{ "id": 798912, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. LANCE ALBERT SNYDER", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Snyder", "decision_date": "1996-04-04", "docket_number": "No. 210PA95", "first_page": "61", "last_page": "71", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "343 N.C. 61" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "455 S.E.2d 914", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "118 N.C. App. 540", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11919618 ], "year": 1995, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/118/0540-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 ALR3d 938", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "17 ALR3d 1285", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "17 ALR3d 1181", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "14 ALR3d 1335", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "410 S.E.2d 516", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "change made in the indictment from \"knife\" to \"firearm\" did not alter the burden of proof or constitute a substantial change prohibited by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 N.C. App. 558", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523002 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "change made in the indictment from \"knife\" to \"firearm\" did not alter the burden of proof or constitute a substantial change prohibited by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/104/0558-01" ] }, { "cite": "358 S.E.2d 527", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "320 N.C. 516", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4729315, 4724903, 4726185, 4727503, 4724211 ], "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/320/0516-03", "/nc/320/0516-04", "/nc/320/0516-02", "/nc/320/0516-05", "/nc/320/0516-01" ] }, { "cite": "355 S.E.2d 186", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "85 N.C. App. 500", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12170080 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/85/0500-01" ] }, { "cite": "435 S.E.2d 88", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "traffic lane between grocery store and parking lot" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "112 N.C. App. 232", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520993 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "traffic lane between grocery store and parking lot" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/112/0232-01" ] }, { "cite": "451 S.E.2d 19", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "privately maintained paved road in privately owned mobile home park" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "117 N.C. App. 457", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525767 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "privately maintained paved road in privately owned mobile home park" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/117/0457-01" ] }, { "cite": "346 S.E.2d 141", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 337", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4777479, 4779848, 4775277, 4775760, 4775935 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0337-03", "/nc/317/0337-05", "/nc/317/0337-04", "/nc/317/0337-02", "/nc/317/0337-01" ] }, { "cite": "173 S.E.2d 765", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1970, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "773" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "276 N.C. 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8562463 ], "year": 1970, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "546" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/276/0535-01" ] }, { "cite": "341 S.E.2d 96", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "97" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "80 N.C. App. 151", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522312 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "153" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/80/0151-01" ] }, { "cite": "389 S.E.2d 131", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "change to indictment which stated victim's name as Pettress Cebron to correctly reflect the victim's name as Cebron Pettress was not a prohibited amendment" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 N.C. App. 472", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521736 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "change to indictment which stated victim's name as Pettress Cebron to correctly reflect the victim's name as Cebron Pettress was not a prohibited amendment" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/97/0472-01" ] }, { "cite": "414 S.E.2d 764", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "331 N.C. 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2501123, 2502629, 2502194, 2498873, 2502586 ], "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/331/0120-01", "/nc/331/0120-03", "/nc/331/0120-05", "/nc/331/0120-02", "/nc/331/0120-04" ] }, { "cite": "190 S.E.2d 468", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "281 N.C. 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8576001, 8576043, 8576012, 8576027, 8576060 ], "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/281/0625-01", "/nc/281/0625-04", "/nc/281/0625-02", "/nc/281/0625-03", "/nc/281/0625-05" ] }, { "cite": "188 S.E.2d 586", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "589" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "14 N.C. App. 501", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8550617 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "504" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/14/0501-01" ] }, { "cite": "320 S.E.2d 405", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 79", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4755749 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0079-01" ] }, { "cite": "313 S.E.2d 196", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "197" }, { "page": "197" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "67 N.C. App. 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526757 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "515" }, { "page": "515" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/67/0512-01" ] }, { "cite": "192 S.E.2d 294", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "296" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "282 N.C. 240", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564162 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "244" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/282/0240-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15-153", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "323 S.E.2d 343", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "346" }, { "page": "346" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 432", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4756963 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "434-35" }, { "page": "435" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0432-01" ] }, { "cite": "313 S.E.2d 556", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "558" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "310 N.C. 596", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2396898 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "598" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/310/0596-01" ] }, { "cite": "212 S.E.2d 103", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "105" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "286 N.C. 541", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8569342 ], "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "544" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/286/0541-01" ] }, { "cite": "170 S.E.2d 913", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "916" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "276 N.C. 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560017 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "65" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/276/0060-01" ] }, { "cite": "468 S.E.2d 221", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "225" } ], "opinion_index": 1 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 942, "char_count": 24509, "ocr_confidence": 0.746, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.672446313865748e-07, "percentile": 0.9713253552620249 }, "sha256": "2366411de874dad5789dbe966a072fe71af258794a23fc2a8d9f74ae8dee2650", "simhash": "1:bf0dc673d62b0576", "word_count": 4084 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:14:44.802104+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. LANCE ALBERT SNYDER" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ORR, Justice.\nDefendant is appealing from his sixth conviction in the last ten years for impaired driving offenses. On 19 November 1993, defendant pled guilty to the offense of habitual impaired driving and was convicted by a jury of the offenses of driving while impaired (DWI) and being a habitual felon. The evidence presented at trial tended to show that on 11 May 1993, Officer Long of the Greensboro Police Department responded to a call describing a disturbance involving an individual, the defendant, with a knife at the Lost Dimensions Nightclub (\u201cthe Club\u201d). When Long arrived at the Club, the Club manager told Long that the man causing the disturbance was driving a beige station wagon in the Club\u2019s parking lot. After locating and stopping the vehicle being driven by defendant, Long approached the vehicle and asked defendant to exit it. Long noticed that defendant needed to hold on to the vehicle to maintain his balance, that he smelled very strongly of alcohol, and that his speech was slurred. Long asked defendant to perform several field sobriety tests, which defendant failed. Long arrested the defendant for DWI.\nDefendant was taken to the police department where Officer Cuthbertson administered further sobriety and physical tests to determine the extent of his impairment. After refusing to submit to a Breathalyzer test, defendant was taken to the magistrate\u2019s office. Based on their observations of defendant on 11 May 1993, Long and Cuthbertson formed the opinion that defendant had consumed sufficient alcohol to be \u201cappreciably impaired.\u201d Subsequently, on 7 June 1993, defendant was indicted in two separate indictments for driving while impaired (\u201cDWI\u201d) and habitual impaired driving (\u201cthe DWI indictment\u201d) and for being a habitual felon.\nOn 18 November 1993, after a mistrial was declared due to the illness of a juror, the case was tried before a second jury. During this new trial, the State presented the following evidence regarding the Club\u2019s parking lot on which defendant was observed driving: The Club is located on a service road at 510 Farragut Street off Randleman Road near Interstate 40. The Club parking lot opens up onto Farragut Street. Officer Long testified that the Club sits on a small hill with a Budget Motel next door. There is a top-level asphalt parking lot for the Club that wraps around the back. He further testified as follows:\nThe parking lot winds around the back, and then, there\u2019s a spot right behind the back [of the Club] by a dumpster that has enough room if you wanted to try and drive through there. Then, the parking lot wraps around and leads to the back, and this is the hotel. There\u2019s two separate buildings for the hotel, which are separated by an area. The parking lot winds around, and there\u2019s parking spots for the rooms there, and you can drive up ... .\nMark Pulliam, general manager, testified that the Club is a private club and that the Club\u2019s policy restricts the use of the Club to members and their guests and only during the Club\u2019s open business hours; it is not open to the public. He further testified that Club members may not park in the lot overnight without special permission from Club management and that the Club does not permit patrons of the motel to use the Club\u2019s parking lot. On cross-examination, Pulliam testified that the Club enforces this policy by not permitting use of the Club\u2019s parking lot by nonmembers, by not permitting any loitering by the public, and by not allowing Club members to use the lot when they are not in the Club. On redirect examination, Pulliam testified that there is no membership card required to get into the parking lot. Finally, on recross examination, when asked by defense counsel whether a person who came into the parking but did not go into the Club would have to leave, Pulliam testified that nonmembers are allowed to park in the lot to \u201ccome in and check things out. . . . [Everybody is welcome in the lobby.\u201d\nAt the close of the State\u2019s evidence, defendant, who offered no evidence, moved to dismiss all charges because the State failed to offer sufficient evidence that \u201cdefendant. . . unlawfully, willfully did operate a motor vehicle on a street or highway while subject to an impairing substance\u201d as charged in the DWI indictment. (Emphasis added.) The State then moved to amend the DWI indictment to read \u201con a highway or public vehicular area.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Over defendant\u2019s objection, the trial court granted the State\u2019s motion to amend the DWI indictment and denied defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss. Subsequently, the jury found defendant guilty of all charges, and the trial court entered judgment against him and sentenced him to forty years in prison.\nOn appeal to the Court of Appeals, defendant contended that the trial court erred (1) by granting the State\u2019s motion to amend the DWI indictment to include the allegation that defendant drove in a \u201cpublic vehicular area,\u201d (2) by denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence to prove that defendant was driving on a \u201cstreet or highway,\u201d and (3) by instructing the jury that the parking lot of the Club is a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d as a matter of law. The Court of Appeals arrested judgment and commitment on all charges, holding that the trial court erred in amending the DWI indictment and in failing to dismiss the charges stemming from the flawed indictment. The Court of Appeals further held that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that the Club\u2019s parking lot was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d as a matter of law, as this removed an essential element of the offense charged from the jury\u2019s consideration.\nOn 27 July 1995, this Court granted discretionary review.\nI.\nThe first issue before this Court is whether the trial court erred in granting the State\u2019s motion to amend the DWI indictment that defendant operated a motor vehicle on \u201ca street or highway\u201d to read \u201con a highway or public vehicular area.\u201d Defendant contends that such amendment was not proper because it substantially altered the charge contained in the bill of indictment, thereby violating defendant\u2019s right to an indictment by a grand jury as guaranteed by Article I, Section 22 of the North Carolina Constitution and pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-641(a).\nJurisdiction to try an accused for a felony depends upon a valid bill of indictment guaranteed by Article I, Section 22 of the North Carolina Constitution. State v. McBane, 276 N.C. 60, 65, 170 S.E.2d 913, 916 (1969). An indictment charging a statutory offense must allege all of the essential elements of the offense. State v. Crabtree, 286 N.C. 541, 544, 212 S.E.2d 103, 105 (1975).\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e) provides that \u201c[a] bill of indictment may not be amended.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e) (1988). This Court has interpreted the term \u201camendment\u201d under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e) to mean \u201cany change in the indictment which would substantially alter the charge set forth in the indictment.\u201d State v. Price, 310 N.C. 596, 598, 313 S.E.2d 556, 558 (1984). In State v. Coker, this Court stated that an\nindictment or criminal charge is constitutionally sufficient if it apprises the defendant of the charge against him with enough certainty to enable him to prepare his defense and to protect him from subsequent prosecution for the same offense. The indictment must also enable the court to know what judgment to pronounce in the event of conviction.\nState v. Coker, 312 N.C. 432, 434-35, 323 S.E.2d 343, 346 (1984).\nAn indictment is sufficient in form for all intents and purposes if it expresses the charge in a plain, intelligible and explicit manner. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 15-153 (1983). It will not be quashed \u201cby-reasons of any informality or refinement, if[,] in the bill or proceeding, sufficient matter appears to enable the court to proceed to judgment.\u201d [State v. Russell, 282 N.C. 240, 244, 192 S.E.2d 294, 296 (1972)]. It is generally held that the language in a statutorily prescribed form of criminal pleading is sufficient if the act or omission is clearly set forth so that a person of common understanding may know what is intended. 41 Am. Jur. 2d, Indictments and Informations \u00a7 68 (1968).\nCoker, 312 N.C. at 435, 323 S.E.2d at 346.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-138.1(a) provides in pertinent part that \u201ca person commits the offense of impaired driving if he drives any vehicle upon any highway, any street, or any public vehicular area within this State . . . while under the influence of an impaired substance.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-138.1(a)(1) (1988). With regard to indictments in any prosecution for impaired driving, the situs of the impaired driving offense is one of the essential elements of the offense charged. See State v. Bowen, 67 N.C. App. 512, 515, 313 S.E.2d 196, 197, appeal dismissed, 312 N.C. 79, 320 S.E.2d 405 (1984). However, there simply has to be an al-legation of a situs that is included within the parameters of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-138.1(a) that defendant drove a vehicle on \u201cany highway, any street, or any public vehicular area.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-138.1(a) (emphasis added). Greater specificity is not required.\nIn the instant case, defendant contends that the DWI indictment was fatally defective because the omission of the phrase \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d removed from the jury\u2019s consideration the situs of the offense \u2014 an essential element of the DWI offense charged. He argues that the subsequent amendment resulted in a substantial deviation from the charge alleged and upon which defendant was tried. Specifically, defendant argues that the term \u201cstreet\u201d in the DWI indictment was referring to \u201cstreet\u201d as defined in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(46) as a \u201chighway.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(13) defines \u201chighway\u201d as \u201c[t]he entire width between property or right-of-way lines of every way or place of whatever nature, when any part thereof is open to the use of the pub-lie as a matter of right for'the purposes of vehicular traffic.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(13) (1993). Because defendant was stopped in a parking lot, he contends that, the original indictment was fatally flawed and that later amending the indictment to include \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d was a substantial alteration of the charge.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(32) defines \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d in pertinent part as\n[a]ny area within the State of North Carolina that is generally open to and used by the public for vehicular traffic, including by way of illustration and not limitation any drive, driveway, road, roadway, street, alley, or parking lot upon the grounds and premises of:\nb. Any service station, drive-in theater, supermarket, store, restaurant, or office building, or any other business, residential, or municipal establishment providing parking space for customers, patrons, or the public, or\nThe term \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d shall not be construed to mean any private property not generally open to and used by the public.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(32) (emphasis added).\nWe conclude that the change made in the DWI indictment is not one prohibited by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e). It does not alter the burden of proof or constitute a material change in a DWI indictment so as to vitiate the entire bill. This change merely represents one of form rather than substance under the circumstances of this case. It was merely a refinement in the description of the type of situs on which defendant was driving while impaired rather than a change in an essential element of the offense. We believe that the amendment to the indictment at issue was not an \u201cindispensable allegation[] under our Constitution and general statutory provisions.\u201d State v. Haigler, 14 N.C. App. 501, 504, 188 S.E.2d 586, 589 (change to indictment changing description of stolen property, an essential element of the offense, from \u201cscrap copper\u201d to \u201cscrap bronze\u201d was not a prohibited amendment), cert. denied, 281 N.C. 625, 190 S.E.2d 468 (1972); see also State v. Joyce, 104 N.C. App. 558, 410 S.E.2d 516 (1991) (change made in the indictment from \u201cknife\u201d to \u201cfirearm\u201d did not alter the burden of proof or constitute a substantial change prohibited by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e)), disc. rev. denied, 331 N.C. 120, 414 S.E.2d 764 (1992); State v. Bailey, 97 N.C. App. 472, 389 S.E.2d 131 (1990) (change to indictment which stated victim\u2019s name as Pettress Cebron to correctly reflect the victim\u2019s name as Cebron Pettress was not a prohibited amendment). Defendant also cannot demonstrate how such a change has prejudiced the defense on the merits. This assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.\nII.\nIn his next assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence tending to prove that defendant was driving while impaired on a \u201cstreet or highway\u201d as the original DWI indictment charged. He asserts that all of the evidence at trial tended to prove that defendant never drove off the parking lot owned by the Club. However, having concluded that the trial court correctly allowed the State\u2019s motion to amend the DWI indictment because \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d includes the term \u201cstreet,\u201d we also conclude that the trial court did not err in denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss. Therefore, this assignment of error is also overruled.\nIII.\nDefendant next assigns as error the trial court\u2019s peremptory instruction to the jury that as a matter of law, the Club parking lot was a \u201cpublic vehicular area.\u201d\nA trial court must instruct jurors on every element of the charged offense. As we previously stated, the situs of the impaired driving offense is one of the essential elements of the offense charged. Bowen, 67 N.C. App. at 515, 313 S.E.2d at 197. \u201c[P]eremptory instructions are permissible only in rare instances in this State, where uncontradicted evidence establishes the element(s) beyond a reasonable doubt.\u201d Id.\nIn the case at bar, during the charge conference, the State requested that the trial court give a peremptory instruction on the element of the situs of the offense \u2014 \u201cpublic vehicular area.\u201d Over defendant\u2019s objection, the trial court granted the State\u2019s request and instructed the jury that \u201cthe parking lot area of the Lost Dimensions Nightclub would be a public vehicular area under our law.\u201d As such, defendant contends that the trial court erred in peremptorily instructing the jury that the parking lot was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d as a matter of law because there was conflicting evidence as to whether the parking lot was \u201cgenerally open to and used by the public\u201d as required by N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(32). He further contends that the trial court erroneously withdrew an essential element of the crime from the jury\u2019s deliberations. We disagree and hold that the evidence supported a peremptory instruction that the Club\u2019s parking lot was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d as a matter of law.\nAs previously stated, a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d is defined as \u201c[a]ny area within the State of North Carolina that is generally open to and used by the public for vehicular traffic, including . .. any .. . parking lot upon the grounds and premises of . . . [a]ny . . . business . . . establishment providing parking space for customers, patrons, or the public.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(32) (emphasis added). Thus, even if an establishment is cloaked in the robe of being a private club, it is still a \u201cbusiness establishment providing parking space for its customers, patrons, or the public\u201d and cannot escape liability simply because a membership fee is required.\nWe also believe that the Court of Appeals\u2019 reliance on Bowen, 67 N.C. App. 512, 313 S.E.2d 196, is misplaced. There, the Court of Appeals held that the evidence presented regarding a condominium complex driveway did not support the trial court\u2019s conclusion that as a matter of law, the driveway was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d within the meaning of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(32) because the evidence was \u201csharply conflicting.\u201d Id. at 514, 313 S.E.2d at 197. In Bowen, the evidence that the parking lot was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d established that there was a \u201cFor Sale\u201d sign which the Court of Appeals concluded \u201capparently invit[ed] in the public, and that there appeared to be no obstruction to public access.\u201d Id. at 514-15, 313 S.E.2d at 197. Evidence to the contrary indicated that \u2018\u201cNo Trespassing\u2019 signs were posted, that there was no parking set aside for the public, and that the driveway had not been dedicated for public use.\u201d Id. at 515, 313 S.E.2d at 197.\nIn this case, unlike that in Bowen, the evidence establishes that the Club in this case is licensed by the State to serve alcohol to the guests of members as well as to the members themselves. Moreover, the Club\u2019s parking lot could generally be used as a thoroughfare by members of the general public \u2014 both Club members and nonmembers \u2014 who were trying to access either the Club or the motel. There were no signs posted in the Club\u2019s parking lot prohibiting the public from parking there and no signs posted stating that the parking lot was private property, nor were there any security or membership cards allowing members exclusive access to the parking lot. Also, members of the general public were free to use the parking lot while they \u201c[came] in and check[ed] out\u201d the Club and as an entrance and exit to the adjacent motel.\nFinally, in construing the statutory language, \u2018\u201cwe are guided by the primary rule that the intent of the legislature controls.\u2019\u201d State v. Carawan, 80 N.C. App. 151, 153, 341 S.E.2d 96, 97 (quoting State v. Spencer, 276 N.C. 535, 546, 173 S.E.2d 765, 773 (1970)), disc. rev. denied, 317 N.C. 337, 346 S.E.2d 141 (1986). The legislature clearly intended to protect persons from the dangers posed by others who drive while they are impaired within any area where there is public vehicular traffic. While it appears that this Court has never decided a case in which N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-4.01(32) was interpreted, cases decided by the Court of Appeals on the issue of whether a location was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d support our holding in this case that the evidence was sufficient to support a peremptory instruction that the Club\u2019s parking lot is a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d as a matter of law. See State v. Turner, 117 N.C. App. 457, 451 S.E.2d 19 (1994) (privately maintained paved road in privately owned mobile home park); Corns v. Hall, 112 N.C. App. 232, 435 S.E.2d 88 (1993) (traffic lane between grocery store and parking lot); State v. Mabe, 85 N.C. App. 500, 355 S.E.2d 186 (wheelchair ramp in a motel parking lot), disc. rev. denied, 320 N.C. 516, 358 S.E.2d 527 (1987); Carawan, 80 N.C. App. 151, 341 S.E.2d 96 (park grounds used as temporary parking lot during special event). To hold otherwise would result in parking areas for private clubs selling alcoholic beverages being insulated from the drunk driving laws of our State while the parking lots of nonprivate establishments serving alcohol would not be. Such a distinction could -not have been intended by the legislature.\nSummarizing, the trial court did not err in allowing the State\u2019s motion to amend the DWI indictment because the change did not substantially alter the offense charged. Further, the trial court did not err in denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss. Finally, the trial court did not err in peremptorily instructing the jury that the Club\u2019s parking lot was a \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d as a matter of law. Thus, the decision of the Court of Appeals is\nREVERSED.", "type": "majority", "author": "ORR, Justice." }, { "text": "Justice Webb\ndissenting.\nI dissent. I believe it was error to allow the State to amend the indictment to allege the defendant was driving in a public vehicular area. The majority says the situs of the impaired driving offense is one of the essential elements of the offense charged. Nevertheless, the majority says, it was not error to allow this amendment because it was alleged in the indictment that the offense occurred on a highway which was a situs included within the parameters of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-138.1(a). \u201cIt was merely a refinement in the description of the type of situs on which defendant was driving while impaired rather than a change in an essential element of the offense,\u201d says the majority. State v. Snyder, 343 N.C. 61, 67, 468 S.E.2d 221, 225 (1996)\nI do not believe this amendment to the indictment was merely a refinement in the description of the situs alleged in the indictment. Adding the words \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d to the indictment changed one of the elements in the offense charged and substantially altered the charge. It violated Article I, Section 22 of the North Carolina Constitution and N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e) (1988).\nI vote to affirm the Court of Appeals.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Justice Webb" } ], "attorneys": [ "Michael F. Easley, Attorney General, by Isaac T. Avery, III, Special Deputy Attorney General, for the State-appellant.", "Malcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., Appellate Defender, by J. Michael Smith, Assistant Appellate Defender, for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. LANCE ALBERT SNYDER\nNo. 210PA95\n(Filed 4 April 1996)\n1. Indictment, Information, and Criminal Pleadings \u00a7 36 (NCI4th)\u2014 driving while impaired \u2014 \u201cstreet or highway\u201d\u2014 amendment to \u201cpublic vehicular area\u201d\nThe trial court did not err in a prosecution for driving while impaired and being an habitual felon by granting the State\u2019s motion to amend the DWI indictment that defendant operated a motor vehicle on \u201ca street or highway\u201d to read \u201con a highway or public vehicular area\u201d where defendant was stopped in a parking lot. This change was merely a refinement in the description of the type of situs on which defendant was driving while impaired rather than a change in an essential element of the offense. Furthermore, defendant cannot demonstrate how such a change prejudiced the defense on the merits. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 15A-923(e).\nAm Jur 2d, Indictments and Informations \u00a7\u00a7 166-187.\nPower of court to make or permit amendment of indictment with respect to allegations as to place. 14 ALR3d 1335.\nComment Note. \u2014 Power of court to make or permit amendment of indictment. 17 ALR3d 1181.\nPower of court to make or permit amendment of indictment with respect to allegations as to nature of activity, happening, or circumstances. 17 ALR3d 1285.\n2. Automobiles and Other Vechiles \u00a7 849 (NCI4)\u2014 driving while impaired \u2014 sufficiency of evidence \u2014 public vehicular area\nThe trial court did not err in a prosecution for driving while impaired and being an habitual felon by denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence that defendant was driving on a \u201cstreet or highway,\u201d based on defendant having been arrested in a parking lot, where the trial court correctly allowed the State\u2019s motion to amend the indictment to add \u201cpublic vehicular area.\u201d\nAm Jur 2d, Automobiles and Highway Traffic \u00a7 301.\nApplicability, to operation of motor vehicle on private property, of legislation making drunken driving a criminal offense. 29 ALR3d 938.\n3. Automobiles and Other Vehicles \u00a7 852 (NCI4th)\u2014 driving while impaired \u2014 peremptory instruction \u2014 parking lot as public vehicular area\nThe trial court did not err in a prosecution for driving while impaired and being an habitual felon by giving a peremptory instruction that the parking lot where defendant was arrested was a public vehicular area as a matter of law where the club which the parking lot served was licensed by the state to serve alcohol to the guests of members as well as to the members themselves; the parking lot could generally be used as a thoroughfare by members of the general public who were trying to access either the club or the adjacent motel; there were no signs in the parking lot prohibiting the public from parking there and no signs posted stating that the parking lot was private property, nor were there any security or membership cards allowing members exclusive access to the parking lot; and members of the general public were free to use the parking lot while they checked in and out of the club and as an entrance and exit to the adjacent motel.\nAm Jur 2d, Automobiles and Highway Traffic \u00a7 301.\nApplicability, to operation of motor vehicle on private property, of legislation making drunken driving a criminal offense. 29 ALR3d 938.\nJustice Webb dissenting.\nOn discretionary review pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7A-31 of a unanimous decision of the Court of Appeals, 118 N.C. App. 540, 455 S.E.2d 914 (1995), arresting judgments entered upon defendant\u2019s convictions of driving while impaired, habitual impaired driving, and being a habitual felon by Hudson, J., at the 15 November 1993 Criminal Session of Superior Court, Guilford County, and awarding defendant a new trial. Heard in the Supreme Court 13 December 1995.\nMichael F. Easley, Attorney General, by Isaac T. Avery, III, Special Deputy Attorney General, for the State-appellant.\nMalcolm Ray Hunter, Jr., Appellate Defender, by J. Michael Smith, Assistant Appellate Defender, for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0061-01", "first_page_order": 109, "last_page_order": 119 }