No. 32859 David v. Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
Benjamin, Justice, concurring:
Present in this case is an issue fundamental to our justice system: Should
procedural rules for administrative hearings be enforced and applied equally to all persons,
including the administrative agency, itself? Most certainly, they should. Neither an
administrative agency, nor any other governmental entity, is entitled by virtue of being the
government to avoid the effect of procedural rules simply by ignoring the requirements of
such rules _ rules which private citizens must follow. I cannot conceive any understanding
of basic constitutional principles or the specific statutory law applicable herein which permits
a different conclusion.
By statute, the Legislature established a procedural mechanism for the granting
of continuances in administrative license revocation cases such as this.
See W.Va. Code
17C-5A-2(b).
(See footnote 1) By this statutory section, the Department of Motor Vehicles (“D.M.V.”) was
required to develop further procedural rules setting forth the requirements for continuances.
The Legislature spoke with clarity:
. . . and such policies shall be enforced and applied to all persons
equally.
Id. [Emphasis added.] There is no equivocation or ambiguity in this statutory command. Nor
could there be in view of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Here, the D.M.V. seeks to avoid the operation against it of its own rules; rules
which it had enacted, rules which the Legislature approved, and rules which the D.M.V.
applies to citizens such as the Appellant herein. Appellant did everything he was obligated
to do under the D.M.V.'s procedural rules to ensure that he could proceed with his hearing.
The D.M.V. did not, however. Notwithstanding its failure to comply with its own procedural
rules, the agency now seeks to avoid the application against it of its own rules. Our system
of justice does not sanction such a stark contrast in the procedure which a citizen must follow
to enforce his or her rights and the procedure which the State must follow to deprive the
citizen of such rights. Simply stated, a governmental entity is not above the law and is not
above the procedures necessary to obtain justice. No free society could long endure if
anything else were the case.
There can be little doubt that an accusation of driving under the influence of
an intoxicant is the type of charge which does not engender public sympathy. Charges of
criminal or other wrongdoing do not garner public support, and never will. In view of this,
it certainly would be both expedient and, in some cases, popular for the State if it were able
to act against a citizen simply based upon accusations of misconduct alone. Indeed, that is
exactly what is often the practice elsewhere in the world. But, not here. The true measure
of the adequacy of the mechanisms which protect a right is not whether such mechanisms are
enforced and applied in popular cases, but whether such mechanisms are enforced and
applied in unpopular cases. The equal enforcement and application of procedure in
administrative hearings is fundamental to our system of justice. I concur with the majority
in applying and enforcing such procedures equally in this case.
(See footnote 2)
Footnote: 1 The Legislature has determined to afford hearings for the appeal of the mandatory
suspension of a driver's license in a number of circumstances. For example, a conviction for
driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs results in the automatic
suspension of a person's driver's license.
See, W. Va. Code §17C-5A-1a (2004),
Stump v.
Johnson, 217 W. Va. 733, 619 S.E.2d 246 (2005). Likewise, offenses such as habitual
reckless or negligent driving, multiple convictions for driving offenses and failure to pay
child support also may result in the mandatory suspension of a person's driver's license
without a preliminary hearing. W. Va. Code §§17B-3-6 (a)(1997). A post-suspension
hearing is required upon timely request of the person whose license has been suspended.
W. Va. Code § 17B-3-6(d). A license may also be suspended for failure to pay certain court
fees and costs, the return of the check paying vehicle registration and license fees, violation
of student attendance requirements, and being involved in a motor vehicle accident without
having valid liability insurance.
See,W. Va. Code §17B-3-3a (2002); W. Va. Code §17B-3-
3c (2005); W. Va. Code §17D-2A-7 (2006); 91 C.S.R. 5 (2006). Hearings arising from a
challenge to many of these suspensions are limited in scope to the proper identity of the
driver whose license has been suspended.
See, 91 C.S.R. 5 (2006).
Footnote: 2
While I share Justice Maynard's concern that some may seek to misuse the majority
opinion in this case to attempt to recover fees when the D.M.V. seeks continuances or when
delays are otherwise needed, I believe such a reading of the majority decision would be
incorrect and greatly misguided. The majority opinion, in my opinion, does nothing more
than hold that the rules which apply to continuances of administrative hearings should be
enforced equally as written to all parties. These rules expressly anticipate the need for
continuances and, more importantly, the necessity for “emergency continuances.” See Rules
3.8.1 and 3.8.4. They also anticipate the obligation of the parties to be considerate to each
other and to the administrative system.