Motor Vehicle Administration v. Spies

BELL, C.J., (Retired).

We granted certiorari in this case to consider whether a moderate odor of alcohol emanating from the person of a motorist, alone, provides an adequate basis for a law enforcement officer to suspect that the motorist was driving while under the influence of, or impaired by, alcohol and, therefore, constitutes “reasonable grounds,” pursuant to Maryland Code (1977, 2009 RepLVol., 2011 Cum.Supp.) § 16-205.1(b)(2) of the Transportation Article,1 to request the motorist to take an alcohol content test. For reasons provided below, we answer *366that question in the affirmative and…