ÿWPCø Uò uç210|¡²\ï\Ý÷åÔŽ(Ø?ôÝ­ÕçöZe «ƒY'{¶Q衦U·èîÉ!Ú¾[:„YïXô¼ô˜-ÜœÀÖ›WÃÇ>+²Ý`üƈ2—³G"Žc,}Jd~8u½ÃÖœÁPX%ÕŒs;êî8¾oõ|ï®wVC`G¼S-]ÙC—›aÃì2¤~ßbÐJ[¦6aAÅàWrœÚ–’ѧ™LóLö»!€ãq­ÿæïmÉR´Š„AјϮ¿K3/ÊU×ô?uöØð¢a;5h*ƒe×·^~@š9_M_foLX€Óšü|±L"m³ù&Œœ4âeÞ0MbI\0^¹yõ‹o€%Ÿ iéZK ÒÃôKÖcç^ÞÐA¡ªJ£Ä*LZ©«ë V¯zŒm54KvÅ}$€R †eI%7[¾ˆÒÆ”F«öõsMÑ9µy‡3¬S»no•tÛÐÀS8IâhtcÊļŸãÃÒh„“GY/o^®À65pˆ*yÚœe±œ% ^²Ì™ã<ê8Üu‚¡ÎÙ§qþÈíŽJéÞæ¡€;¶¹L€n€¿ûøJ[‡5ŽÛˆÌ‡!ï0jÑî5Û]̰KùÜ÷Ë×*ÐÖÇn1Þ]uyb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz 0D‘ ÆÕ Æ› Æa Æ'NíNïU@ñ°1Eáááãããããããããããããããããããããbëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëëë 0ëóóóó BÞÞ 0¤û D5Ÿ D-Ô 0K ASLÆŸ 0¤e 0D  A«M˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»’r#-s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularYo†)\P 'ÊœCorel ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÈhH  Z(Times New Roman  ¦Ý ƒR±×$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôë½ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€òòWilliamsóó€court€also€recognized€the€deleterious€effect€that€a€rule€attributing€an€admission€of€guilt€to€thoseÐ ° Ðwho€paid€traffic€citations€would€have€on€the€judicial€system.€€ð ð[T]he€courts€would€be€flooded€with€challenges€to€suchÐ tÄ Ðcitationsðð€and€ð ð[t]he€proverbial€ððfloodgates€of€litigationðð€would€be€opened,€destroying€the€expedited,€streamlined€systemÐ 8ˆ Ðnow€in€place.ðð€€òòWilliamsóó,€860€S.W.2d€at€856€(quoting€òòLePage€v.€Bumilaóó,€552€N.E.2d€80,€83€(Mass.€1990)). - ù-(|G2±×$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€PE»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôë½ò»»Ô d(|3 V$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€PE»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3 V$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€PE»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€PE»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼PE»»»ÔÑ8€ùXXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡î]”PEÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼PE»îî]”#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àApril€9,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XùX»¼PEÔÌò òÔ#†¼PE»XXù!#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòòóó€v.€DANIEL€HENLEYòòóóÔ‡XùX»¼PEÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€P€24602€€€€€€John€P.€Ô_ÔColtonÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2001„02962„CCA„R3„CD€€Ô_Ô„Ô_Ô€Filed€August€27,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡XùXXXùÔThe€State€of€Tennessee€appeals€from€the€Shelby€County€Criminal€Courtððs€dismissal€of€its€petitionÐ xÈ  Ðto€declare€Daniel€Henley€a€motor€vehicle€habitual€offender.€€Because€the€lower€court€erred€in€itsÐ d´ Ðdetermination€that€the€state€failed€to€prove€the€existence€of€three€prior,€qualifying€convictions,€weÐ P  Ðreverse€and€remand.Ô#†XùXXXù#ÔÔ#†¼PE»XXù–#ÔÔ‡XùX»¼PEÔÐ <Œ ÐÓùÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Judgment€of€the€Criminal€Court€Reversed€and€Remanded.ó óÐ d ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼PE»àXùå#ÔÔ‡XùX.¼PEÔJames€Ô_ÔCurwoodÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔWittÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€H.€Wellesóó€andÐ ì< ÐòòDavid€G.€Hayes,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð Ø( ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter;€John€H.€Ô_ÔBledsoeÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð ° ÐWilliam€L.€Gibbons,€District€Attorney€General;€and€P.€T.€Hoover,€Assistant€District€AttorneyÐ œì ÐGeneral,€for€the€Appellant,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð ˆØ ÐÌIrwin€I.€Cantor,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€Daniel€Henley.Ô#†¼PE»XXùÁ#ÔÔ‡XùX»¼PEÔÐ `° ÐÓ’ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼PE»XXù€ #ÔÔ‡XùX»¼PEÔÐ 8!ˆ  ÐòòóóÔ#†¼PE»XXù #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XùX»¼PEÔà0  àà0` (#(#àÔ‡XùXXXùÔÐ ` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àSeeking€to€have€Daniel€Henley€declared€a€motor€vehicle€habitual€offender€(Ô_ÔMVHOÔ_Ô),Ð #`" Ðthe€state€filed€a€petition€alleging€that,€within€a€qualifying€time€period,€Henley€had€accumulated€twoÐ ü#L# Ðconvictions€of€driving€under€the€influence€and€one€conviction€of€leaving€the€scene€of€an€accidentÐ è$8 $ Ðinvolving€property€damage.€€At€the€hearing€on€the€petition,€Henley€argued€that€the€leaving€the€sceneÐ Ô%$!% Ðof€the€accident€offense€listed€on€his€driver€record€from€the€Department€of€Safety€was€not€a€qualifyingÐ À&"& Ðconviction€for€purposes€of€the€Ô_ÔMVHOÔ_Ô€statute€because€he€had€merely€paid€a€fine,€in€a€GermantownÐ ¬'ü"' Ðcity€court€and€had€not€appeared€in€court.€€A€Germantown€court€clerk€testified€that€although€there€wasÐ ˜(è#( Ða€printed€statement€on€the€back€of€the€citation€for€this€offense€whereby€the€accused€may€acknowledgeÐ „)Ô$) Ðhis€right€to€trial€and€his€guilt€of€the€offense€charged,€individuals€who€come€to€the€clerkððs€office€toÐ p*À%* Ðpay€fines€are€not€asked€to€sign€this€statement.€€In€fact,€the€document€on€which€this€statement€appearsÐ \+¬&+ Ðis€thrown€away€upon€payment€of€the€fine.€€On€this€evidence,€the€court€dismissed€the€stateððs€petition,Ð H,˜', Ðfinding€that€Henleyððs€payment€of€a€fine€ð ðwhen€not€in€open€court€or€with€an€admission€of€guilt€doesÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ônot€constitute€a€conviction€for€purposes€of€the€Motor€Vehicle€Habitual€Offender€Act€because€of€theÐ ° Ðholding€in€òòWilliams€v.€Brown€.€.€.€.óóðð€€The€state€appealed,€and€the€issue€before€us€is€whether€thisÐ œì Ðviolation€qualifies€as€a€predicate€offense€for€an€MVHO€determination.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€begin€our€examination€of€the€question€by€reviewing€òòWilliams€v.€Brownóó,€860Ð `° ÐS.W.2d€854€(Tenn.€1993),€the€case€the€lower€court€relied€upon.€€òòóóThat€case€was€a€civil€wrongful€deathÐ L œ Ðlawsuit.€€The€civil€defendant€had€previously€paid€a€fine€for€improper€passing,€without€contesting€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðviolation€in€court.€€òòId.óó€at€855.€€The€plaintiff€sought€to€introduce€evidence€of€the€defendantððs€out„of„Ð $ t Ðcourt€payment€of€the€fine€as€a€guilty€plea,€or€admission,€which€spoke€to€the€issue€of€the€defendantððsÐ  ` Ðnegligence.€€òòId.óó€€Prior€to€trial,€the€court€granted€the€defendantððs€motion€òòin€limineóó€to€exclude€proofÐ ü L  Ðof€the€payment.€€òòId.óó€€On€appeal,€the€supreme€court€said€that€ð ðpayment€of€a€traffic€fine€in€lieu€of€anÐ è 8  Ðappearance€in€court€is€neither€a€guilty€plea€nor€an€express€acknowledgement€[sic]€of€guilt.ðð€€òòIdóó.€atÐ Ô$  Ð856.€€Thus,€the€court€reasoned,€evidence€of€payment€of€a€fine€without€contest€is€inadmissible€in€aÐ À  Ðlater€action€based€upon€the€events€which€led€to€the€citation€that€resulted€in€the€payment€of€the€fine.€Ð ¬ü  ÐòòId.óó€€The€question€whether€the€òòWilliamsóó€defendant€had€a€ð ðconvictionðð€on€his€record€was€neverÐ ˜è  Ðaddressed.€€òòSee€generally€id.óóÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€òòWilliamsóó€decision€was€concerned€with€unfairly€attributing€guilt€of€the€trafficÐ \¬ Ðoffense€to€a€defendant€who€may€have€chosen€as€a€matter€of€expedience€and€convenience€not€toÐ H˜ Ðappear€in€court€and€contest€the€citation.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòIdóó.€€In€the€case€before€us,€the€state€claims€that,€in€contrastÐ 4„ Ðto€òòWilliamsóó,€it€is€irrelevant€in€a€MVHO€proceeding€whether€the€respondent€pleaded€guilty€andÐ  p Ðthereby€admitted€the€conduct€that€is€the€subject€of€the€citation.€€Rather,€the€only€question€is€whetherÐ  \ Ðthe€respondent€has€a€ð ðfinal€convictionðð€on€his€record.€Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€agree.€€An€important€distinction€exists€between€òòWilliamsóó€and€this€case€in€the€òòuseóóÐ Ð  Ðof€the€prior„offense€information.€€In€òòWilliamsóó,€the€plaintiff€sought€to€use€the€defendantððs€paymentÐ ¼  Ðof€the€earlier€traffic„offense€fine€as€an€òòadmissionóó€that€the€defendant€breached€the€traffic€laws€inÐ ¨ø Ðcausing€the€accident€that€was€the€subject€of€the€civil€suit€for€damages.€€òòSeeóóTenn.€R.€Evid.€803(1.2)Ð ”ä Ð(establishing€admissions€by€party„opponent€exception€to€hearsay€rule).€€As€a€predicate€to€an€MVHOÐ €Ð Ðdetermination,€however,€the€prior„offense€information€is€only€significant€when€it€reflects€that€a€finalÐ l¼ Ðconviction€of€a€specified€motor€vehicle€offense€was€imposed€against€the€person€accused€of€being€anÐ X ¨ ÐMVHO.€€Thus,€in€the€present€case,€we€are€not€concerned€with€whether€Henley€pleaded€guilty€to€theÐ D!” Ðcharge€of€leaving€the€scene€of€an€accident;€rather,€we€simply€look€to€see€if€the€record€before€usÐ 0"€  Ðestablishes€that€a€final€conviction€resulted€from€that€charge.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àà ` àThus,€we€turn€to€the€question€whether€the€defendant€has€a€ð ðfinal€conviction.ðð€€TheÐ ô$D # Ðmeaning€of€the€term€ð ðfinal€convictionðð€in€the€context€of€paid€citations€versus€in„court€guilty€pleasÐ à%0!$ Ðor€adjudications€of€guilt€is€not€directly€addressed€in€the€MVHO€Act.€€The€Act€provides,Ð Ì&"% Ðð ðððConvictionðð€means€a€final€conviction.€€A€forfeiture€of€bail€or€other€security€deposited€to€secure€aÐ ° Ðdefendantððs€appearance€in€court,€which€forfeiture€has€not€been€vacated,€is€a€conviction€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.Ð œì ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€55„10„603€(Supp.€2001).€€In€the€past,€this€court€has€said€that€a€conviction€is€a€ð ðfinalÐ ˆØ Ðconvictionðð€for€purposes€of€MVHO€proceedings€even€when€an€appeal€of€the€conviction€has€not€yetÐ tÄ Ðbeen€adjudicated.€€òòState€v.€Sneedóó,€8€S.W.3d€299€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1999);€òòcf.€State€v.€Lodenóó,€920Ð `° ÐS.W.2d€261€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995)€(like€rule€in€driving€on€revoked€license€case).€€The€rationaleÐ L œ Ðis€that€a€public€policy€of€safety€dictates€that€the€general€motoring€public€be€protected€from€thoseÐ 8 ˆ Ðindividuals€who€have€repeatedly€demonstrated€disregard€for€the€rules€of€the€road.€€òòSneedóó,€8€S.W.3dÐ $ t Ðat€302;€òòseeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€55„10„602€(1998).€€Furthermore,€the€conviction,€though€still€subjectÐ  ` Ðto€modification€pending€outcome€of€the€appeal,€shoulders€the€defendant€with€a€presumption€of€guilt.€Ð ü L  ÐòòSneedóó,€8€S.W.3d€at€302;€òòLodenóó,€920€S.W.2d€at€264.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€the€defendantððs€brief,€he€asserts€that€he€was€not€convicted€on€the€leaving€the€sceneÐ À  Ðof€an€accident€case€because€the€records€indicate€ð ðno€disposition.ðð€€We€take€this€averment€to€meanÐ ¬ü  Ðthat,€even€ifòò€óówith€òòWilliamsóó€not€applying,€he€should€prevail€because€the€record€before€us€lacks€proofÐ ˜è  Ðof€a€conviction.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€disagree.€€We€are€constrained€to€hold€that€this€issue€is€waived€for€failure€to€citeÐ \¬ Ðto€relevant€authority.€€òòSeeóó€R.€Tenn.€Ct.€Crim.€App.€10(b).Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` àAt€any€rate,€were€we€ruling€on€the€merits€of€the€claim,€we€would€find€that€the€priorÐ  p Ðconviction€was€established€in€the€record.€€We€must€bear€in€mind€that€courts€that€are€not€courts€ofÐ  \ Ðrecord,€such€as€general€sessions€courts€and€apparently€the€Germantown€municipal€court€in€which€Ð øH Ðthe€defendant€was€cited€to€appear€on€his€leaving€the€scene€of€an€accident€charge,€do€not€reflect€theirÐ ä4 Ðadjudications€through€court€minutes.€€òòSee€Howard€v.€Stateóó,€217€Tenn.€556,€ð"ð,€399€S.W.2d€738,€740Ð Ð  Ð(Tenn.€1996)€(courts€of€record€are€courts€that€are€empowered€to€keep€minutes,€which€are€the€ð ðhighestÐ ¼  Ðevidence€of€what€has€been€done€in€courtðð);€òòsee€alsoóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€16„17„101€òòóóto€„105€(1994);Ð ¨ø Ððð€16„18„101€to€„207€(1994)€(conferring€powers€to€establish€municipal€courts€but€containing€noÐ ”ä Ðrequirements€or€authorizations€to€keep€minutes);€òòsee€alsoóó€Tenn.€R.€Crim.€P.€5(b)€(small€offensesÐ €Ð Ðtriable€by€a€ð ðmagistrate€without€regard€to€the€pleaðð).€€In€lieu€of€court€minutes€which€would€serve€asÐ l¼ Ðthe€ð ðhighest€evidenceðð€of€what€transpired€in€the€Germantown€municipal€court,€the€record€containsÐ X ¨ Ðother€evidence€of€that€courtððs€adjudication€of€conviction,€which€is€all€we€can€expect.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Germantown€municipal€court€clerk€testified€in€the€proceeding€below.€€SheÐ #l! Ðintroduced€a€citation€that€had€been€issued€to€the€defendant€for€leaving€the€scene€of€an€accident€onÐ $X" ÐOctober€2,€1998.€€The€case€was€docketed.€€She€testified€that€the€defendant€came€in€voluntarily,Ð ô$D # Ðoutside€of€court,€and€paid€the€ð ðticketðð€on€November€5,€1998.€€The€payment€included€the€fine€andÐ à%0!$ Ðcourt€costs.€€When€a€small€offender€appears€in€person€in€that€clerkððs€office€to€pay€the€fine€and€costsÐ Ì&"% Ðon€a€citation,€the€clerk€does€not€require€the€person€to€sign€a€waiver€or€plea€form.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€note€that€a€court€clerk€has€a€duty€to€faithfully€handle€and€apply€public€funds€thatÐ )à$( Ðhave€been€paid€to€the€clerk.€€òòSee,€e.g.,€óóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€18„2„101€to€„105€(1994).€€Indeed,€aÐ |*Ì%) Ðclerkððs€obligation€to€account€for€and€properly€remit€funds€is€sanctioned€by€misdemeanor€punishment.€Ð h+¸&* ÐòòSee€id.óó€ðððð€18„2„102,€€„104,€„105€(1994).€€Tennessee€courts€assume,€absent€evidence€to€the€contrary,Ð ° Ðthat€public€officials€perform€their€duties€in€the€manner€prescribed€by€law.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óóòòJackson€v.Ð œì ÐAldridgeóó,€6€S.W.3d€501,€503€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999).€€Thus,€we€assume€that€the€Germantown€clerkÐ ˆØ Ðfaithfully€received€and€applied€the€funds€paid€by€the€defendant€on€November€5,€1998€in€keeping€withÐ tÄ ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€55„10„207(d),€which€authorizes€a€person€who€has€been€cited€withÐ `° Ða€traffic€offense€to€ð ðelect€not€to€contest€the€charge€and€.€.€.€,€in€lieu€of€appearance€in€court,€[to]€submitÐ L œ Ðthe€fine€and€costs€to€the€clerk€of€the€court.ðð€€òòIdóó.€€ðð€55„10„207(d)€(1998).€€As€such,€the€fine€and€costsÐ 8 ˆ Ðpaid€pursuant€to€this€procedure€yields€a€ð ðconvictionðð€pursuant€to€Code€section€55„10„603.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€summary,€we€hold€that,€in€the€context€of€MVHO€proceedings,€a€predicateÐ ü L  Ðconviction€premised€upon€out„of„court€payment€of€a€fine€for€a€traffic€offense€is€indistinguishableÐ è 8  Ðfrom€one€premised€upon€an€adjudication€of€guilt€by€plea€or€trial.€òòóó€€Pursuant€to€Code€section€55„10„Ð Ô$  Ð603,€the€defendant€in€the€present€case€ð ðpaid€the€ticketðð€in€lieu€of€appearing€in€court€to€contest€theÐ À  Ðcitation,€thereby€garnering€a€conviction.€€This€holding€is€likewise€consistent€with€the€sound€publicÐ ¬ü  Ðpolicy€of€promoting€safety€by€removing€those€from€the€roads€who€menace€the€security€and€well„Ð ˜è  Ðbeing€of€the€motoring€public.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€55„10„602€(1998).€òòóóÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€are,€therefore,€led€to€the€inescapable€conclusion€in€the€case€at€bar€that€the€stateÐ \¬ Ðpresented€sufficient€evidence€of€the€requisite€predicate€offenses€to€have€the€defendant€declared€anÐ H˜ ÐMVHO.€€The€lower€court€erred€in€determining€otherwise.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€the€lower€courtððsÐ 4„ Ðdismissal€of€the€stateððs€petition€and€remand€for€appropriate€further€proceedings.Ô#†XùXXXù¯ #ÔÐ  p ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ä4 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJAMES€CURWOOD€WITT,€JR.,€JUDGE