Kesler v. Dep't of Motor Vehs., 459 P.2d 900 (Cal. 1969). · Go Syfert
Kesler v. Dep't of Motor Vehs., 459 P.2d 900 (Cal. 1969). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
204 citation events (10 in the last 25 years) across 18 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Spitze v. Zolin (calctapp, 1996-09-09)
Treatment trajectory · 1969 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1969 1997 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 37 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Spitze v. Zolin
Cal. Ct. App. · 1996 · confidence medium
The long range purpose is ... to inhibit intoxicated persons from driving on the highways. [Citation.]” (Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) “The need for the administrative per se statutes arose from the fact that ‘[t]he legal process leading to imposition of a suspension sometimes [took] years from the time of arrest.’ [Citation.] ‘Many drivers with high chemical test results fail[ed] to have sanctions taken against their driving privilege because of reduction in charges as the result of “plea-bargaining” or pre-tr…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Livesay
Tenn. Crim. App. · 1996 · confidence medium
Cal —Re Martin (1962) 58 Cal 2d 509, 24 Cal Rptr 833, 374 P2d 801 ; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal 3d 74, 81 Cal Rptr 348, 459 P2d 900 , cert den 397 US 989 , 25 LEd2d 396 , 90 S Ct 1121 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ruffenach v. Commissioner of Public Safety
Minn. Ct. App. · 1995 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Neville, 459 U.S. at 564-66 , 103 S.Ct. at 923-24 (state does not violate due process by choosing not to advise a driver of all the consequences of refusing implied consent testing); Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74 , 81 Cal.Rptr. 348, 351-52 , 459 P.2d 900, 903-04 (1969) (no due process right to notice), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 989 , 90 S.Ct. 1121 , 25 L.Ed.2d 396 (1970); State v. Kristek, 14 Kan.App.2d 77 , 781 P.2d 1113, 1115 (1989) (court will not write notice obligation into statute not included by the legislature); McDonnell v. Commissioner of Pub.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hughey v. Department of Motor Vehicles (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1991 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; Sanchez v. Alexis (1982) 131 Cal.App.3d 709, 714 [ 182 Cal.Rptr. 593 ].) Before the DMV may suspend a license for a driver’s failure to submit to a chemical test it must make four findings: (1) the officer had reasonable cause to believe the driver was violating section 23152 or 23153, (2) the driver was arrested, (3) the driver refused to submit to or complete the test and (4) the driver had been notified of the consequences of refusal to submit. (§ 13353, subd. (b).) If any one of the requi…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Peretto v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1991 · confidence medium
(Hernandez v. Department of Motor Vehicles, supra, 30 Cal.3d at p. 80, fn. 10 ; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) California decisions involving legislation impinging upon the privilege to operate a motor vehicle illustrate the deference accorded to legislative judgment which results from application of this “rational relationship” test.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rice v. Pierce
Cal. Ct. App. · 1988 · confidence medium
(Medina v. Department of Motor Vehicles, supra, 188 Cal.App.3d at pp. 749-750.) We reject that interpretation as paying inadequate deference to the state’s broad police power to legislate for the common health and welfare—i.e., “ ‘to fulfill the need for a fair, efficient and accurate system of detection and prevention of drunken driving.’ (Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].)” (Hernandez v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1981) 30 Cal.3d 70, 77 [ 177 Cal.Rptr. 566 , 634 P.2d 917 ].) The gravity of the problem of driving …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Quintana v. Municipal Court
Cal. Ct. App. · 1987 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; see also Hernandez v. Department of Motor Vehicles, supra, 30 Cal.3d at p. 77 .) That purpose is obviously thwarted by the inebriated driver who refuses the test.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Webb v. Miller
Cal. Ct. App. · 1986 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) In Kesler , the driver’s insistence upon taking all three rather than only one test was determined to be a refusal.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1986 · confidence medium
(McConville v. Alexis (1979) 97 Cal.App.3d 593, 598 [ 159 Cal.Rptr. 49 ].) As one of the measures designed to attack the problem of drunk driving, the Legislature enacted the implied consent law which provides that “a person who drives a motor vehicle upon a highway and who has been lawfully arrested upon reasonable cause to believe that he was driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and has been admonished as to the provisions of . . . section 13353 shall be required, upon penalty of suspension of his driving privilege, to select, submit to, and complete one of three specif…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Scott v. Meese
Cal. Ct. App. · 1985 · confidence medium
(Hernandez v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1981) 30 Cal.3d 70, 77 [ 177 Cal.Rptr. 566 , 634 P.2d 917 ]; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) Under the statute, the arrested person’s consent to chemical testing is deemed to be implied from the act of driving a motor vehicle.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Gobin v. Alexis
Cal. Ct. App. · 1984 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, at p. 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) It is axiomatic that taking a breath test requires a machine that is operative.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lee v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; People v. Sudduth (1966) 65 Cal.2d 543, 546 [ 55 Cal.Rptr. 393 , 421 P.2d 401 ]; Zidell v. Bright (1968) 264 Cal.App.2d 867, 869 [ 71 Cal.Rptr. 111 ].) The immediate purpose of section 13353 is to enable the police to obtain the best evidence of an arrestee’s level of intoxication at the time of arrest.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Davidson v. Quinn
Cal. App. Dep’t Super. Ct. · 1982 · confidence medium
The statute appears to so provide on its face and where “the meaning of the law on its face is plain and unambiguous the Court will not go behind the statute . . . .” (White, Sources of Legislative Intent in California (1972) 3 Pacific LJ. 63, 65; citing Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) A brief examination of the statute’s history in the California courts supports such an interpretation.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hernandez v. Department of Motor Vehicles (2×)
Cal. · 1981 · confidence medium
Section 13353, subdivision (b) — the statute at issue here — is perhaps a paradigm example of a classic "health and safety" police power measure, clearly enacted by the Legislature to foster the safety of the public in the use of the state's highways. [7] (2) As we noted shortly after the *77 statute's enactment 15 years ago: "Our implied consent statute, including section 13353, was enacted to fulfill the need for a fair, efficient and accurate system of detection and prevention of drunken driving." ( Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal. Rptr. 348 , 459 P.…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hasiwar v. Sillas
Cal. Ct. App. · 1981 · confidence medium
(See Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; Cahall v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1971) 16 Cal.App.3d 491, 496 [ 94 Cal.Rptr. 182 ].) A chemical test is not com *299 píete until evidence of such reliability has been reasonably obtained.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Ryan
Cal. Ct. App. · 1981 · confidence medium
Its ultimate purpose is to inhibit intoxicated persons from driving on the highways (Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ], cert. den. 397 U.S. 989 [ 25 L.Ed.2d 396 , 90 S.Ct. 1121 ]; Zidell v. Bright (1968) 264 Cal.App.2d 867 [ 71 Cal.Rptr. 111 ].) It is also well recognized that, as a matter of public policy, it is desirable to obtain a sample of one of the tests in a noncoercive fashion thereby substituting volition for compulsion.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Butler v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1981 · confidence medium
A conclusion that the word “incapable” was used in the implied consent law in its general and commonly understood sense is consistent with the general policy underlying the statute (cf. 58 Cal.Jur.3d, loc. cit. supra): The implied consent law is intended “to obtain the best evidence of blood alcohol content at the time of the arrest” (Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]) by means of securing “the civil cooperation of all persons privileged to drive” (McDonnell v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1975) 45 Cal.App.3d 653, 662…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cline v. Yamaga
Cal. Ct. App. · 1979 · confidence medium
(People v. Ruster, 16 Cal.3d 690, 696 [ 129 Cal.Rptr. 153 , 548 P.2d 353 , 80 A.L.R.3d 1269 ]; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; People v. Mel Mack Co., 53 Cal.App.3d 621, 626 [ 126 Cal.Rptr. 505 ].) “The literal meaning of the words of a statute may be disregarded to avoid absurd results or to give effect to manifest purposes that, in the light of the statute’s legislative history, appear from its provisions considered as a whole.” (Silver v. Brown, 63 Cal.2d 841, 845 [ 48 Cal.Rptr. 609 , 409 P.2d 689 ].
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re Carson Bulletin
Cal. Ct. App. · 1978 · confidence medium
(See City of Santa Clara v. Von Raesfeld, 3 Cal.3d 239, 248 [ 90 Cal. Rptr. 8 , 474 P.2d 976 ]; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal. Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; County of Alameda v. Kuchel, 32 Cal.2d 193, 199 [ 195 P.2d 17 ].) `"`Reasonable certainty is all that is required.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Watkins v. City of Carson
Cal. Ct. App. · 1978 · confidence medium
(See City of Santa Clara v. Von Raesfeld, 3 Cal.3d 239, 248 [ 90 Cal.Rptr. 8 , 474 P.2d 976 ]; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; County of Alameda v. Kuchel, 32 Cal.2d 193, 199 [ 195 P.2d 17 ].) ‘ “ ‘Reasonable certainty is all that is required.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Mendoza
Cal. App. Dep’t Super. Ct. · 1977 · confidence medium
(See e.g., People v. Macknic (1967) 257 Cal.App.2d 370, 373-374 [ 64 Cal.Rptr. 833 ] (defendant need not be advised that he may take a Nalline test); Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 78-79 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ] (a person who refuses a blood alcohol test need not be told that he may take a test at his own expense.) However, since a chemical analysis of urine is relevant where one is charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance, officers cannot refuse to honor a reasonable request for such a test.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Jordan
Cal. App. Dep’t Super. Ct. · 1977 · confidence medium
(Kessler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; Anderson v. Cozens (1976) 60 Cal.App.3d 130, 143 [ 131 Cal.Rptr. 256 ].) An intoxicated driver pedaling a moped can collide with a curb, a pedestrian, or a passing motorist.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jones v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1977 · confidence medium
Thus, the arrested driver does not have a right to be advised that he can take additional tests at his own expense *621 (Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 78, 79 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]) or that the right to remain silent does not apply to the chemical testing process (Lampman v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1972) 28 Cal.App.3d 922, 938 [ 105 Cal.Rptr. 101 ]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Moore v. Powell
Cal. Ct. App. · 1977 · confidence medium
At best it is possible to give the principal illustrations of the situations in which it may be applied, and then to consider whether the present case falls within one of the classifications.’ ( 17 Cal.2d 287 .)” (1 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (2d ed.) Jurisdiction, § 1, p. 526.) “A court should interpret legislation reasonably and should attempt to give effect to the apparent purpose of the statute.” (Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) “The literal meaning of the words of a statute may be disregarded to avoid absurd results or t…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Puccinelli
Cal. Ct. App. · 1976 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) It is. also evident that as a matter of public policy it is desirable to obtain a sample for one of the tests in a noncoercive fashion, thereby substituting volition for compulsion.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Jenkins
Cal. Ct. App. · 1974 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1969) 1 Cal.3d 74, 79 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ], cert. den., 397 U.S. 989 [ 25 L.Ed.2d 396 , 90 S.Ct. 1121 ]; In re Koehne (1960) 54 Cal.2d 757 , 759 *1057 [ 8 Cal.Rptr. 435 , 356 P.2d 179 ].) In the absence of any authority to the contrary, and in light of the general principles of advocacy which underlie the criminal process, there is no reason apparent why the same rule should not apply here, even though a felony is involved.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) County of Nevada v. MacMillen (2×)
Cal. · 1974 · confidence medium
(See City of Santa Clara v. Von Raesfeld, 3 Cal.3d 239, 248 [ 90 Cal. Rptr. 8 , 474 P.2d 976 ]; Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal. Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ]; County of Alameda v. Kuchel, 32 Cal.2d 193, 199 [ 195 P.2d 17 ].) "`"Reasonable certainty is all that is required.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cahall v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1971 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 77 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) The statute should be interpreted in light of its purpose.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maxsted v. Department of Motor Vehicles
Cal. Ct. App. · 1971 · confidence medium
(Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74, 78 [ 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 ].) Court of Appeal cases which have discussed a duty to expand on the Miranda warning have done so in the context that an explanation is necessary if something less than a refusal of the test, i.e., a demand for counsel, is to be construed as a refusal.
examined Cited "see" Espinoza v. Shiomoto (3×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 2017 · signal: accord · confidence high
Consent which is not clear and unambiguous may be deemed a refusal.’ [Citation.] ‘In determining whether an arrested driver’s conduct amounts to a refusal to submit to a test, the court looks not to the state of mind of the arrested driver, but to “the fair meaning to be given [the driver’s] response to the demand he [or she] submit to a chemical test.” [Citations.]’ ” (Garcia v. Department of Motor Vehicles (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 73, 82-83 [ 109 Cal.Rptr.3d 906 ] (Garcia).) It is well settled that “[a] conditional consent to a chemical test constitutes a refusal to submit wi…
discussed Cited "see" Espinoza v. Shiomoto
Cal. Ct. App. · 2017 · signal: accord · confidence high
Consent which is not clear and unambiguous may be deemed a refusal.’ [Citation.] ‘In determining whether an arrested driver’s conduct amounts to a refusal to submit to a test, the court looks not to the state of mind of the arrested driver, but to “the fair meaning to be given [the driver’s] response to the demand he [or she] submit to a chemical test.” [Citations.]’” (Garcia v. Department of Motor Vehicles (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 73 , 82- 83 (Garcia).) It is well settled that “[a] conditional consent to a chemical test constitutes a refusal to submit within the meaning of sec…
examined Cited "see" Espinoza v. Shiomoto (3×)
Cal. Ct. App. 5th · 2017 · signal: accord · confidence high
Consent which is not clear and unambiguous may be deemed a refusal.' [Citation.] 'In determining whether an arrested driver's conduct amounts to a refusal to submit to a test, the court looks not to the state of mind of the arrested driver, but to "the fair meaning to be given [the driver's] *634 response to the demand he [or she] submit to a chemical test." [Citations.]' " ( Garcia v. Department of Motor Vehicles (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 73 , 82-83, 109 Cal.Rptr.3d 906 ( Garcia ).) It is well settled that "[a] conditional consent to a chemical test constitutes a refusal to submit within the mea…
examined Cited "see" Green v. State (3×)
Miss. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74 , 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 (1969); City of Hilliard v. Elfrink, 11 Ohio St.3d 155, 672 N.E.2d 166 (1996); Wohlford v. Commonwealth, 3 Va.App. 467 , 351 S.E.2d 47 (1986). .
cited Cited "see" Victor Green v. State of Mississippi
Miss. · 1997 · signal: see · confidence high
See Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 459 P.2d 900 (Cal. 1969); City of Hilliard v. Elfrink, 672 N.E.2d 166 (Ohio 1996); Wohlford v. Commonwealth, 351 S.E.2d 47 (Va. Ct. App. 1986). 13.
examined Cited "see" Morgan v. Iowa Department of Public Safety (3×)
Iowa · 1975 · signal: see · confidence high
See Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal.3d 74 , 81 Cal.Rptr. 348 , 459 P.2d 900 , cert. den. 397 U.S. 989 , 90 S.Ct. 1121 , 25 L.Ed.2d 396 .
examined Cited "see" Zadina v. Weedlun (3×)
Neb. · 1971 · signal: see · confidence high
See, Kesler v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 1 Cal. 3d 74 , 81 Cal. Rptr. 348 , 459 P. 2d 900 , Cert.
examined Cited "see, e.g." Daly v. Department of Motor Vehicles (3×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1986 · signal: see also · confidence medium
(Decker v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1972) 6 Cal.3d 903 [ 101 Cal.Rptr. 387 , 495 P.2d 1307 ]; Giomi v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1971) 15 Cal.App.3d 905 [ 93 Cal.Rptr. 613 ].) In Decker and Giomi , the courts vacated suspensions of license because the warnings given there reduced ‘“the admonition to one of bare possibility, which thus amounts to no warning at all.’” (Decker, supra, at p. 906 , quoting Giomi, supra, at p. 907 ; see also Thompson v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1980) 107 Cal.App.3d 354, 360 [ 165 Cal.Rptr. 626 ].) The implied consent statute “is perhaps a par…
EARL LARSEN KESLER, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, Defendant and Appellant
L.A. 29655.
California Supreme Court.
Oct 31, 1969.
459 P.2d 900
Counsel, Thomas C. Lynch, Attorney General, and Herbert Davis, Deputy Attorney General for Defendant and Appellant., Hyman Gold for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Burke, Peters.
Cited by 67 opinions  |  Published

Lead Opinion

[*76] Opinion

BURKE, J.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (Department) appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County granting a peremptory writ of mandate to vacate an order suspending respondent’s driver’s license. We have concluded that the order of the Department was correct and the judgment of the superior court should be reversed.

Respondent was lawfully arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Pursuant to Vehicle Code section 13353,[1] respondent was informed by the arresting officer “that he had a choice of three chemical tests and that he should submit to one or the other, and that a denial or negative reply constituted a refusal to take a test.” Respondent was further advised that if he refused to take a test, his driver’s license would be suspended. However, respondent refused to submit to only a single test, stating that he wanted to take all three tests in order to obtain an “average” of these tests. Respondent told the arresting officer that a single test would not be “scientifically conclusive.”

The arresting officer then informed respondent that under the law he had a choice of one of three tests, but not all three as a choice, and that his continued insistence upon all three tests would be treated as a refusal to submit to a test. Respondent remained adamant, and the arresting officer prepared an affidavit of refusal pursuant to section 13353.

Acting upon the affidavit, the Department of Motor Vehicles suspended respondent’s license for a period of six months. The superior court granted respondent’s petition for writ of mandate on the grounds that respondent’s request to take all three tests did not constitute a refusal to submit to a test under section 13353, and that respondent should have been advised by the[*77] arresting officer that respondent had the right, under Vehicle Code section 13354, subdivision (b),[2] to obtain an additional test at his own expense.

In order to resolve this matter, we must decide two separate issues: first, whether respondent’s insistence upon all three tests constituted, in legal effect, a refusal to submit to a test within the meaning of section 13353 and second, if it did constitute such a refusal, whether or not that refusal may be excused by reason of the failure to advise respondent of his right to obtain an additional test at his own expense.

We have concluded that section 13353 neither expressly nor by necessary implication permits one to insist that all three tests be administered to him at the state’s expense. Section 13353 refers to the administration of “a chemical test,” and states quite clearly “The person arrested shall have the choice of whether the test shall be of his blood, breath or urine.” (Italics added.) Had the Legislature intended to permit a choice of more than one test, we believe that it would have expressly so provided.

A court should interpret legislation reasonably and should attempt to give effect to the apparent purpose of the statute. Our implied consent statute, including section 13353, was enacted to fulfill the need for a fair, efficient and accurate system of detection and prevention of drunken driving. (People v. Sudduth, 65 Cal.2d 543, 546 [55 Cal.Rptr. 393, 421 P.2d 401]; Zidell v. Bright, 264 Cal.App.2d 867 [71 Cal.Rptr. 111].) The immediate purpose of section 13353 is to obtain the best evidence of blood alcohol content at the time of the arrest of a person reasonably believed to be driving while intoxicated. The long range purpose is, of course, to inhibit intoxicated persons from driving on the highways. (Zidell v. Bright, supra, at pp. 869-870.)

Whether the purposes of the implied consent statute would be more fairly, efficiently or accurately attained by the revision of section 13353 to permit a choice of all three tests instead of only one is a matter for the Legislature. As the section now reads provision is made only for a choice of one of three tests. Consequently, we hold that respondent’s insistence upon taking all three rather than only one constituted, at best, a conditional consent to a test which, under the authorities, must be deemed to be a refusal to submit to a test within the meaning of section 13353 and similar to the conditions held to nullify the consent in Finley v. Orr, 262 Cal.App.2d 656, 667 [69 Cal.Rptr. 137] (that licensee’s physician or[*78] attorney be present during the test); Fallis v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 264 Cal.App.2d 373, 382 [70 Cal.Rptr. 595] (that licensee’s physician administer the test); Ent v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 265 Cal.App.2d 936 [71 Cal.Rptr. 726] (that licensee’s attorney be present during test); Westmoreland v. Chapman, 268 Cal.App.2d 1 [75 Cal.Rptr. 363] (that licensee’s physician be present during, or administer the test).

The instant case is to be distinguished from James v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 267 Cal.App.2d 750 [73 Cal.Rptr. 452], wherein the arrested driver indicated his willingness to take any test administered to him, but simply refused to select a particular test to take. In James, the Court of Appeal held that given a willingness to submit to a test, a mere refusal to indicate a choice did not constitute a refusal to take a test under section 13353. This result seems proper, as section 13353 does not by its terms require the arrested person to select a particular test himself. In the instant case, respondent refused to take only a single test and instead insisted upon taking all three, a right not conferred upon him under section 13353.

Nor does Rust v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 267 Cal.App.2d 545 [73 Cal.Rptr. 366], improve respondent’s position. In Rust, the arresting officer gave the driver an overly broad Miranda warning concerning his right to counsel, without explaining its inapplicability to the blood alcohol test. Since the driver may have been misled by the officer, the Court of Appeal held that the driver’s insistence upon calling his attorney before the test was given did not constitute a refusal to submit to a test under section 13353. There is no indication in the record before us that respondent herein was similarly misled regarding his rights.

Turning to the second question of whether or not respondent’s refusal may be excused by reason of the failure of the arresting officer to advise respondent that he could obtain an additional test at his own expense, pursuant to section 13354, subdivision (b), we note that neither section 13353 nor section 13354 purports to require the arresting officer to advise the driver that an additional test is available at his expense. Other than the Miranda warning prior to police interrogation, section 13353, subdivision (a), specifies the only warning required to be given, namely, that the driver “be told that his failure to submit to such a chemical test will result in the suspension of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of six months.” Therefore, we may reasonably conclude that the Legislature did not intend to impose the further requirement that the arresting officer advise the driver of the availability of an additional test at his own expense. (Accord, Westmoreland v. Chapman, supra, 268 Cal.App.2d 1.)

Nor do we believe that principles of due process or equity require that[*79] persons in respondent’s position be advised by law enforcement officers that additional tests may be taken at their own expense. As we have previously stated in In re Koehne, 54 Cal.2d 757, 759 [8 Cal.Rptr. 435, 356 P.2d 179], and in In re Newbern, 55 Cal.2d 508, 511 [11 Cal.Rptr. 551, 360 P.2d 47], all that due process requires in the preservation of the rights of such persons is the availability of an opportunity for defendant to obtain a timely sampling of his blood in the manner required by law. Respondent was given that opportunity, and he voluntarily refused it.

In In re Koehne, supra, 54 Cal.2d 757, involving a person charged with being drunk in a public place and who insisted that the police denied him the right to call and obtain the services of a physician to test the alcoholic content of his blood, we stated that it is significant “that the law does not impose upon law enforcement agencies the requirement that they take the initiative, or even any affirmative action, in procuring the evidence deemed necessary to the defense of the accused. Rather it is the accused who must act to protect his interests, and it is only when he is denied an opportunity, reasonable under the circumstances, to procure a timely sample of his blood that he can properly claim a denial of due process.” (Italics added.)

Respondent asks us to hold that law enforcement officers must indeed take the initiative and act affirmatively to advise the arrested driver that he may obtain additional tests at his own expense. Such a holding would be contrary to the principles announced by us in Koehne and Newbern, supra, and to the legislative intent necessarily implied from the face of sections 13353 and 13354.

Accordingly, we hold that respondent’s refusal to submit to a chemical test to determine the alcoholic content of his blood was unjustified and in violation of section 13353 of the Vehicle Code. The judgment is reversed and the superior court is directed to make new findings and enter judgment in accordance with the views expressed herein.

Traynor, C. J., McComb, J., Tobriner, J., Mosk, J., and Sullivan, J., concurred.

1

Section 13353 provides in pertinent part: “(a) Any person who drives a motor vehicle upon a highway shall be deemed to have given his consent to a chemical test of his blood, breath or urine for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his blood if lawfully arrested for any offense allegedly committed while the person was driving a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor. The test shall be incidental to a lawful arrest and administered at the direction of a peace officer having reasonable cause to believe such person was driving a motor vehicle upon a highway while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Such person shall be told that his failure to submit to such a chemical test will result in the suspension of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of six months.

“The person arrested shall have the choice of whether the test shall be of his blood, breath or urine.

“(b) If any such person refuses the officer’s request to submit to a chemical test, the department, upon receipt of the officer’s sworn statement that he had reasonable cause to believe such person had been driving a motor vehicle upon a highway while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and that the person had refused to submit to the test after being requested by the officer, shall suspend his privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of six months.”

2

Section 13354, subdivision (b) provides: “(b) The person tested may, at his own expense, have a physician, registered nurse, duly licensed clinical laboratory technologist or clinical laboratory bioanalyst or any other person of his own choosing administer a test, in addition to any administered at the direction of a peace officer, for the purpose of determining the amount of alcohol in his blood at the time alleged as shown by chemical analysis of his blood, breath or urine. The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person shall not preclude the admissibility in evidence of the test taken at the direction of a peace officer.”

Dissent

PETERS, J.

I dissent.

Even if a demand to take all three tests be interpreted as a refusal to take any, under the law he could have agreed to take one, and could have demanded the right to take the other two if he paid for them (Veh. Code, § 13354, subd. (b)). The arresting officer should have informed petitioner of that right. Petitioner had made it perfectly clear that he wanted all three tests. The only way he could get them was to pay for two. The police officer presumably knew this. He knew or should have known that petitioner did not. Fundamental rules of fairness require that the officer inform him of those rights.