welsh wisconsin argued october decided may night april witness observed car driven erratically eventually swerved road coming stop field without causing damage person property ignoring witness suggestion wait assistance removing car driver walked away scene police arrived minutes later told witness driver either inebriated sick checking car registration police without obtaining warrant proceeded petitioner nearby home arriving gained entry petitioner stepdaughter answered door found petitioner lying naked bed petitioner arrested driving motor vehicle influence intoxicant violation wisconsin statute provided first offense noncriminal violation subject civil forfeiture proceeding maximum fine petitioner taken police station refused submit test pursuant wisconsin statutes subjected arrestee refused take test risk revocation driving privileges petitioner requested hearing determine whether refusal reasonable wisconsin law refusal take breath test reasonable underlying arrest lawful trial ultimately concluding petitioner arrest lawful refusal take breath test therefore unreasonable issued order suspending petitioner license wisconsin appeals vacated order concluding warrantless arrest petitioner home violated fourth amendment state although demonstrating probable cause arrest established existence exigent circumstances wisconsin reversed held warrantless nighttime entry petitioner home arrest civil nonjailable traffic offense prohibited special protection afforded individual home fourth amendment pp government agents may invade sanctity home government must demonstrate exigent circumstances overcome presumption unreasonableness attaches warrantless home entries important factor considered determining whether exigency exists gravity underlying offense arrest made moreover although exigency created simply probable cause believe serious crime committed application exception context home entry rarely sanctioned probable cause believe minor offense committed pp petitioner warrantless arrest privacy bedroom noncriminal traffic offense justified basis hot pursuit doctrine immediate continuous pursuit petitioner scene crime basis threat public safety petitioner already arrived home abandoned car scene accident arrest justified necessary preserve evidence petitioner level even assuming underlying facts support finding exigent circumstance given fact state chosen classify first offense driving intoxicated noncriminal civil forfeiture offense imprisonment possible warrantless home arrest upheld simply evidence petitioner level might dissipated police obtained warrant pp brennan delivered opinion marshall blackmun powell stevens joined blackmun filed concurring opinion post burger filed separate statement post white filed dissenting opinion rehnquist joined post gordon brewster baldwin argued cause petitioner briefs archie simonson stephen kleinmaier assistant attorney general wisconsin argued cause respondent brief bronson la follette attorney general charles kahn filed brief wisconsin civil liberties union foundation amicus curiae urging reversal justice brennan delivered opinion payton new york held absent probable cause exigent circumstances warrantless arrests home prohibited fourth amendment case explicitly refused consider sort emergency dangerous situation described cases exigent circumstances justify warrantless entry home purpose either arrest search certiorari granted case decide least one aspect unresolved question whether circumstances fourth amendment prohibits police making warrantless night entry person home order arrest nonjailable traffic offense shortly rainy night april lone witness randy jablonic observed car driven erratically changing speeds veering side side car eventually swerved road came stop open field damage person property occurred concerned driver fearing car get back highway jablonic drove truck behind car block returning road another passerby also stopped scene jablonic asked call police police arrived however driver car emerged vehicle approached jablonic truck asked jablonic ride home jablonic instead suggested wait assistance removing repairing car ignoring jablonic suggestion driver walked away scene minutes later police arrived questioned jablonic told one officer seen specifically noting driver either inebriated sick officer checked motor vehicle registration abandoned car learned registered petitioner edward welsh addition officer noted petitioner residence short distance scene therefore easily within walking distance without securing type warrant police proceeded petitioner home arriving petitioner stepdaughter answered door police gained entry house proceeding upstairs petitioner bedroom found lying naked bed point petitioner placed arrest driving operating motor vehicle influence intoxicant violation stat petitioner taken police station refused submit test result events petitioner subjected two separate related proceedings one concerning refusal submit breath test involving alleged code violation driving intoxicated wisconsin vehicle code effect april one arrested driving intoxicated requested law enforcement officer provide breath blood urine samples purpose determining presence quantity alcohol stat request made arrestee required submit appropriate testing risk revocation operating privileges cf south dakota neville admission evidence defendant refusal submit test offend constitutional right arrestee challenge officer request however refusing undergo testing asking hearing determine whether refusal justified hearing determined refusal justified arrestee operating privileges revoked days statute also set forth specific criteria applied determining whether arrestee refusal take breath test justified included among criteria requirement revoking arrestee operating privileges determine refusal submit test unreasonable disputed parties arrestee refusal take breath test reasonable therefore operating privileges revoked underlying arrest lawful indeed state law consistently provided valid arrest necessary prerequisite imposition breath test see scales state although statute effect april referred reasonableness current version explicitly recognizes one issues arrestee may raise refusal hearing whether lawfully placed arrest violation see also op atty statutory scheme contemplates lawful arrest made prior request submission test separate statutory provisions control penalty might imposed substantive offense driving intoxicated time question vehicle code provided first offense driving intoxicated noncriminal violation subject civil forfeiture proceeding maximum fine second subsequent offense previous five years potential misdemeanor punished imprisonment one year maximum fine stat since time state made minor amendments penalty provisions indeed statute continues categorize first offense civil violation allows monetary forfeiture supp see state albright app noted case petitioner refused submit breath test subsequently filed timely request refusal hearing hearing held however state filed criminal complaint petitioner driving intoxicated petitioner responded filing motion dismiss complaint relying contention underlying arrest invalid receiving evidence hearing motion july trial concluded criminal complaint dismissed existence probable cause exigent circumstances justified warrantless arrest decision refusal hearing held september therefore preordained fact primary issue refusal hearing whether petitioner acted reasonably refusing submit breath test unlawfully placed arrest see supra already determined two months earlier trial expected refusal hearing trial concluded arrest petitioner lawful petitioner refusal take breath test therefore unreasonable accordingly issued order suspending petitioner operating license days appeal suspension order vacated wisconsin appeals see state welsh may app contrary trial appellate concluded warrantless arrest petitioner home violated fourth amendment state although demonstrating probable cause arrest established existence exigent circumstances petitioner refusal submit breath test therefore reasonable wisconsin turn reversed appeals relying existence three factors believed constituted exigent circumstances need hot pursuit suspect need prevent physical harm offender public need prevent destruction evidence see important fourth amendment implications decision granted certiorari ii axiomatic physical entry home chief evil wording fourth amendment directed district principal protection unnecessary intrusions private dwellings warrant requirement imposed fourth amendment agents government seek enter home purposes search arrest see johnson surprising therefore recognized basic principle fourth amendment law searches seizures inside home without warrant presumptively unreasonable payton new york see coolidge new hampshire search seizure carried suspect premises without warrant per se unreasonable unless police show presence exigent circumstances see also michigan clifford plurality opinion steagald mcdonald johnson supra boyd consistently principles decided payton new york supra warrantless felony arrests home prohibited fourth amendment absent probable cause exigent circumstances time declined consider scope exception exigent circumstances might justify warrantless home arrests thereby leaving lower courts initial application exception prior decisions however emphasized exceptions warrant requirement number carefully delineated district supra police bear heavy burden attempting demonstrate urgent need might justify warrantless searches arrests indeed recognized emergency conditions see santana hot pursuit fleeing felon warden hayden schmerber california destruction evidence michigan tyler ongoing fire actually applied hot pursuit doctrine arrests home see santana supra hesitation finding exigent circumstances especially warrantless arrests home issue particularly appropriate underlying offense probable cause arrest relatively minor agents government may invade sanctity home burden government demonstrate exigent circumstances overcome presumption unreasonableness attaches warrantless home entries see payton new york supra government interest arrest minor offense presumption unreasonableness difficult rebut government usually allowed make arrests warrant issued upon probable cause neutral detached magistrate novel idea writing concurrence mcdonald justice jackson explained finding exigent circumstances justify warrantless home entry severely restricted minor offense committed even one conclude urgent circumstances might justify forced entry without warrant emergency present case method law enforcement displays shocking lack sense proportion whether reasonable necessity search without waiting obtain warrant certainly depends somewhat upon gravity offense thought progress well hazards method attempting reach shocking proposition private homes even quarters tenement may indiscriminately invaded discretion suspicious police officer engaged following offenses involve violence threats human enough apply letter law indulgence officers acting deal threats crimes violence endanger life security notable searches found unlawful dealt category crime enterprise parting fools money numbers lottery one suppressed think suppression important society security people unreasonable searches seizures officer undertakes act magistrate position justify pointing real immediate serious consequences postponed action get warrant omitted example courts permitted warrantless home arrests major felonies identifiable exigencies independent gravity offense existed time arrest compare campbell allowing warrantless home arrest armed robbery exigent circumstances existed commonwealth williams disallowing warrantless home arrest murder due absence exigent circumstances courts addressing issue refused permit warrantless home arrests nonfelonious crimes see state guertin exception narrowly drawn cover cases real contrived emergencies exception limited investigation serious crimes misdemeanors excluded people strelow app see also people sanders app burglary without weapons grave offense violence purpose state bennett distribution controlled substances grave offense purposes cf state penas neb allowing warrantless home arrest upon hot pursuit commission misdemeanor officer presence decided payton state niedermeyer app allowing warrantless home arrest upon hot pursuit commission misdemeanor officer presence approach taken cases surprising indeed without necessarily approving particular holdings considering every possible factual situation note difficult conceive warrantless home arrest unreasonable fourth amendment underlying offense extremely minor therefore conclude approach utilized lower courts required fourth amendment prohibition unreasonable searches seizures hold important factor considered determining whether exigency exists gravity underlying offense arrest made moreover although exigency created simply probable cause believe serious crime committed see payton application exception context home entry rarely sanctioned probable cause believe minor offense kind issue case committed application principle facts present case relatively straightforward petitioner arrested privacy bedroom noncriminal traffic offense state attempts justify arrest relying doctrine threat public safety need preserve evidence petitioner level facts case however claim hot pursuit unconvincing immediate continuous pursuit petitioner scene crime moreover petitioner already arrived home abandoned car scene accident little remaining threat public safety hence potential emergency claimed state need ascertain petitioner level even assuming however underlying facts support finding exigent circumstance mere similarity cases involving imminent destruction evidence sufficient state wisconsin chosen classify first offense driving intoxicated noncriminal civil forfeiture offense imprisonment possible see stat supp supra best indication state interest precipitating arrest one easily identified courts officers faced decision arrest see supra given expression state interest warrantless home arrest upheld simply evidence petitioner level might dissipated police obtained warrant allow warrantless home entry facts approve unreasonable police behavior principles fourth amendment sanction iii wisconsin let stand warrantless nighttime entry petitioner home arrest civil traffic offense arrest however clearly prohibited special protection afforded individual home fourth amendment petitioner arrest therefore invalid judgment wisconsin vacated case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes since petitioner arrest amended provide code violation drive operate motor vehicle influence intoxicant evidencing certain levels see stat amendment however bearing issues raised present case since petitioner arrest statute also amended current version found stat although procedures followed law enforcement officer arrestee remained essentially unchanged potential length revocation operating privileges increased depending arrestee prior driving record arrestee improperly refuses submit required test may also required comply assessment order driver safety plan amendments however also direct bearing issues raised present case implied consent law limit right take blood sample incident lawful arrest emphasized however arrest therefore probable cause making must precede taking blood sample conclude sample constitutionally taken incident lawful arrest emphasis added doubt wisconsin applies federal constitutional standards determining whether arrest even nonjailable traffic offense lawful example explained basis holding case follows trial revoked defendant motor vehicle operator license sixty days pursuant unreasonable refusal submit test required state statute defendant challenges officer warrantless arrest residence violating fourth amendment constitution article section wisconsin constitution trial upheld warrantless arrest concluding probable cause believe defendant operating motor vehicle influence intoxicant coupled existence exigent circumstances justified officers entry defendant residence appeals reversed trial holding although officers warrantless arrest unreasonable thereby violating fourth fourteenth amendments absence finding regarding consensual entry necessitated remanding case issue affirm findings trial holding probable cause exigent circumstances case justifies warrantless arrest prevail case state must prove probable cause exigent circumstances justifying officer conduct defendant residence hold ample evidence supporting trial ruling officer entry justified basis probable cause exigent circumstances entry effect warrantless arrest residence subject limitations imposed wisconsin constitutions const amend iv const art sec emphasis added citations footnotes omitted state law provides evidence petitioner refusal submit breath test inadmissible underlying arrest unlawful case implicate exclusionary rule federal constitution petitioner charged criminal misdemeanor second citation previous five years see although petitioner subject criminal charge police conducting warrantless entry home know petitioner ever charged much less convicted prior violation driving intoxicated must assumed therefore time arrest police acting investigating eventually arresting nonjailable traffic offense constituted civil violation applicable state law see beck ohio ruling bench refusal hearing trial judge specifically indicated bound earlier ruling valid arrest think counsel petitioner certainly right challenge appeal appeals matter well previous ruling conviction underlying charge app see also remanded case findings whether police entered petitioner home consent see supra although state courts differed respective conclusions concerning exigent circumstances found facts known police time warrantless home entry sufficient establish probable cause arrest petitioner challenged finding parallel criminal proceedings petitioner see supra resulted misdemeanor conviction driving intoxicated jury trial held early state introduced evidence petitioner refusal submit breath test appeal conviction wisconsin appeals stayed pending decision case see brief petitioner johnson justice jackson eloquently explained warrant requirement context home search point fourth amendment often grasped zealous officers denies law enforcement support usual inferences reasonable men draw evidence protection consists requiring inferences drawn neutral detached magistrate instead judged officer engaged often competitive enterprise ferreting crime right officers thrust home grave concern individual society chooses dwell reasonable security freedom surveillance right privacy must reasonably yield right search rule decided judicial officer policeman government enforcement agent omitted decision payton allowing warrantless home arrests upon showing probable cause exigent circumstances also expressly limited felony arrests see conclude circumstances presented case exigent circumstances sufficient justify warrantless home entry occasion consider whether fourth amendment may impose absolute ban warrantless home arrests certain minor offenses even dissenters payton although believing warrantless home arrests prohibited fourth amendment recognized importance felony limitation arrests see white joined burger rehnquist dissenting felony requirement guards abusive arbitrary enforcement ensures invasions home occur case serious crimes see generally donnino girese exigent circumstances warrantless home arrest albany rev harbaugh faust knock door home arrests payton steagald dick rev note exigent circumstances warrantless home arrests rev mean suggest prevention drunken driving properly major concern state wisconsin however along several see stat subd neb rev stat supp codified laws supp chosen limit severely penalties may imposed first conviction driving intoxicated given classification state crimes differs widely among penalty may attach particular offense seems provide clearest consistent indication state interest arresting individuals suspected committing offense remand state courts may consider whether petitioner arrest justified police validly obtained consent enter home see supra justice blackmun concurring join opinion add personal observation yield one profound personal concern unwillingness national consciousness face something continuing slaughter upon nation highways good percentage due drivers drunk alcohol drug ingestion spoken reports point perez campbell opinion concurring part dissenting part tate short concurring opinion see also south dakota neville amazing one great one highway signs proclaims diligent emphatic prosecution drunken driver still classifies driving intoxicated civil violation allows money forfeiture long first offense stat supp state like indulgent parent hesitates discipline spoiled child much even though child engaging act dangerous others law abiding helpless face child act see ante citing statutes personal convenience still weighs heavily balance highway deaths injuries continue wisconsin choose legislation thus regulate penalty structure unfortunately nothing constitution says may justice white justice rehnquist joins dissenting common law peace officer permitted arrest without warrant misdemeanor felony committed presence well felony committed presence reasonable ground making arrest watson requirement misdemeanor must occurred officer presence justify warrantless arrest grounded fourth amendment see street surdyka lafave search seizure never held warrant constitutionally required arrest nonfelony offenses occurring officer presence thus generally recognized today common law authority arrest without warrant misdemeanor cases may enlarged statute done many fisher laws arrest see ali model code procedure appendix alexander law arrest wilgus arrest without warrant rev wisconsin one expanded authority arrest nonfelony offenses wisconsin stat supp provides person may arrested without warrant violation traffic regulation traffic officer reasonable grounds believe person violating violated traffic regulation relying statutory authority officers madison police department arrested edward welsh bedroom home violating stat proscribes operation motor vehicle intoxicated welsh refused submit breath blood test operator license eventually revoked days reason pursuant stat civil license revocation proceeding welsh argued arrest house without warrant unconstitutional fourth fourteenth amendments federal constitution refusal submit test used contention based proposition using refusal revocation proceeding contravene federal law rather rested fact stat interpreted require arrest legal refusal tested basis license revocation review license revocation wisconsin appears recognized wisconsin statute welsh license wrongfully revoked officers arrested violated federal constitution see scales state acknowledged individual right privacy home fundamental freedom made clear state bore burden establishing exigent circumstances justifying warrantless arrest discerned strong state interest combating driving influence alcohol held warrantless arrest proper officers hot pursuit defendant seeking avoid chemical sobriety test welsh posed potential threat public safety ithout immediate blood alcohol test highly reliable persuasive evidence facilitating state proof welsh alleged violation destroyed two reasons overturn judgment wisconsin first clear important constitutional question decided today resolved case although welsh argues vigorously state violated federal constitutional rights point relied exclusionary rule contend federal constitution federal law provides remedy seeks general rule reviews judgments statements opinions black cutter laboratories purport hold federal law requires conclusion welsh refusal submit sobriety test reasonable clear judgment wisconsin offends federal law true wisconsin statutory scheme arrestee refusal take breath blood test reasonable justify revocation operating privileges underlying arrest violated fourth amendment otherwise unlawful state done however attach consequences arrest found unlawful federal constitution never decided federal law attach occasionally taken jurisdiction cases provided remedies violations federally defined obligations moore chesapeake ohio done contexts state remedies employed federal policies see greene hybrid state law federal courts harv rev fourth amendment course applies police conduct issue providing driver may reasonably refuse submit sobriety test unlawfully arrested wisconsin legislature courts pursuing course apparently hope reduce police illegality safeguard citizens rights although state entitled draw conclusion implement matter state law doubtful policies underlying fourth amendment require exclusion fruits illegal arrest civil proceeding remove highways person insists driving influence alcohol case violate federal policy revoke welsh license even arrest illegal satisfactory reason us review wisconsin judgment affirming revocation even mistakenly applied fourth amendment ample reason disturb judgment event believe state properly construed fourth amendment follows payton new york warrantless nonfelony arrests home prohibited fourth amendment absent probable cause exigent circumstances although continue believe erred payton requiring exigent circumstances justify warrantless felony arrests white dissenting reject obvious logical implication decision see little commend approach looks nature underlying offense important factor considered calculus ante gravity underlying offense concede factor considered determining whether delay attends process endanger officers persons seriousness offense suspect may charged also bears likelihood flee escape apprehension arrested immediately circumstances particular case officer probable cause believe delay involved procuring arrest warrant gravely endanger officer persons result suspect escape perceive reason disregard exigencies ground offense suspect sought minor one practical matter suspect holding likely greater impact cases officer acted without warrant prevent imminent destruction removal evidence evidence destruction removal threatened documents suspect participation minor crime apparently preclude finding exigent circumstances justified warrantless arrest understand warrantless home entry arrest intrusive crime minor suspect sought connection serious felony variable factor one governmental interest served warrantless entry wisconsin legislature concluded warrantless arrests circumstances like present promote valid substantial state interests determining whether challenged governmental conduct reasonable bound determinations nothing previous decisions suggests fact state defined offense misdemeanor variety social cultural political reasons necessarily requires conclusion warrantless arrests designed prevent imminent destruction removal evidence offense always impermissible anything prior decisions support opposite conclusion see camara municipal mcdonald see also state penas neb state niedermeyer app cert denied test existence exigent circumstances turns perceived gravity crime significantly hamper law enforcement burden courts pointless litigation concerning nature gradation various crimes relies heavily justice jackson concurring opinion mcdonald supra minimizing gravity felony issue illustrates need evaluation seriousness particular crimes confined offenses defined statute misdemeanors extent implies seriousness particular felony factor considered deciding whether need preserve evidence felony constitutes exigent circumstance justifying warrantless arrest think approach misguided decision arrest without warrant typically made field circumstances officers neither time competence determine whether particular offense warrantless arrests authorized statute serious enough justify warrantless home entry prevent imminent destruction removal evidence problem lessened creating distinction felonies crimes wisely view adopt approach may time line misdemeanors felonies marked offenses involving sufficiently serious threat society justify warrantless arrests exigent circumstances category misdemeanors today includes enough serious offenses call question desirability line drawing see ali model code procedures prelim draft discussing ultimately rejected provision abandoning requirement misdemeanor arrests correct asserting distinction felonies misdemeanors untenable need prevent imminent destruction removal evidence nonfelony crimes constitute exigency justifying warrantless arrests certain circumstances approach necessitate evaluation seriousness particular crimes difficult task officers courts poorly equipped even correct concluding gravity offense important factor consider determining whether warrantless arrest justified exigent circumstances erred assessing seriousness offense officers thought arresting welsh observes statutory scheme force time welsh arrest provided first offense driving influence alcohol involved potential incarceration stat nevertheless long recognized compelling state interest highway safety south dakota neville wisconsin identified number factors suggesting substantial growing governmental interest apprehending convicting intoxicated drivers deterring offenses recent actions wisconsin legislature evince belief significant benefits reduction costs attributable drunk driving may achieved increased apprehension conviction even first time offenders note rev ignores factors looks solely penalties imposed first offenders determining whether state interest sufficient justify warrantless arrests exigent circumstances ante although seriousness prescribed sanctions valuable objective indication general normative judgment seriousness offense baldwin new york plurality opinion evidence available ignored craner woods supp md brady blair supp sd ohio although first offenders subjected civil forfeiture wisconsin statute seriousness state regards crime welsh arrested evinced fact defendants charged driving influence guaranteed right jury trial stat legislative authorization warrantless arrests traffic offenses occurring outside officer presence stat collateral consequence mandatory license revocation attaches convictions driving influence stat see also district columbia colts craner supra possible moreover legislature consciously chose limit penalties imposed first offenders order increase ease conviction overall deterrent effect enforcement effort see comment rev short fact wisconsin chosen punish first offense driving influence fine rather prison term demand conclusion state interest punishing first offenders insufficiently substantial justify warrantless arrests exigent circumstances wisconsin observed model case demonstrating urgency involved arresting suspect order preserve evidence statutory violation previously recognized percentage alcohol blood begins diminish shortly drinking stops body functions eliminate system schmerber california moreover suspect cast substantial doubt validity blood breath test consuming additional alcohol upon arriving home light promptness officers reached welsh house therefore hold need prevent imminent ongoing destruction evidence serious violation wisconsin traffic laws provided exigent circumstance justifying warrantless arrest see also people ritchie cal app cal rptr people smith state findlay iowa state amaniera super state osburn app respectfully dissent