Opinion
June 24, 1999
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Schenectady County) to review a determination of respondent which revoked petitioner's driver's license.
Paul M. Callahan, Duanesburg, for petitioner.
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney-General (Robert M. Goldfarb of counsel), Albany, for respondent.
Before: MIKOLL, J.P., MERCURE, CREW III, YESAWICH JR. and CARPINELLO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
Substantial evidence supports the determination of the Administrative Law Judge revoking petitioner's driver's license due to his refusal to submit to a chemical test (see, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1194; Matter of Boyce v. Commissioner of New York State Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 215 A.D.2d 476, 477). At the administrative hearing, the arresting police officer testified that on January 6, 1996, he was traveling along County Route 133 in the Town of Duanesburg, Schenectady County, when he observed petitioner's diagonally parked pickup truck blocking one lane and a portion of the other of a two-lane road. Upon investigation, the officer discovered petitioner sitting behind the wheel of the vehicle with the engine running and the vehicle's lights turned on. From these facts, the Administrative Law Judge not unfairly found that petitioner was "operating a motor vehicle" within the meaning of the Vehicle and Traffic Law (see, People v. Totman, 208 A.D.2d 970, 971; Matter of Prudhomme v. Hults, 27 A.D.2d 234, 236).
The record also justifies a finding (disputed by petitioner) that his arrest for driving while intoxicated was lawful (see, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1194 [c] [2]). In this respect, the arresting officer's testimony as to his observations of petitioner — petitioner was said to be dazed and confused, smelled of alcohol, admitted drinking and had failed various field sobriety tests — provides ample basis for concluding that there was probable cause for this arrest (see, e.g., People v. Daniger, 227 A.D.2d 846, 847, lv denied, 88 N.Y.2d 1020; People v. Mena-Coss, 210 A.D.2d 745, 746, lv denied 86 N.Y.2d 798).
Petitioner's claim that he was not adequately advised of the consequences of his failure to submit to the chemical test (see, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1194 [c] [3]) is also belied by the record. Indeed, shortly after petitioner's arrival at the police station, he was specifically warned of the ramifications for refusing to take the test. Then, within a one-half hour time span, though twice offered the opportunity to take the test, by his words and conduct petitioner made eminently clear that he refused to do so (see, Matter of Stegman v. Jackson, 233 A.D.2d 597, 597-598; see also, People v. Massong, 105 A.D.2d 1154, 1155).
Mikoll, J.P., Mercure, Crew III and Carpinello, JJ., concur.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.