MELANSON, Chief Judge.
Wade Allen Tomlinson appeals from the district court's order, entered in its intermediate appellate capacity, affirming Tomlinson's judgment of conviction for driving under the influence (DUI). Tomlinson argues that the district court erred in affirming the magistrate's decision denying his motion for a continuance and its evidentiary rulings regarding the results of his breath alcohol concentration test results. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
Tomlinson was pulled over for committing two traffic infractions. Tomlinson admitted to having drank earlier in the evening and was arrested after failing field sobriety tests. He provided two breath samples, which returned breath alcohol concentrations of .083 and .082. Tomlinson was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and pled not guilty.
The magistrate issued a trial status memorandum requesting that the state "prepare a formal complaint for trial" by at least one week prior to trial. Seven days before the original trial date, the state provided Tomlinson with a copy of the complaint that it originally intended to file on the day of trial. The language of the complaint tracked the language of I.C. § 18-8004(1)(a).
On the day of trial, the state filed the complaint it had provided Tomlinson approximately three months earlier, alleging that Tomlinson had violated I.C. § 18-8004(1)(a) by being "in actual physical control of a motor vehicle ... with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more, as shown by analysis of blood, urine, or breath." Tomlinson requested a fourth continuance of the trial, which the magistrate denied. The magistrate then heard argument on the state's motion in limine, at which time the state moved to also exclude evidence of observable signs of intoxication. Tomlinson objected, stating that he had not received notice of when the state's motion would be heard. After argument, the magistrate declined to preclude Tomlinson from challenging the accuracy and reliability of the breathalyzer and deferred ruling on what evidence Tomlinson could use in such an attack until the issues arose in the case.
The jury found Tomlinson guilty of DUI, I.C. § 18-8004(1)(a). The magistrate withheld judgment and placed Tomlinson on probation. Tomlinson appealed to the district court, asserting that the magistrate had abused its discretion by denying his motion for continuance made on the morning of trial because he did not have sufficient notice of the state's complaint filed that same day or that the motion in limine would be heard at that time. He also argued that the magistrate had erred in precluding and allowing certain evidence regarding Tomlinson's alcohol concentration. The district court affirmed and Tomlinson again appeals.
For an appeal from the district court, sitting in its appellate capacity over a case from the magistrate division, this Court's standard of review is the same as expressed by the Idaho Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reviews the magistrate record to determine whether there is substantial and competent evidence to support the magistrate's findings of fact and whether the magistrate's conclusions of law follow from those findings. State v. Korn, 148 Idaho 413, 415, 224 P.3d 480, 482 (2009). If those findings are so supported and the conclusions following therefrom, and if the district court affirmed the magistrate's decision, we affirm the district court's decision as a matter of procedure. Id. Thus, the appellate courts do not review the decision of the magistrate. State v. Trusdall, 155 Idaho 965, 968, 318 P.3d 955, 958 (Ct.App.2014). Rather, we are procedurally bound to affirm or reverse the decisions of the district court. Id.
Tomlinson argues that the district court erred by affirming his judgment of conviction and the magistrate's allegedly erroneous rulings on various issues. Specifically, Tomlinson alleges that the magistrate erred by denying his motion for a continuance; excluding evidence regarding his outward manifestations of intoxication, performance on the field sobriety tests, and blood alcohol level at the time he was driving; and admitting a printout of his breath test results over his hearsay objection.
The decision of whether to grant or deny a motion for a continuance is within the discretion of the trial court. State v. Thorngren, 149 Idaho 729, 736, 240 P.3d 575, 582 (2010); State v. Payne, 146 Idaho 548, 567, 199 P.3d 123, 142 (2008). In determining whether the district court abused its discretion, this Court considers whether the district court: (1) perceived the issue as one of
Tomlinson argues that the magistrate abused its discretion by denying Tomlinson's fourth request for a continuance because the state did not file its formal complaint until the morning of trial. Thus, according to Tomlinson, he was not given adequate notice of the exact theory of liability under which the state planned to proceed and was prejudiced as a result.
A trial court may permit a misdemeanor complaint to be amended at any time before the prosecution rests, even if a different or greater offense is charged, so long as the substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced. Idaho Misdemeanor Criminal Rule 3(d); accord Idaho Criminal Rule 7(e); State v. Severson, 147 Idaho 694, 709, 215 P.3d 414, 429 (2009); State v. Banks, 113 Idaho 54, 56, 740 P.2d 1039, 1041 (Ct.App. 1987). If an amendment of a citation or complaint is made, the magistrate may, in its discretion, grant a continuance of the trial for good cause. M.C.R. 3(d). A denial of a motion for continuance constitutes reversible error only if the appellant shows that the denial prejudiced his or her substantial rights. Thorngren, 149 Idaho at 736-37, 240 P.3d at 582-83; State v. Laws, 94 Idaho 200, 202, 485 P.2d 144, 146 (1971); State v. Herrera, 152 Idaho 24, 30, 266 P.3d 499, 505 (Ct.App.2011); State v. Cagle, 126 Idaho 794, 797, 891 P.2d 1054, 1057 (Ct.App.1995).
In Banks, we addressed whether, under I.C.R. 7(e), the end-of-trial amendment of an information to add the victim's age in a forcible rape case prejudiced Banks's substantial right to present a defense. We determined that Banks was not prejudiced by the amendment because he knew of the victim's young age and failed to allege a viable alternative defense that he would have offered if the request for a continuance was granted. Banks, 113 Idaho at 58-60, 740 P.2d at 1043-45. Thus, factors relevant to determining whether a defendant was prejudiced by an amendment include whether the amendment took the defendant by surprise, impaired the defendant's ability to adequately prepare a defense, necessitated extensive further preparation by the defendant, or subjected him or her to double jeopardy. Severson, 147 Idaho at 709, 215 P.3d at 429; Banks, 113 Idaho at 58-60, 740 P.2d at 1043-45.
Here, the state's complaint filed the day of trial constituted an amendment to the uniform citation. Tomlinson, however, has failed to establish that he was prejudiced by that amendment. Tomlinson was not surprised by the amendment because he was provided with the state's alternative proposed complaint, which was ultimately filed on the day of trial, approximately three months before the trial. Moreover, if the complaint the state intended to file left any doubt regarding which theory the state planned to proceed under, the state's motion in limine seeking to exclude evidence it deemed irrelevant to a per se theory of liability, which was filed a month and a half before trial, should have removed that doubt. Thus, the record leaves no doubt that Tomlinson knew the state was going to proceed on a per se theory of liability long before the trial commenced. The amendment also required no additional preparation on Tomlinson's part — much less extensive additional preparation — as he was on notice from the moment he received the uniform citation that he was being charged with DUI, which could be proved by showing actual impairment, a per se violation, or both. See I.C. § 18-8004(1)(a).
Tomlinson has also not shown that he was impaired in his ability to adequately prepare his defense. Tomlinson contends that he prepared to defend the case based on the violation listed on the citation, which did not specify that the state would proceed on a per se theory of liability. However, had Tomlinson actually prepared for trial based on the citation, he would have been prepared to defend against either theory of liability available to the state under I.C. § 18-8004(1)(a). Tomlinson further argues that, had he received more notice of the state's preferred
Tomlinson also asserts that the magistrate's denial of his motion for a continuance violated his due process rights because he did not receive adequate notice of when the state's previously filed motion in limine would be heard.
Tomlinson contends that, because I.C.R. 45(c) requires that "notice of hearing [on a motion] shall be served not later than seven (7) days before the time specified for the hearing" and because he did not receive such notice from the state, his due process rights were violated. However, Tomlinson ignores the remainder of I.C.R. 45(c), which states that such notice on a motion is required "unless a different period of time is fixed ... by order of the court." Tomlinson was specifically informed by the magistrate that the motion would be resolved on the day of trial. Thus, notice of a hearing from the state was not required pursuant to I.C.R. 45(c).
Tomlinson also contends that the district court erred in affirming various evidentiary rulings by the magistrate. Specifically, Tomlinson argues that the magistrate erred in excluding evidence regarding the margin of error of the breathalyzer, whether Tomlinson's blood alcohol concentration was ascending between the time he was stopped and when the breath test was given, Tomlinson's performance on the field sobriety tests, and general evidence of his actual impairment. Tomlinson also argues that the magistrate erred in admitting a printout of Tomlinson's breath test results over his hearsay objection.
We exercise free review over questions of law, including issues pertaining to compliance with the foundational requirements for admission of alcohol concentration evidence. State v. Carson, 133 Idaho 451, 452, 988 P.2d 225, 226 (Ct.App.1999).
Idaho Code Section 18-8004(1)(a) provides, in pertinent part:
Subsection (4) further provides, in pertinent part:
This section establishes one crime with two ways of proving a violation. State v. Garrett, 119 Idaho 878, 881-82, 811 P.2d 488, 491-92 (1991); State v. Knoll, 110 Idaho 678, 682, 718 P.2d 589, 593 (Ct.App.1986). The first way to prove a violation is to show under the totality of the evidence that the defendant was driving under the influence; the second is to establish that the defendant drove with an alcohol concentration of .08 or above, as shown by analysis of blood, breath, or urine. State v. Robinett, 141 Idaho 110, 112, 106 P.3d 436, 438 (2005); State v. Edmondson, 125 Idaho 132, 134, 867 P.2d 1006, 1008 (Ct.App.1994). The State may elect to proceed against the defendant under either or both theories of proof. Robinett, 141 Idaho at 112, 106 P.3d at 438; Edmondson, 125 Idaho at 134, 867 P.2d at 1008. Evidence that is relevant under one theory of proof is not necessarily relevant under the other. Robinett, 141 Idaho at 112, 106 P.3d at 438; State v. Andrus, 118 Idaho 711, 713, 800 P.2d 107, 109 (Ct.App.1990).
Evidence that is relevant to a material and disputed issue concerning the crime charged is generally admissible. State v. Stevens, 146 Idaho 139, 143, 191 P.3d 217, 221 (2008). Evidence is relevant if it has any
Here, the state elected to proceed solely under a per se theory of liability, requiring that it prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Tomlinson had an alcohol concentration of .08 or above at the time the test was taken. See Robinett, 141 Idaho at 112, 106 P.3d at 438; State v. Sutliff, 97 Idaho 523, 524, 547 P.2d 1128, 1129 (1976); State v. Juarez, 155 Idaho 449, 452, 313 P.3d 777, 780 (Ct.App.2013). Indeed, such proof is conclusive, not presumptive, of guilt. See Edmondson, 125 Idaho at 135, 867 P.2d at 1009; Andrus, 118 Idaho at 713, 800 P.2d at 109.
In Elias-Cruz v. Idaho Dep't of Transp., 153 Idaho 200, 280 P.3d 703 (2012), the Idaho Supreme Court interpreted the evidence relevant to a per se violation under I.C. § 18-8004. In that case, the Court stated:
Elias-Cruz, 153 Idaho at 204, 280 P.3d at 707. The Court further noted that, after the 1987 amendment, "the standard is no longer the concentration of alcohol in the driver's blood." Id. at 205, 280 P.3d at 708. Instead, the relevant standard is "simply the alcohol concentration shown by an approved and properly administered test of the driver's breath, blood, or urine." Id. The Court summarized:
Id. at 206, 280 P.3d at 709. Thus, the Court held that, for a per se violation of Section 18-8004, evidence relating to the general correlation of the alcohol concentration in the breath to the alcohol concentration in the blood, such as the purported margin of error of the breath testing machine, was irrelevant.
Tomlinson argues that Elias-Cruz is not relevant in his case because it involved an administrative license suspension under I.C. § 18-8002A. However, as noted by the Court in Elias-Cruz, for one's license to be suspended under that section, there must be a violation of I.C. § 18-8004. Moreover, the Court meticulously recounted the legislative history of I.C. § 18-8004 before concluding that an approved breathalyzer's margin of error was irrelevant to determining whether a defendant committed a per se violation of that statute as a result of the alcohol concentration in his or her blood, breath, or urine. Elias-Cruz, 153 Idaho at 203-04, 280 P.3d at 706-07. As noted by the Court, the legislature enacted former I.C. § 49-1102 in 1970, which created a presumption of intoxication if the driver's blood alcohol content exceeded the specified limit. Elias-Cruz, 153 Idaho at 203, 280 P.3d at 706; see also 1970 Idaho Sess. Laws, ch. 9, § 2 at 15-16. In 1984, that statute was repealed and recodified at I.C. § 18-8004. See 1983 Idaho Sess. Laws (Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 13 at 17-18; 1984 Idaho Sess. Laws, ch. 22, § 2 at 25-29; see also Knoll, 110 Idaho at 680, 718 P.2d at 591. The new statute changed the significance of test results for blood alcohol concentration such that the test results no longer created
After recounting the legislative history of I.C. § 18-8004, the Court noted that the definition of "evidentiary test for alcohol concentration" in Section 18-8002A is the same as the definition in Section 18-8004(4) and the margin of error of the testing equipment in proceedings was likewise irrelevant to proceedings under I.C. § 18-8002A. Elias-Cruz, 153 Idaho at 204, 280 P.3d at 707. Thus, contrary to Tomlinson's assertion, Elias-Cruz is not limited to only administrative proceedings; instead, it interpreted the criminal statute under which Tomlinson was prosecuted and applied that interpretation to the administrative proceedings. The context of the Court's interpretation of a criminal statute does not change the applicability of that interpretation. Indeed, what is relevant to proving a violation of I.C. § 18-8004 is the same regardless of the context. As a result, that interpretation is just as controlling as to the admissibility of the margin of error of a breathalyzer in a criminal case as it is in an administrative setting.
Although Tomlinson contends the magistrate ruled that he was precluded from presenting evidence of the margin of error of the breathalyzer based on Elias-Cruz, during cross-examination Tomlinson was allowed to ask the arresting officer about the alleged 5 percent margin of error on the breathalyzer used in his case. The state's objection that terminated that line of questioning came well after several questions had been asked and responses given regarding the purported margin of error. The officer's inability to remember the actual margin of error or authoritatively speak regarding it does not constitute error on the part of the magistrate. Thus, the district court did not err in affirming the magistrate's evidentiary decision on this issue.
It is important to note that the Court's opinion in Elias-Cruz does not prevent a defendant from challenging the accuracy and reliability of the specific machine used in his or her case or the test results obtained therefrom. Indeed, it is well established that a defendant may challenge a breathalyzer insofar as it measured the defendant's breath alcohol concentration, including whether the breathalyzer accurately measured his breath alcohol concentration, whether the particular device was working properly at the time of the breath test, and whether the breath test was properly administered. State v. Hardesty, 136 Idaho 707, 710, 39 P.3d 647, 650 (Ct.App.2002); see also State v. Wilson, 116 Idaho 771, 774, 780 P.2d 93, 96 (1989); State v. Roach, 157 Idaho 551, 555, 337 P.3d 1280, 1284 (Ct.App.2014); State v. Ward, 135 Idaho 400, 404, 17 P.3d 901, 905 (Ct.App.2001); State v. Van Sickle, 120 Idaho 99, 104 n. 2, 813 P.2d 910, 915 n. 2 (Ct. App.1991); State v. Hopkins, 113 Idaho 679, 680, 747 P.2d 88, 89 (Ct.App.1987). Thus, a defendant may impeach the accuracy of his or her specific breath test result with evidence that his or her blood alcohol content at the time of the breath test was different than the breath alcohol content provided by the breathalyzer. Hardesty, 136 Idaho at 710-11, 39 P.3d at 650-51. This could be done by introduction of a contradictory test result taken at or very near the time of the breath test. Id.; see also State v. Pressnall, 119 Idaho 207, 208-09, 804 P.2d 936, 938-39 (Ct.App.1991) (concluding that expert testimony regarding the relationship between blood alcohol concentration and breath alcohol concentration test results, and the expert's opinion of what a defendant's blood alcohol concentration would have been at the time a breath test was performed, were admissible because it tended to imply that the breath test result was inaccurate).
The state is not required to extrapolate the result of an evidentiary test — whether it be for blood, breath, or urine —
However, had Tomlinson retained an expert to discuss extrapolation of Tomlinson's breath test results back to the time he was driving, the magistrate still would not have erred in excluding that evidence. Although evidence of the lapse of time between the stop and the evidentiary test is relevant to the weight afforded the test results, it does not necessarily follow that evidence regarding back extrapolation is relevant to defend against a per se violation of the statute. Indeed, where the prosecution elects to proceed under a per se theory of liability, the question is what the alcohol level was at the time the sample was taken. Robinett, 141 Idaho at 112, 106 P.3d at 438; Juarez, 155 Idaho at 452, 313 P.3d at 780. As we noted in Hardesty and Pressnall, a breath test result may be impeached by a contemporaneous contradicting result or expert testimony as to what the defendant's blood alcohol content would have been at the time of the breath test. No Idaho appellate court has ever held, under the post-1987 DUI statute, that evidence regarding a defendant's alcohol concentration at a time other than when an evidentiary test was performed is relevant under a per se theory of liability. Thus, the alcohol concentration in a defendant's blood, breath, or urine at the time he or she was driving is irrelevant.
Tomlinson further alleges that he was precluded from introducing evidence of his outward manifestations of impairment — or lack thereof — and performance of the field sobriety tests. We have previously stated that, when the state elects to proceed under a per se theory, the extent of a defendant's impairment is "neither an element nor a fact of consequence in the state's case-in-chief." Edmondson, 125 Idaho at 135, 867 P.2d at 1009. However, such evidence would not necessarily be inadmissible for the purpose of impeachment, as long as the defendant could correlate the physical manifestations of impairment with a specific blood alcohol level contemporaneous with the test results. Id.; Pressnall, 119 Idaho at 209, 804 P.2d at 938. In Edmondson, we explained as follows:
Edmondson, 125 Idaho at 135, 867 P.2d at 1009 (citation omitted). We went on to distinguish the situation in Edmondson from the situation in Pressnall, in which a magistrate erred by excluding expert testimony regarding the defendant's expected blood alcohol level at the time the breathalyzer test was performed. Unlike the defendant in Pressnall, Edmondson had failed to lay an adequate foundation for admissibility of his outward manifestations of impairment or his performance of the field sobriety tests by correlating that evidence with the alcohol concentration level shown by the breathalyzer test. Edmondson, 125 Idaho at 135, 867 P.2d at 1009. Such a foundation would "ordinarily require expert testimony regarding the reasonably expected symptoms of intoxication of someone with the defendant's physical characteristics and a breath alcohol content as shown by the [breathalyzer]," as was offered in Pressnall, which Edmondson had not provided. Id. Thus, evidence of his outward symptoms of impairment was irrelevant and inadmissible. Id.
Similarly here, Tomlinson failed to provide expert testimony relating his performance of the field sobriety tests and his outward manifestations of intoxication to an expected blood alcohol concentration at the time of the breathalyzer. Tomlinson was also unable to qualify the arresting officer as an expert because the officer lacked scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge about the correlation of specific alcohol concentrations and the physical manifestations thereof or absorption rates of alcohol in the body. See I.R.E. 701 and 702. Absent such foundational evidence, any testimony regarding the field sobriety tests or other outward signs of intoxication were not relevant to defend against the state's prosecution for a per se violation of I.C. § 18-8004(1)(a). Thus, the district court did not err in affirming the magistrate's decision to exclude such evidence as irrelevant as well.
Tomlinson further challenges the magistrate's admission of a printout of Tomlinson's breath test results. Tomlinson objected to admission of the document on the basis of I.R.E. 803(8)(A), which governs the hearsay exception regarding public records, and he reiterates that objection on appeal.
Idaho Code Section 18-8004(4) provides, in pertinent part:
Thus, the results of a test for alcohol concentration, including a breath test done with an approved breathalyzer, are admissible without the need to produce a witness to establish the reliability of the test. However, it does not necessarily follow that this rule alone renders a printout of the test results admissible. Nonetheless, we have previously held that a printout from such a test is not excludable as hearsay because it is not hearsay:
Van Sickle, 120 Idaho at 102, 813 P.2d at 913. We based this conclusion on the plain language of the Idaho Rules of Evidence. Under those rules, "hearsay" is defined as "a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted." I.R.E. 801(c). A "declarant" is defined as "a person who makes a statement." I.R.E. 801(b). And a "statement" is defined as "(1) an oral or written assertion or (2) nonverbal conduct of a person, if it is intended by the person as an assertion." I.R.E. 801(a). Thus, as we noted in Van Sickle, a breathalyzer machine cannot provide hearsay because it is not a declarant and does not provide a statement as defined in the rules. Accordingly, the district court did not err in affirming the magistrate's decision to admit the printout of the breath test results over Tomlinson's objection.
Tomlinson has failed to establish that the district court erred in affirming the magistrate's decision to deny his motion for a continuance; exclude evidence of his outward manifestations of impairment, his performance of the field sobriety tests, and extrapolation of his breath test results back to the time he was driving; and admit the printout of his breath test results. Accordingly, the district court's order, entered in its intermediate appellate capacity, affirming Tomlinson's judgment of conviction for DUI is affirmed.
Judge GUTIERREZ and Judge GRATTON concur.
Elias-Cruz, 153 Idaho at 205, 280 P.3d at 708 (emphasis added).