichols testified that he could not recall whether his overhead lights were activated; however, even if they were, the defendant was asleep when Nichols approached, thereby dispelling any potentially threatening or coercive effect of Nichols\u2019 initial approach. Nichols testified that he could not tell if the defendant was alive until the defendant was roused and began fumbling as if to smoke a cigarette that was not there. Based on the evidence, it is clearly apparent that Nichols\u2019 initial encounter with the defendant was not a Terry stop or a \u201cseizure,\u201d but fell squarely within the officer\u2019s \u201ccommunity caretaking\u201d functions. See Murray, 137 Ill. 2d 382, 560 N.E.2d 309; Crocker, 267 Ill. App. 3d 343, 641 N.E.2d 1237. When the window was opened, the officer immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol. The officer at that point had an articulable suspicion that the defendant had violated section 11\u2014501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11\u2014501 (West 1998)), and he was justified in asking the defendant to step outside for a further investigation pursuant to Terry v. Ohio. See People v. Smith, 224 Ill. App. 3d 511, 586 N.E.2d 785 (1992).\nOnce the defendant stepped outside, the totality of the circumstances, including the defendant\u2019s appearance, conduct and odor, gave Nichols reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant had committed the offense of DUI. At that point, the officer had probable cause to arrest the defendant, and he did so. See Crocker, 267 Ill. App. 3d 343, 641 N.E.2d 1237.\nIn sum, we conclude that the defendant failed to establish a prima facie case entitling him to a rescission of the statutory summary suspension of his driver\u2019s license. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court\u2019s ruling granting the defendant\u2019s petition.\nCONCLUSION\nFor the reasons stated, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court of Mercer County and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.\nReversed and remanded.\nLYTTON and KOEHLER, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "JUSTICE HOMER"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Baron S. Heintz, State\u2019s Attorney, of Aledo (John X. Breslin and Richard T. Leonard, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People.",
      "Herbert F. Schultz, of Rock Island, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ERIC C. CARLSON, Defendant-Appellee.\nThird District\nNo. 3\u201498\u20141020\nOpinion filed September 1, 1999.\nBaron S. Heintz, State\u2019s Attorney, of Aledo (John X. Breslin and Richard T. Leonard, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People.\nHerbert F. Schultz, of Rock Island, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0077-01",
  "first_page_order": 95,
  "last_page_order": 99
}