pre-arrest breath test (Pennsylvania) · Go Syfert
← Pennsylvania issues

pre-arrest breath test in Pennsylvania

7 Pennsylvania opinions name it 2 courts 1989–2025 2 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Pennsylvania courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (4)

CaseFollowedCited
Wall v. Commonwealthgreen
pacommwct · 1989 · cited in 2 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1989–1994
2 sentences

1994Rather, the appellant first submitted to a pre-arrest breath test as expressly authorized in 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(k)- As the Commonwealth Court stated in Wall v. Commonwealth, 114 Pa.Cmwlth. 397 , [401], 539 A.2d 7, 9 (1988), ‘[W]e conclude that a preliminary breath test in the field, performed on an instrument which detects the presence of alcohol, is not one of the chemical tests of breath, blood or urine deemed to be consented to by section 1547(a).’ The pre-arrest breath test is simply another form of field sobriety test used by police officers when deciding whether a driving while intoxica

1994Rather, the appellant first submitted to a pre-arrest breath test as expressly authorized in 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1547(k)- As the Commonwealth Court stated in Wall v. Commonwealth, 114 Pa.Cmwlth. 397 , [401], 539 A.2d 7, 9 (1988), ‘[W]e conclude that a preliminary breath test in the field, performed on an instrument which detects the presence of alcohol, is not one of the chemical tests of breath, blood or urine deemed to be consented to by section 1547(a).’ The pre-arrest breath test is simply another form of field sobriety test used by police officers when deciding whether a driving while intoxica

22
Ryan v. Commonwealth, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensinggreen
pacommwct · 2003 · cited in 2 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2016–2018
2 sentences

2016In Ryan v. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 823 A.2d 1101 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003), a case similar to the instant one, this Court addressed whether a licensee’s incorrect belief that a pre-arrest breath test is a sufficient defense for failing to satisfy her obligation to submit to a chemical test under the Implied Consent Law.

2016We concluded that the licensee’s confusion was not a defense for failing to submit to a blood test, explaining that compliance with a pre-arrest breath test does not preclude administration of the post-arrest chemical test to determine BAC, and that any confusion as to licensee’s responsibility to submit to the blood test “arose not from statements made by the police officer but solely from Licensee’s ‘self-induced and self-destructive confusion about what the law is or should be.’” Id. at 1105 (citation omitted).

12
Park v. Commonwealth, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensinggreen
pacommwct · 2018 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025On November 30, 2023, the trial court 2 “The sole purpose of a pre-arrest breath test, authorized by [Section 1547(k) of the Vehicle Code,] 75 Pa. C.S. §1547(k)[,] for an individual suspected of DUI, is to assist the investigating officer in determining whether the driver should be placed under arrest.” Park v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 178 A.3d 274, 286 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018).

11
COM., DEPT. OF TRANS. v. Scottgreen
pa · 1996 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2016–2016
1 sentence

2016Moreover, as our Supreme Court held, once an officer provides a licensee with the Implied Consent Warnings, the officer “has done all that is legally required to ensure that the [licensee] has been fully advised of the consequences of refusing to submit to chemical testing.” Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing v. Scott, 684 A.2d 539, 546 (Pa. 1996).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Pennsylvania. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (5)

CaseCitedYears
In re Appeal of Attleberger green
pacommwct · 1990
2 sentences

2018In Ryan, we noted that in Appeal of Attleberger, 136 Pa. Cmwlth. 329, 583 A.2d 24 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1990), a licensee argued that his performance of the pre-arrest breath test should relieve him from having to submit to a post-arrest blood test under the Implied Consent Law.

1994In Appeal of Attleberger, 136 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 329, 583 A.2d 24 (1990), appeal dismissed as improvidently granted, 531 Pa. 450 , 613 A.2d 1203 (1992), we held that O’Connell does not apply where a motorist is confused over the significance of a pre-arrest breath test.

21994–2018
Menosky v. Commonwealth green
pacommwct · 1988
1 sentence

2021Id.

12021–2021
Livingston v. Shoreline Insurance Agency green
pa · 1992
2 sentences

1994In Appeal of Attleberger, 136 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 329, 583 A.2d 24 (1990), appeal dismissed as improvidently granted, 531 Pa. 450 , 613 A.2d 1203 (1992), we held that O’Connell does not apply where a motorist is confused over the significance of a pre-arrest breath test.

1994In Appeal of Attleberger, 136 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 329, 583 A.2d 24 (1990), appeal dismissed as improvidently granted, 531 Pa. 450 , 613 A.2d 1203 (1992), we held that O'Connell does not apply where a motorist is confused over the significance of a pre-arrest breath test.

11994–1994
In re the Appeal of Attleberger green
pa · 1992
2 sentences

1994In Appeal of Attleberger, 136 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 329, 583 A.2d 24 (1990), appeal dismissed as improvidently granted, 531 Pa. 450 , 613 A.2d 1203 (1992), we held that O’Connell does not apply where a motorist is confused over the significance of a pre-arrest breath test.

1994In Appeal of Attleberger, 136 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 329, 583 A.2d 24 (1990), appeal dismissed as improvidently granted, 531 Pa. 450 , 613 A.2d 1203 (1992), we held that O'Connell does not apply where a motorist is confused over the significance of a pre-arrest breath test.

11994–1994
Com., Dept. of Transp. v. McFarren green
pa · 1987
2 sentences

1989On appeal, the appellant, citing Com., Dept. of Transp. v. McFarren, 514 Pa. 411 , 525 A.2d 1185 (1987), alleges that the lower court erred by not suppressing the results of his blood test which was performed after he had already submitted to a pre-arrest breath test.

1989On appeal, the appellant, citing Com., Dept. of Transp. v. McFarren, 514 Pa. 411 , 525 A.2d 1185 (1987), alleges that the lower court erred by not suppressing the results of his blood test which was performed after he had already submitted to a pre-arrest breath test.

11989–1989

Statutes the citing opinions construe

PA § 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1547 (6) PA § 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3802 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

← Caselaw search · G Cite Topics · Brief Check