Proving Driving Under Influence by Circumstantial Evidence

Case law provides that the element of driving may be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by circumstantial evidence. Coxe v. State, Del. Supr., 281 A.2d 606 (1971); Lewis v. State, Del. Supr., 626 A.2d 1350 (1993) Subsections (a) and (b) [of Sec. 4177] must be read together and defendant may "be found, beyond a reasonable doubt, to have operated a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol." By established case law and by statute, the State is required to prove each element of the instant charges beyond a reasonable doubt. 11 Del. C. 301. United States ex rel. Crosby v. Delaware, 346 F. Supp. 213 (D. Del. 1972). a reasonable doubt is "not meant to be a vague, whimsical or merely possible doubt, but such a doubt as intelligent, reasonable, and impartial persons honestly entertain after a careful examination and conscientious consideration of the evidence. State v. Matuschefske, Del. Super., 215 A.2d 443 (1965). To warrant a conviction, all of the evidence, direct and circumstantial, must lead the Court to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed these offenses. 11 Del. C. 301. Sec. 4177. Driving a vehicle while under the influence; evidence; arrests; and penalties. (a) No person shall drive a vehicle: (1) When the person is under the influence of alcohol; (2) When the person is under the influence of any drug; (3) When the person is under the influence of a combination of alcohol and any drug; (4) When the person's alcohol concentration is .10 or more; or (5) When the person's alcohol concentration is, within 4 hours after the time of driving, .10 or more. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, a person is guilty under this subsection, without regard to the person's alcohol concentration at the time of driving, if the person's alcohol concentration is, within 4 hours after the time of driving .10 or more and that alcohol concentration is the result of an amount of alcohol present in, or consumed by the person when that person was driving. (b) In a prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this section: (1) the fact that any person charged with violating this section is, or has been, legally entitled to use alcohol or a drug shall not constitute a defense. (2) Repealed. (3) the charging document may allege a violation of subsection (a) without specifying any particular subparagraph of subsection (1) and the prosecution may seek conviction under any of the subparagraphs of subsection (a). (a) for purposes of subchapter III of Chapter 27 of this title, this section and 4177B of this title, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Alcohol concentration of .10 or more" shall mean: a. An amount of alcohol in a sample of a person's blood equivalent to .10 or more grams of alcohol per hundred milliliters of blood; or b. An amount of alcohol in a sample of a person's breath equivalent of .10 or more grams per two hundred ten liters of breath. (2) "Chemical test" or "test" shall include any form or method of analysis of a person's blood, breath or urine for the purposes of determining alcohol concentration or the presence of drugs which is approved for use by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, the Delaware State Police Crime Laboratory, any state or federal law enforcement agency, or any hospital or medical laboratory. It shall not, however, include a preliminary screening test of breath performed in order to estimate the alcohol concentration of a person at the scene of a stop or other initial encounter between an officer and the person. (3) "Drive" shall include driving, operating, or having actual physical control of a vehicle. (4) "Vehicle" shall include any vehicle as defined in 101(48) of this title, any off-highway vehicle as defined in 101(54) of this title and any moped as defined in 101(53) of this title. (5) "While under the influence" shall mean that the person is, because of alcohol or drugs or a combination of both, less able than the person would ordinarily have been, either mentally or physically, to exercise clear judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the driving of a vehicle. (6) "Alcohol concentration of .20 more" more" shall mean: a. An amount of alcohol in a sample of a person's blood equivalent to .20 ore more grams of alcohol per hundred milliliters of blood; or b. An amount of alcohol in a sample of a person's breath equivalent to 20 or more grams per two hundred ten liters of breath. (g) for purposes of a conviction premised upon subsection (a) of this section, or any proceeding pursuant to this Code in which an issue is whether a person was driving a vehicle while under the influence, evidence establishing the presence and concentration of alcohol or drugs in the person's blood, breath or urine shall be relevant and admissible. Such evidence may include the results from tests of samples of the person's blood, breath or urine taken within 4 hours after the time of driving or at some later time. In any proceeding, the resulting alcohol or drug concentration reported when a test, as defined in subsection (c)(2) of this section, is performed shall be deemed to be the actual alcohol or drug concentration in the person's blood, breath or urine without regard to any margin of error or tolerance factor inherent in such tests. (1) Evidence of an alcohol concentration of .05 or less in a person's blood, breath or urine sample taken within 4 hours of driving and tested as defined in subsection (c)(2) of this section is prima facie evidence that the person was not under the influence of alcohol within the meaning of this statute. Evidence of an alcohol concentration of more than .05 but less than .10 in a person's blood, breath or urine sample taken within 4 hours of driving and tested as defined in subsection (c)(2) of this section shall not give rise to any presumption that the person was or was not under the influence of alcohol, but such fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of alcohol.