GRATTON, Chief Judge.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) appeals from the district court's decision setting aside ITD's denial of Jesse Leroy Herrmann's request for an administrative license suspension hearing. ITD determined that Herrmann's request was untimely. We affirm the district court's determination that the request was timely.
Herrmann failed an evidentiary breath test on Sunday, December 6, 2015, and was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Herrmann was served with a notice of suspension for failure of evidentiary testing, advising him that ITD would suspend his driving privileges unless he filed a written request for an administrative hearing within seven calendar days from the date of the notice. Herrmann filed a request for administrative hearing with ITD by facsimile on Monday, December 14, 2015, eight calendar days from service. ITD concluded the request was not timely filed and denied Herrmann's request. Thereafter, Herrmann filed a petition for judicial review with the district court. Following a hearing, the district court set aside ITD's decision and remanded the administrative license suspension to ITD for the purpose of conducting an administrative license suspension hearing. ITD timely appeals.
The Idaho Administrative Procedures Act (IDAPA) governs the review of ITD decisions to deny, cancel, suspend, disqualify, revoke, or restrict a person's driver's license. See I.C. §§ 49-201, 49-330, 67-5201(2), 67-5270. In an appeal from the decision of the district court acting in its appellate capacity under the IDAPA, this Court reviews the agency record independently of the district court's decision. Marshall v. Idaho Dep't of Transp., 137 Idaho 337, 340, 48 P.3d 666, 669 (Ct. App. 2002). This Court does not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence presented. I.C. § 67-5279(1); Marshall, 137 Idaho at 340, 48 P.3d at 669. This Court instead defers to the agency's findings of fact unless they are clearly erroneous. Castaneda v. Brighton Corp., 130 Idaho 923, 926, 950 P.2d 1262, 1265 (1998); Marshall, 137 Idaho at 340, 48 P.3d at 669. In other words, the agency's factual determinations are binding upon the reviewing court, even where there is conflicting evidence before the agency, so long as the determinations are supported by substantial and competent evidence in the record. Urrutia v. Blaine Cnty., ex rel. Bd. of Comm'rs, 134 Idaho 353, 357, 2 P.3d 738, 742 (2000); Marshall, 137 Idaho at 340, 48 P.3d at 669.
The Court may overturn an agency's decision where its findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions violate statutory or constitutional provisions; exceed the agency's statutory authority; are made upon unlawful procedure; are not supported by substantial evidence in the record; or are arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion. I.C. § 67-5279(3). The party challenging the agency decision must demonstrate that the agency erred in a manner specified in I.C. § 67-5279(3) and that a substantial right of that party has been prejudiced. Price v. Payette Cnty. Bd. of Cnty. Comm'rs, 131 Idaho 426, 429, 958 P.2d 583, 586 (1998); Marshall, 137 Idaho at 340, 48 P.3d at 669. If the agency's decision is not affirmed on appeal, it shall be set aside and remanded for further proceedings as necessary. I.C. § 67-5279(3).
In the present case, there are no factual issues on appeal. The single issue is whether Herrmann timely filed his request for an administrative hearing. The statute pertaining to the deadline provides:
Idaho Code § 18-8002A(7) (emphasis added).
The general rule is that the interpretation of a statute is an issue of law over which we exercise free review. Aguilar v.
ITD maintains that the statutory language is clear and unambiguous, and therefore no statutory interpretation is necessary to determine what is meant by seven calendar days, resulting in the deadline falling on Sunday, December 13, 2015. Conversely, Herrmann asserts two other statutes, I.C. §§ 73-109 and 73-108, dictate that the deadline would fall on December 14, 2015, which is the day he filed his request. Idaho Code § 73-109 provides, "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last unless the last is a holiday and then it is also excluded." Idaho Code § 73-108 provides, "Holidays, within the meaning of these compiled laws, are: Every Sunday...."
The Idaho Supreme Court has clarified that while conclusions of law are freely reviewable, in an appeal of agency actions, a four-prong test must be applied to determine the appropriate level of deference to be given to an agency construction of a statute. Hamilton ex rel. Hamilton v. Reeder Flying Serv., 135 Idaho 568, 571, 21 P.3d 890, 893 (2001). If the four-prong test is met, then courts must give considerable weight to the agency's interpretation of the statute. Preston v. Idaho State Tax Comm'n, 131 Idaho 502, 504, 960 P.2d 185, 187 (1998). The Court must first determine if the agency has been entrusted with the responsibility of administering the statute at issue. Hamilton, 135 Idaho at 571, 21 P.3d at 893. Second, the agency's statutory construction must be reasonable. Third, the Court must determine that the statutory language at issue does not expressly treat the precise question at issue. Finally, the fourth prong requires the Court to make a determination of whether any of the rationales underlying the rule of deference are present. Id.
In this case, ITD is clearly entrusted with the responsibility of administering I.C. § 18-8002A, therefore satisfying the first prong. Regarding the second prong, ITD argues its interpretation of I.C. § 18-8002A(7) is reasonable "[g]iven the immediate and expeditious time considerations for the Department to determine whether a driver's privileges should be suspended based upon a failed evidentiary test."
I.C. § 34-116 (emphasis added). A review of the fourth prong regarding a determination of whether any of the rationales underlying the rule of deference are present is unnecessary given the failure to meet the second and third prong of the deference test formulated by J.R. Simplot Co., Inc. v. Idaho State Tax Comm'n, 120 Idaho 849, 862, 820 P.2d 1206, 1219 (1991).
Finally, ITD cites Wanner v. State, Dep't of Transp., 150 Idaho 164, 244 P.3d 1250 (2011), to support its argument that the Idaho Supreme Court did not find any ambiguity in determining the appropriateness of its interpretation of the seven-calendar-day period provided in I.C. § 18-8002A(7). The Idaho Supreme Court noted that I.C. § 18-8002A(7) "allows the person whose license has been suspended to request a hearing within seven days to contest the ninety-day suspension." Wanner, 150 Idaho at 169, 244 P.3d at 1255. It held that the petitioner in that case had waived his right to an administrative hearing by failing to request a hearing within the seven-day period following his notice of suspension. Id. However, that case does not deal with the specific issue here, where the last day falls on a holiday.
More analogous to the specific issue here is Page v. McCain Foods, Inc., 145 Idaho 302, 179 P.3d 265 (2008). In that case, the claimant filed a motion for reconsideration with the Industrial Commission regarding a worker's compensation claim. Id. at 311, 179 P.3d at 274. Pursuant to I.C. § 72-718, which governs workers compensation and related laws, motions to reconsider must be made within twenty days from the date of filing the decision. Page, 145 Idaho at 311, 179 P.3d at 274. In that case, Page conceded that she did not mail her motion until the twenty-first day following the Industrial Commission's order; however, Page argued the computation of time would have resulted in the twentieth day falling on July 4 (a holiday). Id. The Industrial Commission denied the claim as being untimely filed; however, the Idaho Supreme Court held the computation of time in I.C. § 72-718 is controlled by I.C. §§ 73-108 and 73-109 and concluded that because July 4 is a holiday, the deadline for filing a motion for reconsideration was July 5. Therefore, it held the claimant complied with the timing requirement and reversed the Industrial Commission's denial of her motion for reconsideration. Page, 145 Idaho at 311, 179 P.3d at 274.
ITD's interpretation of I.C. § 18-8002A(7) contradicts the clear expression of the legislature regarding how to calculate time for an act provided by law. The computation of time is governed by I.C. §§ 73-108 and 73-109. To be consistent with these statutes and others, including I.C. § 34-116 which defines "calendar days," we hold that because the seventh day following Herrmann's notice of suspension fell on a Sunday, which is a holiday, it is excluded. Thus, the completion of the seven-day period would fall on the following day, Monday, December 14, 2015. Because Herrmann filed his request for an administrative
Herrmann's request for an administrative license suspension hearing pursuant to I.C. § 18-8002A(7) was timely filed. ITD's decision is reversed, and this case is remanded to ITD for the purpose of conducting an administrative license suspension hearing.
Judge GUTIERREZ and Judge HUSKEY concur.