Top 25 Cases affecti ng Municipal Court

for 9/20/ 2010

By Kenneth Vercammen, s!"
#o $iscussion of recent Municipal
Court casela% %oul$ &e complet e
%ithout first mentioni ng the most
import ant case in the past 25 years'
State v. Chun 194 NJ 54 (2008). Here the #(
)upreme Court hel$, subject to certain
condi tions the !"cotest breath testin#
$achine is scienti%ica""& re"iab"e and that its
resu"ts are ad$issib"e in drun' drivin#
(rosecutions.
1
*+, 1" *+, *ismisse$ -n$er )pee$y
Trial +here More than ./0 *ay 0apse"
State v. )setse'as 411 NJ Su(er 1
(!((. *iv. 2009)
)he court reversed the +a, *ivision
conviction and re-uired dis$issa" o% the *./
char#e due to a vio"ation o% de%endant0 s ri#ht
to a s(eed& tria". )he e1tensive de"a& in
adjudicati n# this $atter caused so"e"& b& the
state0s re(eated "a(ses in (re(aration and
the %ai"ure to secure its ,itnesses in%rin#ed
on de%endant0 s due (rocess ri#hts.
2
*+, 2" ,n *+, case )tate must pro1i$e
20 minute o&ser1ati on of $ri1er prior to
&reath test &y clear an$ con1incing
e1i$ence, &ut arresting officer can
testify as part of 20 minutes
)tate 1 -gro1ics 410 NJ Su(er. 482
(!((. *iv. 2009)
)his !((e""ate (ane" he"d that the State is
on"& re-uired to estab"ish that the test
subject did not in#est re#ur#i tate or ("ace
an&thi n# in his or her $outh that $a&
co$(ro$ise the re"iabi"i t& o% the test resu"ts
%or a (eriod o% at "east t,ent& $inutes (rior
to the ad$inistrati on o% the !"cotest. )he
State can $eet this burden b& ca""in# an&
co$(etent ,itness ,ho can so attest.
2
*+, ." #o se!uestrati on of $efense
e2pert in *+, case
)tate 1" 3opo1ich 405 NJ Su(er. 292
(!((. *iv. 2009)
*e%endant0 s conviction is reversed3 the
tria" court erred ,hen it ru"ed that
de%endant0 s e1(ert ,as subject to a
se-uestration order and ,ou"d not (er$i t the
e1(ert to ,atch the tria" testi $on&.
4
*+, 4" *estruction of Vi$eo Tape may
3ermi t *+, *efen$ant to Vacate 5uilty
3lea" State v. 4ustaro 411 NJ Su(er 91
(!((. *iv. 2009)
)he court considered de%endant0 s a((ea"
%ro$ the denia" o% a (ost5 sentence $otion to
vacate his ("ea o% #ui"t& to drivin# ,hi"e
into1icated. )he $otion ,as (redicated on a
c"ai$ that the state ,ithhe" d e1cu"(ator&
evidence but b& the ti$e the $otion ,as
%i"ed the evidence 6 a videota(e recorded b&
the ca$era in the arrestin# o%%icer0s (atro"
car 6 had been destro&ed throu#h reuse in
accordance ,ith the (o"ice de(art $ent 0 s
(rocedures. )he court conc"uded that
de%endant %ai"ed to estab"ish that he ,ou"d
not have ad$i t ted to drivin# i% he had access
to the videota(e (rior to the ("ea and the
court %urther conc"uded that the denia" o% his
$otion ,as %u""& consistent ,ith a (ro(er
a(("ication o% the (rinci("es set %orth in State
v. Slater 198 N.J. 145 (2009).
5
6efusal 5" Breath Test %arnings no%
must &e gi1en in )panish
)tate 1" Mar!ue7 7777 NJ 77777 (2010) (!5
255 09) 8912910
/n this case invo"vi n# a conviction %or
re%usin# to sub$i t to a che$ica" breath test
the Court ho"ds that Ne, Jerse&:s i$("ied
consent "a, N.J.S.!. 29;45 50.2 and re%usa"
"a, N.J.S.!. 29;45 50.4a re-uire (roo% that an
o%%icer re-uested the $otorist to sub$i t to a
che$ica" breath test and in%or$ed the
(erson o% the conse-uences o% re%usin# to do
so. )he state$ent used to e1("ain to
$otorists the conse-uences o% re%usa" $ust
be #iven in a "an#ua#e the (erson s(ea's or
understands. <ecause de%endant =er$an
4ar-ue> ,as advised o% these conse-uences
in ?n#"ish and there is no dis(ute that he did
not understand ?n#"ish his re%usa" conviction
is reversed.
@
6efusal / ,f not enough &reath supplie$
on 8lcotest, officer must rea$ a$$itional
%arnings
)tate 1" )chmi$t
194 NJ Su(er. 214 (!((. *iv. 2010)
/n this o(inion the court ho"d that (1) the
(o"ice are re-uired to co$("& ,ith N.J.S.!.
29;45 50.2(e) b& readin# the standard
"an#ua#e concernin# the conse-uences o% a
re%usa" to ta'e an !"cotest ((art t,o o% the
Standard State$ent) ,hen a de%endant
une-uivoca""& a#rees to sub$i t to an !"cotest
but then %ai"s ,ithout reasonab"e e1cuse to
(roduce a va"id sa$("e and (2) the (o"ice
have the discretion to discontinue the
!"cotest and char#e the arrestee ,ith re%usa"
,ithout a%%ordin# the arrestee the $a1i $u$
e"even atte$(ts that the !"cotest $achine
(er$i ts.
8
6efusal 9" Con$o 3ar:ing 5arage is
;uasi' pu&lic for 6efusal Violation"
)tate 1" Bertran$
40< #( )uper" 5<4 =8pp" *i1" 2009>
*e%endant0 s conviction %or re%usin# to
(rovide breath sa$("es N.J.S.!. 29;45 50.2 is
a%%ir$ed. )he (ar'in# #ara#e o% a hi#h5 rise
condo$i ni u$ that he"d 254 cars and the use
o% ,hich ,as restricted to residents o% that
bui"din# consti tuted a A-uasi5 (ub"ic areaB %or
(ur(oses o% the statute.
8
6efusal <" 3rior refusal counts for .
r$
*+,
)tate 1 Ciancaglini
411 NJ Su(er. 280 (!((. *iv. 2010) cert
#ranted
/n this a((ea" %ro$ a *./ conviction a%ter
(rior se(arate *./ and re%usa" convictions
this !((e""ate (ane" disa#rees ,ith the
ho"din# o% State v. *iSo$$a 2@2 N.J. Su(er.
285 (!((. *iv. 1992) and ho"d that the (rior
re%usa" conviction does count to,ard $a'in#
this a third o%%ense. )he court %ee"s this
ho"din# is consistent ,ith a "ine o% cases both
be%ore and a%ter *iSo$$a conc"udin# that a
(rior *./ conviction counts to,ard
enhance$ent o% the sentence i$(osed %or a
re%usa" conviction. See e.#. State v. )e'e"
281 N.J. Su(er. 502 (!((. *iv. 1995). )he
court a"so he"d that doub"e jeo(ard& does not
bar reinstate$ent o% the sentence ori#ina""&
i$(osed in the $unici(a" court %or a third
*./ o%%ense ,hich ,as reduced in the +a,
*ivision to a sentence %or a %irst *./ o%%ense.
9
6efusal 9 6efusal $oes not merge into
*+,
)tate 1 c:ert 410 NJ Su(er. 289 (!((. *iv.
2009)
! conviction %or re%usa" to sub$i t to a
breath e1a$inati on cannot be $er#ed ,ith a
*./ conviction. Such a ("ea a#ree$ent
vio"ated a(("icab"e $er#er (rinci("es as ,e""
as the Court0s =uide"ines %or C(eration o%
D"ea !#ree$ents in the 4unici(a" Courts o%
Ne, Jerse&.
10
)earch 10" Car search re!uires e2igent
circumstances? #o automatic auto
e2ception? Telephonic search %arrants
appro1e$
)tate 1" 3ena' @lores 198 NJ @ (2009)
)he Su(re$e Court a%%ir$s its
"on#standi n# (recedent that (er$i ts an
auto$obi"e search ,ithout a ,arrant on"& in
cases in ,hich the (o"ice have both (robab"e
cause to be"ieve that the vehic"e contains
evidence and e1i#ent circu$stances that
,ou"d justi%& dis(ensin# ,ith the ,arrant
re-uire$ent. .hether e1i#ent
circu$stances e1ist is to be decided on a
case5b&5 case basis ,ith the %ocus on (o"ice
sa%et& and the (reservation o% evidence.
)he Court a"so deter$i nes that a ,arrant
obtained b& te"e(honic or e"ectronic $eans is
the e-uiva"ent o% an in5 (erson ,arrant and
does not re-uire (roo% o% e1i#ent
circu$stances.
11
)earch 11" 3assenger 3at $o%n $uring
traffic stop permi t t e$ if &elief gang
mem&er is arme$ an$ $angerous"
8ri7ona 1 (ohnson
182 +. ?d. 2d @94 (2009)
.hi"e (atro""in# near a )ucson
nei#hborhood associated ,ith the Cri(s
#an# (o"ice o%%icers servin# on !ri>ona:s
#an# tas' %orce sto((ed an auto$obi"e %or a
vehicu"ar in%raction ,arranti n# a citation. !t
the ti$e o% the sto( the o%%icers had no
reason to sus(ect the car:s occu(ants o%
cri$ina" activi t&. C%%icer )revi>o attended to
res(ondent Johnson the bac'5 seat (assen#er ,hose
behavior and c"othin# caused )revi>o to -uestion hi$.
!%ter "earnin# that Johnson ,as %ro$ a to,n ,ith a Cri(s
#an# and had been in (rison )revi>o as'ed hi$ #et out
o% the car in order to -uestion hi$ %urther out o% the
hearin# o% the %ront5 seat (assen#er about his #an#
a%%i"iation. <ecause she sus(ected that he ,as ar$ed
she (atted hi$ do,n %or sa%et& ,hen he e1ited the car.
*urin# the (atdo,n she %e"t the butt o% a #un. !t that
(oint Johnson be#an to stru##" e and )revi>o
handcu%%ed hi$. Johnson ,as char#ed ,ith inter a"ia
(ossession o% a ,ea(on b& a (rohibi ted (ossessor.
He"d; C%%icer )revi>o:s (atdo,n o% Johnson
did not vio"ate the Eourth !$end$ent :s
(rohibi tion on unreasonab"e searches and
sei>ures.
12
)earch 12" 3olice cannot search car
passenger compart ment if occupant
alrea$y arreste$"
8ri7ona 1" 5ant 129 )" Ct" 1910 =2009>
Do"ice $a& search the (assen#er
co$(art $ent o% a vehic"e incident to a
recent occu(ant0 s arrest on"& i% it is
reasonab"e to be"ieve that an arrestee $i#ht
access the vehic"e at the ti$e o% the search
or that the vehic"e contains evidence o% the
o%%ense o% arrest. <e"ton overru"ed.
12
)earch 1. )chool 3rincipal can search
1ehicle on school groun$s"
)tate 1" Best 201 #( 100 =2010>
! schoo" ad$inistrator need on"& satis%&
the "esser reasonab"e #rounds standard
rather than the (robab"e cause standard to
search a student:s vehic"e (ar'ed on schoo"
(ro(ert&
14
)earch 14" rror &y police $ispatcher in
in1ali$ arrest %arrant re!uires
suppression of e1i$ence un$er #(
Consti tuti on"
)tate 1" Aan$y
412 #( )uper" 492 =8pp" *i1" 2010>
)his a((ea" re-uired the Court to
deter$i ne ,hether evidence %ound durin#
the search incident to de%endant0 s arrest
shou"d have been su((ressed because the
dis(atcher ,ho incorrect" & in%or$ed the
arrestin# o%%icer that there ,as an
outstandi n# arrest ,arrant acted
unreasonab"& under the circu$stances even
thou#h the conduct o% the arrestin# o%%icer
hi$se"% ,as reasonab"e.
)he ,arrant at issue ,hich ,as ten &ears
o"d at the ti$e had the sa$e birth $onth
but a di%%erent birth da& and &ear. )he %irst
na$e on the ,arrant ,as a variant s(e""in#
o% de%endant:s %irst na$e. )he court
conc"uded that su((ression is re-uired and
conse-uent" & reversed the conviction based
on NJ Constituti on.
15
Search 15 " 3assengers can &e or$ere$
out if &elief of $anger"
)tate 1" Mai 202 #( 12 =2010>
)he o%%icers (resented su%%icient %acts in
the tota"i t& o% the circu$stances that ,ou"d
create in a (o"ice o%%icer a hei#htened
a,areness o% dan#er that ,ou"d ,arrant an
objecti ve" & reasonab"e o%%icer in securin# the
scene in a $ore e%%ecti ve $anner b& orderin#
the (assen#er to e1it the car. )hose sa$e
circu$stances authori>e a (o"ice o%%icer to
o(en a vehic"e door as (art o% orderin# a
(assen#er to e1it. )hus the sei>ure o% the
,ea(on ,as (ro(er under the ("ain vie,
doctrine and the sei>ure o% the ho"ster and
"oaded $a#a>ine %ro$ the (assen#er ,as
"a,%u" as the %ruits o% a (ro(er search
incident to an arrest.
1@
)earch 1/" Mirror B&struction )houl$
B&struct *ri1erCs Vie% for Violation"
)tate 1" Barro%
40< #( )uper" 509 =8pp" *i1" 2009>
! (o"ice o%%icer sto((in# a $otor vehic"e
%or vio"atin# N.J.S.!. 29;25 84 $ust (rovide
articu"ab"e %acts sho,in# that he or she
reasonab"& be"ieved that an object han#in#
%ro$ a rearvie, $irror obstructed the
driver0s vie,. F$ini bo1in# #"oves han#in#G
18
)earch 19" 3olice cannot search home
%ithout %arrant "
)tate 1" (efferson
41. #( )uper" .44 =8pp" *i1" 2010>
(1) /n the absence o% a ,arrant or a
reco#ni>ed e1ce(tion %ro$ the Eourth
!$end$ent 0 s ,arrant re-uire$ent the
(o"ice cou"d not "a,%u""& enter de%endant0 s
ho$e to conduct a )err& t&(e detention and
investi#ation o% de%endant.
(2) ! (o"ice o%%icer0s ,ed#in# herse"% in the
door,a& to (revent de%endant %ro$ c"osin#
his %ront door ,as entr& into the ho$e.
(2) )he (o"ice %ai"ed to sho, either Bhot
(ursui tB e1i#ent circu$stances or a
co$$uni t& careta'in# e1ce(tion %ro$ the
,arrant re-uire$ent.
(4) !"thou#h the (o"ice entr& ,as un"a,%u"
de%endant had no ri#ht to resist (h&sica""&
and the search o% his (erson incident to
arrest ,as "a,%u".
(5) Consent to search de%endant0 s a(art$ent
#iven b& de%endant0 s ,i%e ,as tainted b& the
unconsti tuti ona" (o"ice conduct and ,as not
sho,n to be vo"untar&.
18
)entencing 1<" (u$ge Can )uspen$ *0
for Traffic Bffense"
)tate 1" Moran
777 NJ 777 (2010) (!5555 09) 8912910
)he "icense sus(ension (rovision o%
N.J.S.!. 29;55 21 ,hich is (ub"ished in the
4otor Hehic"e Code o% the Ne, Jerse&
Statutes !nnotated is not Ahidden I and
de%endant "i'e a"" $otorists is (resu$ed to
'no, the "a,. )o ensure that "icense
sus(ensions $eted out (ursuant to N.J.S.!.
29;55 21 are i$(osed in a reasonab"& %air and
uni%or$ $anner so that si$i"ar"& situated
de%endants are treated si$i"ar"& the Court
toda& de%ines the ter$ A,i""%u" vio"ationI
contained in N.J.S.!. 29;55 21 and enunciates
sentencin# standards to #uide $unici(a"
court and +a, *ivision jud#es
19
)entencing 19 *efense counsel must
a$1ise criminal of $eport at i on
conse!uences"
3a$illa 1" Kentuc:y 1.0 )" Ct" 149.
=2010>
Detitioner Dadi""a a "a,%u" (er$anent
resident o% the Jnited States %or over 40
&ears %aced de(ortati on a%ter ("eadin# #ui"t&
to dru#5 distributi on char#es in Kentuc'&. /n
(ost conviction (roceedin#s he c"ai$s that
his counse" not on"& %ai"ed to advise hi$ o%
this conse-uence be%ore he entered the ("ea
but a"so to"d hi$ not to ,orr& about
de(ortati on since he had "ived in this countr&
so "on#. He a""e#es that he ,ou"d have #one
to tria" had he not received this incorrect
advice )he JS Su(re$e Court he"d because
counse" $ust in%or$ a c"ient ,hether his ("ea
carries a ris' o% de(ortati on Dadi""a has
su%%icient" & a""e#ed that his counse" ,as
consti tuti ona"" & de%icient.
20
)entencing 20" @our @actors re!uire$
to %ith$ra% guilty plea
State v. S"ater 198 NJ 145 (2009)
Jud#es are to consider and ba"ance %our
%actors in eva"uati n# $otions to ,ithdra, a
#ui"t& ("ea;
(1) ,hether the de%endant has asserted a
co"orab"e c"ai$ o% innocence3
(2) the nature and stren#th o% the
de%endant :s reasons %or ,ithdra,a"3
(2) the e1istence o% a ("ea bar#ain3 and
(4) ,hether ,ithdra,a" cou"d resu"t in un%air
(rejudice to the State or un%air advanta#e to
the accused. )his de%endant has $et his
burden and is enti t"ed to ,ithdra, his #ui"t&
("ea in the interest o% justice.
21
)entencing 21 #o 3oints on -nsafe 99" 2
if More than @i1e Dears &et%een
Bffenses"
Date" v. Ne, Jerse& 4otor Hehic"e
Co$$ission 200 NJ 412 (2009)
)he unsa%e drivin# tic'et is no (oints
%or o%%ense one and t,o. )he 2
rd
#ives the
driver 4 (oints un"ess there is $ore than 5
&ears bet,een the 2
nd
and 2
rd
o%%ense. )he
Su(re$e Court he"d Jnder N.J.S.!. 29;45
98.2(e) the e1e$(ti on (rovision %or
assessin# $otor vehic"e (ena" t& (oints %or an
unsa%e drivin# o%%ense that occurs $ore than
%ive &ears a%ter Athe (rior o%%enseI Athe (rior
o%%enseI re%ers on"& to the $ost recent
(recedin# o%%ense based on both a ("ain
readin# o% the statute and a revie, o% the
"e#is"ati ve histor&. )hus the 4otor Hehic"e
Co$$ission correct" & i$(osed $otor vehic"e
(oints on Date" %or havin# a %ourth unsa%e
drivin# conviction in 2008 on"& one &ear
a%ter the date o% her (rior third unsa%e
drivin# o%%ense.
22
Miran$a 22" 3olice $i$ not al%ays nee$
to rea$mi nister Miran$a %arnings
State v. N&ha$$er 198 NJ 282 (2009)
)he tria" court did not err in %indin# based
on the tota"i t& o% the circu$stances that
N&ha$$er 'no,in#" & vo"untari" & and
inte""i#ent" & ,aived his 4iranda ri#hts under
both %edera" and state "a,. )hus the tria"
court did not abuse its discretion in
ad$i t ti n# N&ha$$er:s con%ession into
evidence. Eurther a de%endant cannot assert
that he ,as denied his ri#ht o% con%rontati on
under the %edera" and state consti tuti ons
un"ess he %irst atte$(ts to cross5e1a$ine
the ,itness on the core accusations in the
case. N&ha$$er had the o((ortuni t & to
cross5 e1a$i ne the chi"d5 victi $ at tria" about
her out5 o%5court testi $on& i$("icati n# hi$ in
the cri$e but chose not to do so3 there%ore
he cannot c"ai$ that he ,as denied his ri#ht
o% con%rontati on.
22
Miran$a 2." Miran$a Violation cannot &e
8sserte$ &y Co' $efen$ant "
)tate 1" Baum 199 #( 409 =2009>
*e%endant (assen#er 4oore:s $otion to
su((ress evidence %ound durin# a
,arrant" ess search o% the vehic"e in ,hich he
,as ridin# shou"d have been denied because
he did not have standin# to ar#ue that the
driver:s ri#ht a#ainst se"%5 incri $i nati on ,as
vio"ated and because the search ,as not
unreasonab"e.
24
Miran$a 24" *efen$ant must in1o:e
right to remain silent"
Berghuis 1" Thomp:ins 120 S. Ct. 2250
(2010)
*e%endant )ho$('i ns0 si"ence durin# the
interro#ati on did not invo'e his ri#ht to
re$ain si"ent. ! sus(ect0s 4iranda ri#ht to
counse" $ust be invo'ed Buna$bi #uous"&.B
*avis v. Jnited States 512 J.S. 452 459.
Had )ho$('i ns said that he ,anted to
re$ain si"ent or that he did not ,ant to ta"'
he ,ou"d have invo'ed his ri#ht to end the
-uestionin#. He did neither.
25
Trial 25" -) )upreme Court 6ules 0a&
6eport #ot 8$missi&le in Criminal Case"
Melen$e7' *ia7 1" Mass 129 )"Ct" 2529
=2009>
*e%endant0 s dru# conviction is reversed
,here the tria" court0 s ad$ission o% the
(rosecution0 s certi%icates b& "aborator&
ana"&sts statin# that $ateria" sei>ed b&
(o"ice and connected to *e%endant ,as
cocaine o% a certain -uanti t& vio"ated
(eti tioner0s Si1th !$end$ent ri#ht to
con%ront the ,itnesses a#ainst hi$.
2@
2/a ,gnition interloc: $e1ice
re!uire$' o1er" 15, 2n$, .r$ , refusals
28
2/&" Constructi 1e possession is
$ecision &y trier of fact, not e2pert
)tate 1" 6ee$s
199 #( 2<0 =2009>
29" 6e&ut t a&l e presumpti on a roa$ sign
is properl y poste$
)tate 1 )mith
40< #( )uper" 4<4
=8pp" *i1" 2009>
2<" )i2' month 8lcotest inspection
$oes not apply until after March 19,
200<"
)tate 1" 3olloc:
409 #( )uper" 100
=8pp" *i1" 2009>
28
29" 3T, can &e con$itione$ on a plea
to a traffic offense" )tate 1" Mosner
409 #( )uper" 40
=8pp" *i1" 2009>
.0" +arrantl ess )earch of house to
Chec: on -nat t en$e$ Chil$ 3ermi t t e$
-n$er Communi ty Careta:i ng" )tate 1"
Bogan
200 #( /1 =2009>
.1" Three year ol$Cs statements
a$missi&le un$er ten$er years
e2ception to hearsay" )tate 1" Co$er
19< #( 451 =2009>
#( 6-0) B@ V,*#C #(6 6-0 <02"
Aearsay is not a$missi&le e2cept as
pro1i$e$ &y these rules or &y other la%"
is not a$missi&le e2cept as pro1i$e$ &y
29
these rules or &y other la%"
.2" #e% trial or$ere$ %here (u$ge
con$ucte$ !uestioning of $efense
e2pert "
)tate 1" BCBrien
200 #( 520 =2009
.." B368 limits copy fees to actual
costs
)mith 1" Au$son County
411#( )uper 5.< =8pp" *i1" 2010>
@ree email ne%slet t er on cases an$
articles on Municipal Court
Ken1nEla%sF1eri7on" net
Vercammen family $og @ri7&y says
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