IN RE: Ravi BATRA (2020)

DECISION & JUDGMENT

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Appeals Board dated July 31, 2017, affirming a determination of an administrative law judge dated February 21, 2017, which, after a hearing, found that the petitioner had violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180(d), imposed a fine, and entered a warning on the petitioner's driving record.

ADJUDGED that the petition is granted, on the law, with costs, the determination dated July 31, 2017, is annulled, and the penalty imposed is vacated.

The petitioner was issued a summons for operating his motor vehicle in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180(d).  The summons was dated March 8, 2016.  Following a hearing before an administrative law judge (hereinafter the ALJ), the petitioner was found to have violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180(d).  The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Administrative Appeals Board (hereinafter Appeals Board) affirmed the ALJ's determination.  Thereafter, the petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review the determination of the Appeals Board.  The Supreme Court transferred the proceeding to this Court pursuant to CPLR 7804(g).

“To annul an administrative determination made after a hearing directed by law at which evidence is taken, a court must conclude that the record lacks substantial evidence to support the determination” (Matter of Mannino v. Department of Motor Vehs. of State of N.Y.—Traffic Violations Div., 101 A.D.3d 880, 880, 956 N.Y.S.2d 120;  see Matter of Pell v. Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 1 of Towns of Scarsdale & Mamaroneck, Westchester County, 34 N.Y.2d 222, 231, 356 N.Y.S.2d 833, 313 N.E.2d 321).  Substantial evidence is “such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact” (300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 180, 408 N.Y.S.2d 54, 379 N.E.2d 1183).

Here, we agree with the petitioner that the determination that he violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180(d) was not supported by substantial evidence.  At the hearing, the police officer, who issued the summons to the petitioner, testified about events which occurred on March 18, 2016, which was not the date that the alleged offense occurred according to the summons issued to the petitioner.  While the substantial evidence standard “demands only that ‘a given inference is reasonable and plausible, not necessarily the most probable’ ” (Matter of Miller v. DeBuono, 90 N.Y.2d 783, 793, 666 N.Y.S.2d 548, 689 N.E.2d 518, quoting Borchers and Markell, New York State Administrative Procedure and Practice § 3.12, at 51 [1995] ), here, there was no testimony or evidence provided to demonstrate that the petitioner operated his vehicle in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180(d) on March 8, 2016.  Given the discrepancy between the date of the offense as set forth in the summons and the testimony of the officer, relying on his notes which also referred to March 18, 2016, the record does not demonstrate that the ALJ was presented with substantial evidence that the petitioner violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180(d) on March 8, 2016 (see Matter of Reape v. Adduci, 151 A.D.2d 290, 292, 542 N.Y.S.2d 562;  see e.g. Matter of Ryder Truck Rental v. Parking Violations Bur. of Transp.  Admin. of City of N.Y., 62 N.Y.2d 667, 669, 476 N.Y.S.2d 285, 464 N.E.2d 983;  see also Matter of Paolino v. Swarts, 105 A.D.3d 850, 851, 962 N.Y.S.2d 698).

In light of our determination, the petitioner's remaining contentions need not be reached.

Accordingly, the petition should be granted, the determination annulled, and the penalty imposed vacated.

AUSTIN, J.P., DUFFY, BRATHWAITE NELSON and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.