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THE ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT CHARGING DEFENDANT WITH DRIVING WHEN HIS ABILITY WAS IMPAIRED BY MARIJUANA WAS FACIALLY SUFFICIENT; TWO-JUDGE DISSENT (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, over a two-judge dissenting opinion, determined that the accusatory instrument charging defendant with driving while his ability was impaired by marijuana was facially sufficient. The court noted that the Report of Refusal (re: a chemical test for drugs) could not be considered and that, because defendant waived prosecution by information, the less demanding standard for a misdemeanor complaint was applied:

In the accusatory instrument, defendant’s arresting officer made the following factual allegations:

“I observed the defendant driving a car . . . (the key was in the ignition, the engine was running, and the defendant was behind the wheel);”I know defendant was under the influence of drugs because I smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the defendant’s clothing. I observed that the defendant had watery and bloodshot eyes, and I observed that the defendant had ash containing marijuana on his pants. The defendant stated, in substance: I had two puffs of marijuana before you stopped me.“I advised the defendant of his rights regarding the taking of a test to determine the presence of drugs in his urine and the defendant refused to take the test.” * * *​

… The arresting officer observed physical manifestations of the effects of marijuana—specifically, that defendant had watery and bloodshot eyes. Additionally, defendant refused a urine test to determine the presence of drugs in his system. Lower courts have consistently held that such refusal, when considered along with the other allegations in the accusatory instrument, is relevant to determining reasonable cause to believe that the defendant drove while intoxicated or impaired … . … [A] defendant’s refusal to take a chemical test evince consciousness of guilt. People v Morel, 2026 NY Slip Op 00822, CtApp 2-17-26

Practice Point: Here the Report of Refusal was not incorporated into the accusatory instrument and therefore could not be considered in determining the sufficiency of the accusatory instrument.

Practice Point: Because defendant waived prosecution by information, the less demanding standard for the sufficiency of a misdemeanor complaint was applied.

Practice Point: A refusal to take a chemical test evinces a consciousness of guilt and can be considered in analyzing the sufficiency of an accusatory instrument.

 

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