Firsanov v. State, 513 S.E.2d 184 (Ga. 1999). · Go Syfert
Firsanov v. State, 513 S.E.2d 184 (Ga. 1999). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
33 citation events (26 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Riley v. State (ga, 2019-02-18)
Treatment trajectory · 1999 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1999 2012 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 14 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Riley v. State
Ga. · 2019 · confidence medium
“The test of probable cause requires merely a probability — less than a certainty but more than a mere suspicion or possibility.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) 12 Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Blanks v. the State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
“The test of probable cause requires merely a probability — less than a certainty but more than a mere suspicion or possibility” Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999) (citation and punctuation omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hughes v. State
Ga. · 2015 · confidence medium
Appx. 335, 338 (III) (11th Cir. 2009); State v. Underwood, 283 Ga. 498, 500 ( 661 SE2d 529 ) (2008); Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 874 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hughes v. State
Ga. · 2015 · confidence medium
Appx. 335, 338 (III) (11th Cir. 2009); State v. Underwood, 283 Ga. 498, 500 ( 661 SE2d 529 ) (2008); Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 874 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Crenshaw v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
J., and Smith, R J., concur. 1 Taylor v. State, 278 Ga. App. 181 (1) ( 628 SE2d 611 ) (2006) (citation and punctuation omitted). 2 See Shoemake v. State, 266 Ga. App. 342, 345 (3) (b) ( 596 SE2d 805 ) (2004); Viau v. State, 260 Ga. App. 96, 97 (1) (a) ( 579 SE2d 52 ) (2003); Childress v. State, 251 Ga. App. 873, 876 (2) ( 554 SE2d 818 ) (2001). 3 See Childress, supra. 4 OCGA § 40-6-253 (a) (2). 5 See Firsanou v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 874 (1) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999); see also Yates v. State, 263 Ga. App. 29, 30 (1) ( 587 SE2d 180 ) (2003).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lewis v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2005 · confidence medium
“The test of probable cause requires merely a probability — less than a certainty but more than a mere suspicion or possibility.” (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999).
cited Cited as authority (rule) David v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
Barnett, 270 Ga. at 472-473 ; Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 874-875 ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dougherty v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
The jury found him guilty of both offenses, and the trial court merged the counts at sentencing. 2 (Punctuation omitted.) Strickland v. State, 240 Ga. App. 604 ( 524 SE2d 305 ) (1999). 3 (Punctuation omitted.) Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999). 4 See id.; Strickland, supra at 604-605 ; Cann-Hanson v. State, 223 Ga. App. 690 -691 (1) ( 478 SE2d 460 ) (1996); see also Keenan v. State, 263 Ga. 569, 571 (2) ( 436 SE2d 475 ) (1993) (noting that “ ‘the alco-sensor is used as an initial screening device to aid the police officer in determining probable cause to arres…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Boyd v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
Pardue, Assistant Solicitor-General, for appellee. 1 See Whitener v. State, 201 Ga. App. 309, 310 (1) ( 410 SE2d 796 ) (1991). 2 (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999). 3 See Singleterry v. State, 227 Ga. App. 155 (1) ( 489 SE2d 42 ) (1997); State v. Greene, 178 Ga. App. 875 (1) ( 344 SE2d 771 ) (1986). 4 384 U. S. 436 (86 SC 1602, 16 LE2d 694) (1966); see Selman v. State, 267 Ga. 198, 200 (2) ( 475 SE2d 892 ) (1996); McClendon v. State, 201 Ga. App. 262, 264 (1) (b) ( 410 SE2d 760 ) (1991). 5 Childress v. State, 251 Ga. App. 873, 87…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Cannon
Ga. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
Smith, P. J., and Ellington, J., concur. 1 Terry v. Ohio, 392 U. S. 1 (88 SC 1868, 20 LE2d 889) (1968). 2 Vansant v. State, 264 Ga. 319, 320 (1) ( 443 SE2d 474 ) (1994). 3 Tukes v. State, 236 Ga. App. 77 (1) ( 511 SE2d 534 ) (1999). 4 Garmon v. State, 271 Ga. 673, 678 (3) ( 524 SE2d 211 ) (1999); Satterfield v. State, 251 Ga. App. 141, 144 ( 553 SE2d 820 ) (2001). 5 (Punctuation omitted.) Stewart v. State, 227 Ga. App. 659, 660-661 (2) ( 490 SE2d 194 ) (1997). 6 Patman v. State, 244 Ga. App. 833, 835 ( 537 SE2d 118 ) (2000), citing Albert v. State, 236 Ga. App. 146, 149 (2) ( 511 SE2d 244 ) (1…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fairbanks v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2000 · confidence medium
Phipps, J, and McMurray, Senior Appellate Judge, concur. 1 Tanner v. State, 225 Ga. App. 702, 703 ( 484 SE2d 766 ) (1997). 2 See Bowman v. Palmour, 209 Ga. App. 270 (1) ( 433 SE2d 380 ) (1993). 3 See Brooks v. State, 187 Ga. App. 194, 195 (1) ( 369 SE2d 801 ) (1988). 4 OCGA § 40-5-55 (a). 5 See Martin v. State, 214 Ga. App. 614, 615 (1) ( 448 SE2d 471 ) (1994). 6 Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999). 7 See Martin, supra at 616 (1); Davis v. State, 187 Ga. App. 517 ( 370 SE2d 779 ) (1988). 8 Miles v. State, 236 Ga. App. 632, 633 (1) ( 513 SE2d 39 ) (1999). 9 See Nels…
discussed Cited "see" Lancaster v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 874 (1) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999); Wynn v. State, 236 Ga. App. 98, 100 (2) ( 511 SE2d 201 ) (1999).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Lakyia Sexton-Johnson v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2020 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 874 (1) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State v. Ellison (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2005 · signal: compare · confidence medium
Compare Cunningham, supra at 284 (1) (“less safe”). 3 (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Firsanov v. State, 270 Ga. 873, 875 (3) ( 513 SE2d 184 ) (1999). 4 Silva v. State, 278 Ga. 506 ( 604 SE2d 171 ) (2004); see also Vansant v. State, 264 Ga. 319, 320 (1) ( 443 SE2d 474 ) (1994) (“where the evidence is uncontroverted and no question regarding the credibility of witnesses is presented, the trial court’s application of the law to undisputed facts is subject to de novo appellate review”) (citation omitted). 5 (Citation omitted.) Vansant, supra at 320 . 6 See State v. Gray, 267 Ga. App…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Firsanov
v.
the State
S99A0173.
Supreme Court of Georgia.
Feb 22, 1999.
513 S.E.2d 184
Cindi L. Teelon, for appellant., Gerald N. Blaney, Jr., Solicitor, Rosanna M. Szabo, Scott A. Drake, Assistant Solicitors, for appellee.
Hunstein.
Cited by 17 opinions  |  Published
Hunstein, Justice.

Kirill Firsanov was convicted of driving under the influence of[*874] alcohol with a blood alcohol content exceeding .04 pursuant to former OCGA § 40-6-391 (k); illegal use of a spotlight, OCGA § 40-8-29 (a); violation of the open container law, OCGA § 40-6-253 (b); and underage possession of alcohol, OCGA § 3-3-23 (a) (2). While we agree with Firsanov that his conviction for illegal use of a spotlight must be reversed, we affirm the remaining convictions and the trial court’s ruling upholding the constitutionality of former OCGA § 40-6-391 (k).

1. The early morning of July 5, 1996, Officer Gunter of the Snellville Police Department stopped the vehicle Firsanov, then 17 years old, was driving after witnesses told Gunter a car matching the description of Firsanov’s car had shined a spotlight into their vehicle. Firsanov appeared flushed, his eyes bloodshot, and he smelled of alcohol. The officer testified at the bench trial that he discovered a hand-held spotlight (which plugs into the cigarette lighter) under the passenger’s feet as well as an open, partially-filled beer can. Firsanov gave Gunter permission to search the vehicle’s trunk which the officer discovered contained a six-pack of beer and a cooler filled with loose bottles of beer. The only other person in Firsanov’s vehicle was 15 years old and was given an alco-sensor test which indicated he had not imbibed any alcohol. The Intoxilyzer 5000 test performed on Firsanov showed he had a blood alcohol content of .061. At trial, the driver of the spotlighted vehicle was unable to state whether Firsanov or the passenger had shined the light into her car.

In the absence of any evidence indicating that it was Firsanov rather than his passenger who used the spotlight found under the passenger’s feet, we agree, and the State concedes, that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction of OCGA § 40-8-29 (a). Accordingly, the judgment entered on Firsanov’s conviction for illegal use of a spotlight is reversed. We conclude that the trial court sitting as the trier of fact was authorized to find Firsanov guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of a violation of the open container law based on the evidence of Firsanov’s intoxication, the officer’s testimony that Firsanov smelled of alcohol and appeared flushed, and the presence of liquid remaining in the open can. The evidence adduced also authorized the trier of fact to find Firsanov guilty of underage possession of alcohol and DUI beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979).

2. Firsanov challenged the constitutionality of former OCGA § 40-6-391 (k) on the basis that it violated equal protection by distinguishing between those persons under 18 and persons 18-21, all of whom are legally unable to drink (OCGA § 3-3-23 (a) (2)) and are thus similarly situated, in an arbitrary manner not rationally related[*875] to any legitimate State interest. [1] Because no suspect class or fundamental right is involved, Barnett v. State, 270 Ga. 472 (510 SE2d 527) (1999), the challenged statute need only bear a rational relationship to some legitimate State purpose. Id. “Protection of the public safety and safeguarding the physical well-being of children represent two legitimate state purposes. [Cits.]” Id. We agree with the trial court that former OCGA § 40-6-391 (k) was rationally related to the State’s interest in both of these purposes, Barnett, supra, and that the legislature had a rational basis for distinguishing between those drivers under age 18 and drivers between 18 and 21 years of age due the greater inexperience and immaturity possessed by drivers under the age of 18. See Kelley v. State, 252 Ga. 208 (2) (312 SE2d 328) (1984). We find no violation of equal protection.

Decided February 22, 1999 — Reconsideration denied April 9,1999. Cindi L. Teelon, for appellant. Gerald N. Blaney, Jr., Solicitor, Rosanna M. Szabo, Scott A. Drake, Assistant Solicitors, for appellee.

3. Firsanov contends the trial court erred by denying his motion in limine to exclude the breath test results on the basis that the officer lacked probable cause to arrest Firsanov for DUI. The test of probable cause “ ‘requires merely a probability — less than a certainty but more than a mere suspicion or possibility. (Cits.)’ [Cit.]” Williams v. State, 167 Ga. App. 42, 43 (306 SE2d 46) (1983). The evidence established that the officer knew Firsanov’s age, observed his bloodshot eyes and flushed face, smelled a moderate odor of alcohol on his breath, and discovered beers on ice in a cooler in Firsanov’s trunk. Although this evidence alone may not have been sufficient to convict Firsanov of DUI, ‘“[t]he same strictness of proof required for a finding of guilt is not necessary for probable cause. (Cit.)’ . . . [Cit.]” Campbell v. State, 221 Ga. App. 105, 107 (2) (470 SE2d 503) (1996). Compare Clay v. State, 193 Ga. App. 377 (2) (387 SE2d 644) (1989) and Davis v. State, 206 Ga. App. 647 (1) (426 SE2d 267) (1992) (evidence insufficient to support convictions). We find no error in the trial court’s denial of Firsanov’s motion.

Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part.

All the Justices concur.
1

OCGA § 40-6-391 was amended effective July 1, 1997 eliminating this distinction by raising the age in subsection (k) to 21. Ga. L. 1997, p. 760, § 23.