The Appellate Division weighs in on the mailing paradigm

People v Abelo,  2010 NY Slip Op 09567 (1st Dept. 2010).

“The evidence which gives rise to the trial error was the testimony of one Kimberly Shaw, a customer representative for the DMV, who was first employed in 2002. She testified to mailing procedures at DMV. Shaw testified that based on an abstract generated on November 23, 2005, defendant’s license had been suspended 57 times on 16 dates between 1983 and 1994 for unpaid tickets. Shaw testified that a driver’s license suspension is mailed to the address on file at the DMV, that such a mailing had occurred in December 1992, and that defendant’s license was suspended on January 4, 1993. The court admitted the 1992 notice of suspension. On cross-examination Shaw acknowledged that she did not work for DMV in 1992, and could not testify concerning standard mailing procedures during that year or those in place in 1993. She also acknowledged that procedures had changed. The court then refused to admit the 1993 suspension notices because Shaw was not familiar with the business practices in place at that time or earlier, but it refused to strike the already admitted 1992 notice.”

…

“The People here argue that, having produced Kimberly Shaw, they satisfied their obligation to produce a witness who was subject to cross-examination. While defendant acknowledges that it was clearly not necessary to produce someone who was employed at the time the notice was mailed, he argues that the People were obligated to produce someone who had at least familiarized herself with the procedures current at the time. Moreover, as defendant argues, the trial court’s refusal to admit the 1993 notices of suspension because Ms. Shaw was unfamiliar with the mailing practices in 1993 was inconsistent with admission of the 1992 notice of suspension. The witness made it clear that she was not familiar with the practice in either year.”

“A witness who on cross-examination denies knowing what procedures were used at the time of mailing does not satisfy the obligation to produce a witness who can be adequately cross-examined concerning notice to defendant. In essence, the notice of suspension was admitted without foundation, and under the facts of this case its admission constituted reversible error.”

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