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Charles Caleb Luttinen petitioner, Respondent
vs.
Commissioner of Public Safety, Appellant.
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Issues:
Alcohol testing, evidence.
Case Summary:
The Commissioner of Public Safety appeals a lower court's ruling in a DUI case. A state trooper arrested Charles Luttinen and charged him with DUI after Luttinen produced a breath alcohol test result in excess of the state's legal limit. The commissioner's office revoked Luttinen's license based on his test result. Luttinen's case went to trial.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
The trial court ruled for Luttinen and ordered authorities to reinstate his driver's license. The court ruled a margin of error associated with the blood alcohol content testing device used in Luttinen's case compelled the court to view the evidence in a light most favorable to Luttinen. The state now appeals.
Outcome:
The state wins. The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's decision. The appeals court ruled current law required authorities to revoke Luttinen's license based on the recorded test results. The appeals court also ruled no evidence supported the trial court's conclusion that the testing device used in Luttinen's case produced readings subject to a margin of error. The appeals court ruled the trial court erred in ordering Luttinen's license to be reissued.