People v. Dixie

In People v. Dixie (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 852, the court held that in imposing the compulsory enhancement for firearm use ( Pen. Code, 12022.5), the trial court did not err by failing to state its reason for imposing the enhancement. Penal Code section 1170.1, subdivision (g) also empowers the trial court to strike the additional punishment provided in Penal Code section 12022.5. In Dixie, the court reasoned that Penal Code section 1170, subdivision (c) requires a trial court to state its reasons for a "sentence choice," but a mandatory sentence is not a sentence choice. The court concluded, "only when a sentencing court strikes the enhancement does that action become a sentence choice requiring a statement of reasons on the record." ( Id., at p. 857.)