Opinion
September 29, 1995
Present — Denman, P.J., Lawton, Fallon, Balio and Boehm, JJ.
Determination unanimously confirmed without costs and petition dismissed. Memorandum: We reject the contention that respondent acted arbitrarily and capriciously in denying petitioner's application for a pistol permit. A licensing officer has broad discretion whether to grant or deny a permit under Penal Law § 400.00 (1) (Matter of Fromson v Nelson, 178 A.D.2d 479; Matter of Covell v Aison, 153 A.D.2d 1001, lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 615). The failure of petitioner to report on his application a prior arrest for driving while intoxicated provided a sufficient basis to deny the application (see, Matter of Conciatori v Brown, 201 A.D.2d 323; Matter of Willis v Treder, 127 A.D.2d 667; Matter of Anderson v Mogavero, 116 A.D.2d 885). Respondent's rejection of the explanation of petitioner that he did not understand that he had been arrested when he was given an appearance ticket, especially in view of the fact that petitioner was thereafter convicted of a lesser count, was not arbitrary and capricious and was not made "without sound basis in reason [or] * * * without regard to the facts" (Matter of Pell v Board of Educ., 34 N.Y.2d 222, 231; see, Matter of Marlow v Buckley, 105 A.D.2d 1160; Matter of Bernstein v Police Dept., 85 A.D.2d 574).
Petitioner did not dispute the factual basis for denial of his application but sought a hearing to explain further his misunderstanding. That request was denied by respondent. Penal Law § 400.00 (4-a) requires that respondent "either deny the application for reasons specifically and concisely stated in writing or grant the application and issue the license applied for" (see, Davis v Clyne, 56 A.D.2d 692). That requirement is met when "[t]he petitioner [is] given the specific reasons for the denial of the pistol license, and given an opportunity to respond to the objections to [his] application" (Matter of Savitch v Lange, 114 A.D.2d 372, 373). Because petitioner received a specific reason for the denial of his application and an opportunity to respond, his contention that he was denied due process is without merit.