WPC [7Wp g߹Rq;k0*N v^ks9A#x@ }Iin"h^)8#^JϞ=y*ܰ vQ><]bSWa[#*ˑ¢N9ZB{1vY .( %HCB 纀ЩcGڨ-u_g_'TؖvQ:Ρ,R Kp)wO4,e\Jiv+FTUI2 'X*B%|:.t(#~y ctm^H01x<%m&퇕1-kնs*IJN%ԍg S,91ӛ36)b7q=éw2ǔڴw?f<7h 19k7x}S&SH޲WNrM>Ҽ9a%udʫE]ued#!xUN % 0U < w 4  U< 0? 7    l x mzNbU:^ ////////// B;;;; 0DXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 0 D5lllll AQ 0 0DHP LaserJet 8000 DN PS0(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(7$  7XXdXXd7  Xd|XXX-Bu Z$Arrus BT Roman{Z='+,,--../3|x)L  Z $Arrus BT Roman((3]$ 7!  8"XXdd8  XXXX   `   0     "?$  XXXX `   1    M#KnittelwasstoppedfornothavingTennesseelicensetags.Instead,thetruck  hewasdrivinghadtagsissuedby Heaven.Also,Knittelsdriverslicensewas # issuednotbyastate,butinsteadbytheEmbassyofHeavenChurch.   "?$  XXXX `   2    M#Coramnonjudiceisdefinedas [i]npresenceofapersonnotajudge.When  asuitisbroughtanddeterminedinacourtwhichhasnojurisdictioninthematter, # thenitissaidtobecoramnonjudice,andthejudgmentisvoid. BlacksLaw F Dictionary 337(6thed.1990). b  "?$  XXXX `   3    ݀IntheadministrativehearingrecordtheDepartmentofSafetys  representativeexplainsthatwhenanindividualiscitedforatrafficviolation,hasno  driverslicense,andfailstopaythefine,theDepartmentofSafetyissuesthatperson   adriverslicensenumber.Thisisdonesothatifthatindividualeverattemptsto  obtainadriverslicenseheorshewillhavetosatisfytherequirementsofthe  suspensionpriortoobtainingalicense.ItappearstothisCourtthatitissomewhat  anomaloustoproceedtosuspendadriverslicensethathasneverbeenissued.U X b"  XXXX  _XXXX NXX   Ad FILEDXX N  September13,1999Cecil_Crowson_,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdA ,cAZ"Arial Regulard-'  d(#$  0  (3$ 7!  8"XXdd8  XXXX  )!dxdxabZc[C<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ 7!  8"XXdd8  XXXX  ($$   1  7!  8"XXdd8  XXXX  _TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @(ATNASHVILLE `  ______________________________________________ _x`[B2.jzQ`  `@EE? ` 8ttxP} x_EDWARDCARL_KNITTEL_,    ` Appellant, `     h      p DavidsonChanceryNo.982592IVs. `     h      p C.A.No.01A019903CH00185    STATEOFTENNESSEE   DEPARTMENTOFSAFETY,     ` Appellee.____________________________________________________________________________@  FROMTHEDAVIDSONCOUNTYCHANCERYCOURT@s s THEHONORABLEIRVIN_KILCREASE_,JR.,CHANCELLOR@!EdwardCarl_Knittel_,ProSe@& & PaulG.Summers,Attorney_Genreal_Ԁ&Reporter@??MichaelE.Moore,SolicitorGeneral@y y WilliamC.Bright,AssistantAttorneyGeneral@rr(ForAppellee@jj* REVERSED ($$   `     h      p   W.FRANKCRAWFORD, 3//  `     h      p   PRESIDINGJUDGE,_W.S._CONCUR:ALANE._HIGHERS_,JUDGEDAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE  ;77 _ ` ThisappealinvolvesthereviewofaTennesseeDepartmentofSafetyadministrativehearing.EdwardCarlKnittel(Knittel),petitioner/appellant,appeals  theorderoftrialcourtaffirmingthedecisionoftheTennesseeDepartmentofSafety  suspendingpetitionersdrivingprivilegesforfailuretopaytrafficfines.    ` OnOctober10,1997,Knittelwascitedforviolationoftheautomobile   registrationlawanddrivingwithoutalicense.  ##  1      ׀KnittelisamemberoftheEmbassy   ofHeavenChurchwhichbelieves,amongotherthings,thatthestatedoesnothave   thepowertoissuedriverslicensesorrequireregistrationofmotorvehicles.   ` UponappearinginGeneralSessionsCourtofGibsonCountyinresponseto  thecitation,thejudgefinedKnittelfivedollars($5.00)andcourtcostsoneach  offense.Knittelfailedtopaythefines,andonDecember9,1997,thegeneral  sessionscourtissuedacourtactionreportrequestingthattheDepartmentofSafety  suspendKnittelsdrivingprivileges.   ` TheDepartmentofSafetynotifiedKnittelthathisdrivingprivilegeswereto  besuspended.AfterreceivingnoticefromtheDepartmentofSafety,herequested  anadministrativehearingbeforethedepartmentsreviewboard.Inatwopart ! hearing,Knittelclaimed,amongotherthings,thatthetrialjudgehadnotfoundhim #  guiltyattrial.Thereviewboardfoundotherwiseandsuspendedhisdriving %"" privileges. '$$  ` FollowingtheadministrativehearingbeforetheDepartmentofSafety,Knittel )&& filedapetitionforreviewinDavidsonCountyChanceryCourtunderthe +(( AdministrativeProcedureAct.AlthoughKnittelsargumentswereuncleartosaythe -** least,heapparentlyassertedthattheStateofTennesseedidnothavethepowerto /,, issuedriverslicensesorregulatetravelonpublichighways,thatTennesseeviolated 1.. theUniformCommercialCodebytheissuanceandcourtproceduresregardingthe 300 ticketshereceived,andthatthegeneralsessionsjudgeerredbyfailingtohavehim 522 waivehisrightstoindictment,presentment,grandjuryinvestigation,andjurytrial  asrequiredbyTennesseelaw.OnJanuary9,1999,thetrialcourtdeniedKnittels  petitionandupheldtheDepartmentofSafetyssuspensionofhisdrivingprivileges.   ` Knittel,prose,timelyappealedthetrialcourtsorderandasksthisCourtto   determinethefollowingissuesfoundinhisbrief:   M#8 ` 8 ` !` !1.Thefindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawsetforthin   theadministrativeorderoftheDepartmentofSafety,as #  confirmedbythechancerycourtreview,areinerrorin F  thattheyarebasedontherecordofacourtproceeding i  thatwascoramnonjudice.   8 ` 8 ` !` !2.TheDepartmentofSafetyinitsadministrativeorder, V asconfirmedbychancerycourtreview,exceededits y statutoryauthorityinsuspendingPetitionersdrivers  license.;   FM# ` Theadministrativedecisionissubjecttojudicialreviewinthechancerycourt.  T.C.A.4-5-322(b)(1)(1998).Thereviewisbythechancellorwithoutajuryand K isconfinedtotherecordoftheadministrativebody,exceptincasesinvolving   proceduralerrors.T.C.A.4-5-322(g).ThescopeofreviewasprescribedinT.C.A.  S 4-5-322(h)states: # M#F8 ` 8 ` !` !(h)Thecourtmayaffirmthedecisionoftheagencyor c%! remandthecaseforfurtherproceedings.Thecourtmay &#  reverseormodifythedecisioniftherightsofthe '%$! petitionerhavebeenprejudicedbecausethe (H%" administrativefindings,inferences,conclusionsor )k&# decisionsare:+'$   8 ` 8 ` !` !(1)Inviolationofconstitutionalorstatutoryprovisions;X-)&   8 ` 8 ` !` !(2)Inexcessofthestatutoryauthorityoftheagency;{.*'   8 ` 8 ` !` !(3)Madeuponunlawfulprocedure;/,(   8 ` 8 ` !` !(4)Arbitraryorcapriciousorcharacterizedbyabuseof 0=-) discretionorclearlyunwarrantedexerciseofdiscretion; 1`.* or3/+   8 ` 8 ` !` !(5)Unsupportedbyevidencewhichisbothsubstantial *40, andmaterialinthelightoftheentirerecord.M51-   FM# ` Indeterminingthesubstantialityofevidence,thecourtshalltakeintoaccount 74/ whateverintherecordfairlydetractsfromitsweight,butthecourtshallnot 9U61 substituteitsjudgmentforthatoftheagencyastotheweightoftheevidenceon  questionsoffact. F  ` ThescopeofreviewinthisCourtisnogreaterthanthatofthechancellor.   Wattsv.CivilServ.Bd.forColumbia ,606S.W.2d274(Tenn.1980), cert.denied , V  450U.S.983,101S.Ct.1519,67L.Ed.2d818(1981).     ` Knittelfirstarguesthatthefindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawofthe c  administrativeboardareinerrorbecausetheyarebasedontherecordofacourt -  proceedingthatwascoramnonjudice  ##  2      .HeurgesthisCourttofindthatwhenthe s generalsessionscourtproceededtotrialwithoutasignedwaiverofgrandjury 5 investigationorsignedguiltyplea,itexceededitsjurisdiction. {  ` Knittelwaschargedwithdrivingwithoutalicenseanddrivinganunregistered E vehicle,bothClassCmisdemeanors.T.C.A.401109(1997)statesinpertinent  part: M M#F8 ` 8 ` !` ![T]hecourtofgeneralsessionsisherebyvestedwith ! jurisdictiontotryanddetermineandrenderfinal :" judgmentinallmisdemeanorcasesbroughtbeforethe ]# courtbywarrantorinformationwhereintheperson $  chargedwithsuchmisdemeanorentersapleaofguiltyin %" writingorrequestsatrialuponthemeritsand expressly &B# waivesanindictment,presentment,grandjury 'g$  investigationandjurytrial.Suchwaivershallbein )%! writing asprovidedinRule5oftheTennesseeRulesof 5*&" CriminalProcedure.Z+'#   (Emphasisadded). -*% = M# ` ThewarrantsinthiscasecontaintypedprovisionsforKnitteltosignand /b,' waivehisrightstoanindictment,presentment,grandjuryinvestigation,andjury 1m.) trial.Knitteldidnotsignthesewaivers. Inall(exceptsmall)criminaloffenses,the 3x0+ righttobeproceededagainstonlybyindictmentorpresentmentandtoatrialby  juryaregroundeduponprovisionsofTenn.Const.,art.1,6,14.These   constitutionalrightsmayberelinquishedonlybyavalidwrittenwaiver. Statev.  Morgan ,598S.W.2d796,797(Tenn.Crim.App.1979); seealso  Statev.Ridley ,  % 791S.W.2d32,34(Tenn.Crim.App.1990).  4  ` Smalloffensesaredefined inTennesseeasoneinwhichthepunishment  ?  cannotexceedafineof$50.00andwhichcarriesnoconfinementinajailor J  workhouse. Statev.Dusina ,764S.W.2d766,768(Tenn.1989)(overturning U previousdecisionsoftheCourtofCriminalAppealsdefiningsmalloffensesasthose d whichcannotimposeafineinexcessof$50.00and/oraprisontermofsixmonths o orless).Inthepresentcase,Knittelwasticketedforviolationofthevehicle z registrationlawanddrivingwithoutalicense,bothofwhichareclassC   misdemeanors.T.C.A553102,5550351(1998),5550301(1998).ClassC  misdemeanorscarryapossibletermofimprisonmentofnotmorethanthirty(30)  daysand/orafinenottoexceed$50.00.T.C.A.4035111(e)(3)(1997).Thus, *  thechargesagainstKnittelwerenotsmalloffenses. 5"  ` ThetrialjudgeinthiscaseerredinnothavingKnittelsignthewaivers,and @$  hisconvictionwasinvalid. K&""  ` KnittelsnextarguesthattheDepartmentofSafetyexceededitsauthorityin V($$ suspendinghisdrivingprivileges.TheTennesseelegislaturegrantedtheDepartment a*&& ofSafetythepowertosuspenddrivingprivileges.T.C.A.5550502(1998) l,(( provides: w.** = 8 ` 8 ` !` ! SuspensionoflicensesHearingsPeriodof 0,, suspensionorrevocationSurrenderoflicense 1.- RestrictedlicenseOperatingunderlicenseof 2 /. anotherjurisdictionprohibitedAppeal.30/    8 ` 8 ` !` !(a)Thedepartmentisherebyauthorizedtosuspendthe 521 licenseofanoperatororchauffeuruponashowingbyits 6$32 recordsorothersufficientevidencethelicensee:7)43   8 ` 8 ` !` !     `     h *    * p   * 9365  :876 8 ` 8 ` !` !(8)Hasbeenfinallyconvictedofanydrivingoffensein  anycourtandhasnotpaidorsecuredanyfineorcosts  imposedforthatoffense;    8 ` 8 ` !` !(9)Hasfailedto...answerortosatisfyanytraffic  citationissuedforviolatinganystatuteregulatingtraffic.  ...Priortosuspendingthelicenseofanypersonas   authorizedinthissubsection,thedepartmentshallnotify  # thelicenseeinwritingoftheproposedsuspensionand,  ( uponthelicenseesrequest,shallaffordthelicenseean  -  opportunityforahearingtoshowthatthereisanerrorin  2  therecordsreceivedbythedepartment;....7    =  ` FollowingKnittelsfailuretopaythefines,theDepartmentofSafetysenthim A  noticeofthependingsuspensionofhisdriverslicense. ##  3      ׀Knittelproducedevidence L thatheappearedincourtandthathehadnotwaivedanindictment,presentment, W grandjuryinvestigation,andjurytrial.Followingthehearings,theboardissued b findingsoffactandconclusionsoflawwhichfoundthatKnittelreceivedbutfailed m tosatisfytwocitations,andthatsuspensionofhisdrivingprivilegeswasappropriate. x  ` KnittelansweredthecitationsasrequiredbyT.C.A.5550502(a)(8).In  thepresentcase,Knittelsconvictionwasnotvalidbecausethecourtfailedtocomply  withT.C.A.401109. SeeRidley ,791S.W.2dat34.Therulingofthe ! administrativeboardbaseduponthegeneralsessionsfindingofguiltwas ,#  unsupportedbyevidencewhichisbothsubstantialandmaterialinlightoftheentire 7%!! record.T.C.A.45322(h)(5). B'##  ` Theorderofthetrialcourtaffirmingtheadministrativeboardisreversed. M)%% Costsofappealareassessedagainsttheappellee. X+''  ` AppellantshouldnotconstruethisOpinionasanauthorizationtodrivea c-)) motorvehicleonthepublicroadsofthisstate.Therecordisundisputedthat n/++ appellantisnotlicensedtodriveasrequiredbyT.C.A.5550301(1998). y1-- Appellantsoperationofavehicleonpublicroadswithouttherequiredlicensecould  resultinconvictionsforeachoffenseandultimatelyconvictionunderthe motor   vehiclehabitualoffendersact,T.C.A.5510601withtheresultingadditional  penalties.  ! =  `     h      p _________________________________  ,  `     h      p W.FRANKCRAWFORD,  1   `     h      p PRESIDINGJUDGE,W.S.  XXXX  8   CONCUR: ?  #XXX XC#____________________________________ M  ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE  XXXX T #XXX XꛮD#____________________________________ `  DAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE