{ "id": 8358202, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ELVIN FRANKS", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Franks", "decision_date": "1987-10-06", "docket_number": "No. 873SC174", "first_page": "265", "last_page": "268", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "87 N.C. App. 265" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "173 S.E. 2d 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1970, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "7 N.C. App. 541", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8551594 ], "year": 1970, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/7/0541-01" ] }, { "cite": "247 S.E. 2d 265", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "266" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "38 N.C. App. 40", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8551646 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "41" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/38/0040-01" ] }, { "cite": "184 S.E. 2d 243", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "279 N.C. 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571466 ], "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/279/0608-01" ] }, { "cite": "179 S.E. 2d 785", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "10 N.C. App. 726", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8555654 ], "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/10/0726-01" ] }, { "cite": "285 N.C. 597", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567152, 8567041, 8567075, 8567112 ], "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "decided under a former version of the statute, which placed regulatory authority in the State Board of Health" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/285/0597-04", "/nc/285/0597-01", "/nc/285/0597-02", "/nc/285/0597-03" ] }, { "cite": "196 S.E. 2d 706", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "decided under a former version of the statute, which placed regulatory authority in the State Board of Health" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "283 N.C. 556", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559383 ], "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "decided under a former version of the statute, which placed regulatory authority in the State Board of Health" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/283/0556-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 383, "char_count": 6436, "ocr_confidence": 0.82, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.391342495904715e-08, "percentile": 0.3958800300712513 }, "sha256": "6792e83fe13c1ada6b70fbbff7e90031a3bae2be4f01e23c0cefe177d2ea6633", "simhash": "1:a2adb27f886585be", "word_count": 1046 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:10:55.356094+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges WELLS and Eagles concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ELVIN FRANKS" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MARTIN, Judge.\nDefendant contends that the trial court committed reversible error by allowing into evidence testimony concerning the results of the breathalyzer test administered to him without first requiring the State to establish a proper foundation for such testimony. His contention has merit, entitling him to a new trial.\nG.S. 20-139.1(b) provides:\nApproval of Valid Test Methods; Licensing Chemical Analysts. \u2014 A chemical analysis, to be valid, must be performed in accordance with the provisions of this section. The chemical analysis must be performed according to methods approved by the Commission for Health Services by an individual possessing a current permit issued by the Department of Human Resources for that type of chemical analysis. The Commission for Health Services is authorized to adopt regulations approving satisfactory methods or techniques for performing chemical analyses, and the Department of Human Resources is authorized to ascertain the qualifications and competence of individuals to conduct particular chemical analyses. The Department may issue permits to conduct chemical analyses to individuals it finds qualified subject to periodic renewal, termination, and revocation of the permit in the Department\u2019s discretion.\nThis statute imposes two requirements which must be satisfied before the results of a breathalyzer test may be admitted into evidence: (1) the test must be \u201cperformed according to methods approved by the Commission for Health Services,\u201d and (2) it must be performed by someone \u201cpossessing a current permit issued by the Department of Human Resources.\u201d Id.; State v. Eubanks, 283 N.C. 556, 196 S.E. 2d 706, reh\u2019g denied, 285 N.C. 597 (1973) (decided under a former version of the statute, which placed regulatory authority in the State Board of Health).\nIn order to satisfy the second of these requirements, it is not obligatory that a copy of the necessary permit be introduced into evidence. State v. Powell, 10 N.C. App. 726, 179 S.E. 2d 785, aff\u2019d, 279 N.C. 608, 184 S.E. 2d 243 (1971). The requirement can be satisfied:\n(1) by stipulation between the defendant and the State that the individual who administers the test holds a valid permit issued by the Department of Human Resources; or (2) by offering the permit of the individual who administers the test into evidence and in the event of conviction from which an appeal is taken, by bringing forward the exhibit as a part of the record on appeal; or (3) by presenting any other evidence which shows that the individual who administered the test holds a valid permit issued by the Department of Human Resources.\nState v. Mullis, 38 N.C. App. 40, 41, 247 S.E. 2d 265, 266 (1978). The State failed in this case to show compliance with G.S. 20-139.1 (b) by any of these three methods.\nOn direct examination, Lt. Kent Overby, the officer who administered the breathalyzer test to defendant, was questioned, and answered, as follows:\nQ. And do you, in fact, sir, have a certificate to operate a Smith & Wesson Breathalyzer Model 900 that was in effect on the 3rd day of February 1986 [the date on which the breathalyzer test was administered]?\nA. Yes, sir, I do.\nThe State then attempted to introduce into evidence a permit to perform breath analysis tests issued to Lt. Overby by the N.C. Department of Human Resources. The court sustained defendant\u2019s objection to introduction of the permit as the permit showed that it was not issued until 10 March 1986, and therefore was not valid when Lt. Overby administered the test to defendant.\nAfter a short recess, the following colloquy took place:\nQ. (by Mr. Crowe [the prosecutor]) Mr. Overby, sir, you testified that you had had training with respect to a breathalyzer, is that correct, sir?\nA. Yes, sir, that\u2019s correct.\nQ. And state for the Court whether or not you had a permit that was in effect that was issued by the North Carolina Department of Human Resources to operates [sic] a Breathalyzer Model 900 Smith & Wesson on the date of February 3, 1986.\nMR. MASON: Your Honor, under the circumstances, I would object on the grounds that the Best Evidence Rule would be the certificate itself. May counsel be heard?\nTHE COURT: Overruled.\nQ. All right, sir. And how many breathalyzer tests have you ran [sic] in your career, sir?\nThe record does not reflect that Lt. Overby gave any answer to the prosecutor\u2019s question concerning whether he possessed a permit issued by the Department of Human Resources on the date he administered the breathalyzer test to defendant.\nThus, all that is shown by the evidence in the record before us is that on 3 February 1986, Lt. Overby had a \u201ccertificate\u201d to operate a Smith & Wesson Model 900 Breathalyzer instrument. We find no evidence to show who issued the \u201ccertificate\u201d to Lt. Overby. Therefore, it was error to admit Lt. Overby\u2019s testimony concerning the results of defendant\u2019s breathalyzer test, State v. Mullis, supra; State v. Caviness, 7 N.C. App. 541, 173 S.E. 2d 12 (1970); and such error entitles defendant to a new trial.\nWe have examined defendant\u2019s other assignments of error and find them without merit.\nNew trial.\nJudges WELLS and Eagles concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "MARTIN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Lacy H. Thornburg, by Special Deputy Attorney General Isaac T. Avery, III, for the State.", "L. Patten Mason, P.A., by L. Patten Mason, for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. ELVIN FRANKS\nNo. 873SC174\n(Filed 6 October 1987)\nAutomobiles and Other Vehicles \u00a7 126.3\u2014 breathalyzer results \u2014 failure to establish operator\u2019s qualifications\nThe trial court in a DWI case committed reversible error in admitting testimony concerning the results of a breathalyzer test administered to defendant where the evidence showed only that the breathalyzer operator had a \u201ccertificate\u201d to operate a Smith & Wesson Model 900 Breathalyzer but there was no evidence that he possessed a permit issued by the Department of Human Resources on the date he administered the breathalyzer test to defendant. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20139.1(b).\nAPPEAL by defendant from Llewellyn, Judge. Judgment entered 30 September 1986 in Superior Court, CARTERET County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 22 September 1987.\nDefendant was convicted by a jury of operating a motor vehicle while subject to an impairing substance, in violation of G.S. 20-138.1. The court determined that Level Five punishment should be imposed and entered judgment imposing a fine and suspended sentence. Defendant appeals.\nAttorney General Lacy H. Thornburg, by Special Deputy Attorney General Isaac T. Avery, III, for the State.\nL. Patten Mason, P.A., by L. Patten Mason, for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0265-01", "first_page_order": 293, "last_page_order": 296 }