Barrie

The Department of Motor Vehicles appeals from judgment granting peremptory writ of mandate directing it to vacate its order suspending the driving privileges of Carolina Winston Barrie for six months for her refusal to submit to a chemical test pursuant to the implied consent law. (§ 13353, Veh. Code.)

The facts presented by the officers at the administrative hearing concerning Barrie’s conduct are undisputed; Barrie neither testified nor offered evidence on her behalf. An accident between a motorcycle and motor vehicle occurred on Pacific Coast Highway at 10:40 p.m.; the motorcyclist was removed to the hospital; Barrie, driver of the motor vehicle, was slouched on a sofa drinking coffee in a nearby residence. Asked by Officers Brucker and Donnelly to go outside to perform a balance and coordination test, Barrie walked out staggering and the odor of alcohol emitted from her breath and person; after administering three field sobriety tests, the officers concluded she was under the influence of alcohol and arrested her.

En route to the jail Officer Brucker admonished Barrie “You are required by state law to take a chemical test to determine the alcohol content of your…