The city of Red Bank, Tenn., is under notice to pay attention to the rules of statutory construction and the definitions in the law of mundane activities such as travel and transportation.
I gave notice to the city attorney in August 2018 about the limits on Tenn. Code Ann. § Title 55, also called the vehicles and motor vehicles code. From that date on, prosecutions in criminal court under Title 55 are smelly with suspicion, and being done in bad faith by the city’s officers.
All the officers of that town have by law what is called imputed knowledge of the limits of the statute. In their policies and practices, however, they follow Tennessee supreme court and court of appeals opinions that violate and vitiate and abrogate the rights of the people to travel in their cars and trucks without any license or permit pursuant to their liberties enshrined in the state constitution.
It is convenient for the state and it is convenient for municipal corporations, their creatures, to ignore these rights and impose commercial statutes and police enforcement upon private users such as a local luminary and defender of constitutional government, John Luman.
Mr. Luman in an encounter prior to the city’s having been notified by transportation administrative notice is arrested and dragged into court before Judge Johnny Houston, a lawyer who in former times tried to get business among motorcyclists injured by hapless motorists. Judge Houston runs city court, a corporation court intended to handle a large volume of cases that the modern police state generates for executive and other noble purposes.
In a motion to dismiss before that court, Mr. Luman, 64, a handyman and contractor who resides in Red Bank, gives the definitions over which state’s case must inevitably fall. The definitions are like directional barbs on a path that seem to push DA Neal Pinkston’s case into a ditch, where despite gunning of the engine and the spinning of the wheels, the case must rest abandoned and bent.
Weather it actually falls there in practice and in fact is unclear, since state government believes that lawlessness and disregard of the rules of statutory construction are the best way to govern. It generally gets its way, regardless of law, regardless of its pretended submission to the constitution.
The rules of statutory construction, in law, control in Tennessee, despite the Tennessee courts of appeal and their lawyers cum judges who rule against the law and for policies and processes that favor the executive absolutist state. The rules favoring the assertion of constitutional rights, in law, control, despite the supreme court.
The text below is from Mr. Luman’s brief, viewing the definitions that are the crisscross of rebar keeping the street smooth and pothole free. If you are at all familiar with transportation administrative notice, prepared by this most lively broadcast journalist, this material will seem familiar. Mr. Luman in this section cites the necessary cases that deserve to come under the eyes of Judge Houston. — David Tulis
By Jon Luman
To understand the correct application of the statute in question, we must first define the terms used in connection with this point of law. As will be shown, many terms used today do not, in their legal context, mean what we assume they mean, thus resulting in the misapplication of statutes in the instant case.
Auto vs. motor vehicle
There is a clear distinction between an automobile and a motor vehicle. An automobile has been defined as: “The word ‘automobile’ connotes a pleasure vehicle designed for the transportation of persons on highways.” American Mutual Liability Ins. Co. vs. Chaput, 60 A.2d 118, 120; 95 NH 200. While the distinction is made clear between the two as the courts have stated: “A motor vehicle or automobile for hire is a motor vehicle, other than an automobile stage, used for the transportation of persons for which remuneration is received.” International Motor Transit Co. vs. Seattle, 251 P. 120.
The term ‘motor vehicle’ is different and broader than the word ‘automobile.'”; City of Dayton vs. DeBrosse, 23 NE.2d 647, 650; 62 Ohio App. 232.
The distinction is made very clear in Title 18 USC 31: “Motor vehicle” means every description or other contrivance propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used for commercial purposes on the highways in the transportation of passengers, or passengers and property. “Used for commercial purposes” means the carriage of persons or property for any fare, fee, rate, charge or other considerations, or directly or indirectly in connection with any business, or other undertaking intended for profit. Clearly, an automobile is private property in use for private purposes, while a motor vehicle is a machine which may be used upon the highways for trade, commerce, or hire.
Travel = private activity
The term “travel” is a significant term and is defined as: “The term ‘travel’ and ‘traveler’ are usually construed in their broad and general sense…so as to include all those who rightfully use the highways viatically (when being reimbursed for expenses) and who have occasion to pass over them for the purpose of business, convenience, or pleasure.” [emphasis added] 25 Am.Jur. (1st) Highways, Sect.427, p.717.
“Traveler One who passes from place to place, whether for pleasure, instruction, business, or health.” Locket vs. State, 47 Ala. 45; Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., p. 3309.
“Travel: To journey or to pass through or over; as a country district, road, etc. To go from one place to another, whether on foot, or horseback, or in any conveyance as a train, an automobile, carriage, ship, or aircraft; Make a journey.” Century Dictionary, p.2034.
Therefore, the term “travel” or “traveler” refers to one who uses a conveyance to go from one place to another, and included all those who use the highways as a matter of Right. Notice that in all these definitions the phrase “for hire” never occurs. This term “travel” or “traveler” implies, by definition, one who uses the road as a means to move from one place to another. Therefore, one who uses the road in the ordinary course of life and business for the purpose of travel and transportation is a traveler.
Driver is one ‘employed’
The term “driver” in contradistinction to “traveler” is defined as: “Driver One employed in conducting a coach, carriage, wagon, or other vehicle…” Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., p. 940.
Notice that this definition includes one who is “employed” in conducting a vehicle. It should be self-evident that this person could not be “travelling” on a journey, but is using the road as a place of business.
Operator = driver
Today we assume that a “traveler” is a “driver,” and a “driver” is an “operator.” However, this is not the case.
“It will be observed from the language of the ordinance that a distinction is to be drawn between the terms ‘operator’ and ‘driver’; the ‘operator’ of the service car being the person who is licensed to have the car on the streets in the business of carrying passengers for hire; while the ‘driver’ is the one who actually drives the car. However, in the actual prosecution of business, it was possible for the same person to be both ‘operator’ and ‘driver.'” Newbill vs. Union Indemnity Co., 60 SE.2d 658.
To further clarify the definition of an “operator” the court observed that this was a vehicle “for hire” and that it was in the business of carrying passengers. This definition would seem to describe a person who is using the road as a place of business, or in other words, a person engaged in the “privilege” of using the road for gain.
This definition, then, is a further clarification of the distinction mentioned earlier, and therefore: Travelling upon and transporting one’s property upon the public roads as a matter of right meets the definition of a traveler. Using the road as a place of business as a matter of privilege meets the definition of a driver or an operator or both.
Traffic subject to regulation
Having defined the terms “automobile,” “motor vehicle,” “traveler,” “driver,” and “operator,” the next term to define is “traffic”:
“Traffic thereon is to some extent destructive, therefore, the prevention of unnecessary duplication of auto transportation service will lengthen the life of the highways or reduce the cost of maintenance, the revenue derived by the state *** will also tend toward the public welfare by producing at the expense of those operating for private gain, some small part of the cost of repairing the wear.” Northern Pacific R.R. Co. vs. Schoenfeldt, 213 P. 26.
Note: In the above, Justice Tolman expounded upon the key of raising revenue by taxing the “privilege” to use the public roads “at the expense of those operating for gain.”
In this case, the word “traffic” is used in conjunction with the unnecessary Auto Transportation Service, or in other words, “vehicles for hire.” The word “traffic” is another word which is to be strictly construed to the conducting of business.
“Traffic — Commerce, trade, sale or exchange of merchandise, bills, money, or the like. The passing of goods and commodities from one person to another for an equivalent in goods or money…”; Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., p. 3307.
Here again, notice that this definition refers to one “conducting business.” No mention is made of one who is travelling in his automobile. This definition is of one who is engaged in the passing of a commodity or goods in exchange for money, i.e.., vehicles for hire. Furthermore, the word “traffic” and “travel” must have different meanings which the courts recognize.
The difference is recognized in Ex Parte Dickey, supra: “[I]n addition to this, cabs, hackney coaches, omnibuses, taxicabs, and hacks, when unnecessarily numerous, interfere with the ordinary traffic and travel and obstruct them.” The court, by using both terms, signified its recognition of a distinction between the two. But, what was the distinction? We have already defined both terms, but to clear up any doubt: “The word ‘traffic’ is manifestly used here in secondary sense, and has reference to the business of transportation rather than to its primary meaning of interchange of commodities.” Allen vs. City of Bellingham, 163 P. 18.
Here the Supreme Court of the State of Washington has defined the word “traffic” (in either its primary or secondary sense) in reference to business, and not to mere travel! So it is clear that the term “traffic” is business related and therefore, it is a “privilege.”
The net result being that “traffic” is brought under the (police) power of the legislature. The term has no application to one who is not using the roads as a place of business.
License proof of tax for privilege
It seems only proper to define the word “license,” as the definition of this word will be extremely important in understanding the statutes as they are properly applied: “The permission, by competent authority to do an act which without permission, would be illegal, a trespass, or a tort.” People vs. Henderson, 218 NW.2d 2, 4. “Leave to do a thing which licensor could prevent.” Western Electric Co. vs. Pacent Reproducer Corp., 42 F.2d 116, 118.
In order for these two definitions to apply in this case, the state would have to take up the position that the exercise of a constitutional right to use the public roads in the ordinary course of life and business is illegal, a trespass, or a tort, which the state could then regulate or prevent. This position, however, would raise magnitudinous constitutional questions as this position would be diametrically opposed to fundamental constitutional Law. (See “Conversion of a right to a Crime,” infra.)
In the instant case, the proper definition of a “license” is: “a permit, granted by an appropriate governmental body, generally for consideration, to a person, firm, or corporation, to pursue some occupation or to carry on some business which is subject to regulation under the police power.” [emphasis added] Rosenblatt vs. California State Board of Pharmacy, 158 P.2d 199, 203.
This definition would fall more in line with the “privilege” of carrying on business on the streets. Most people tend to think that “licensing” is imposed by the state for the purpose of raising revenue, yet there may well be more subtle reasons contemplated; for when one seeks permission from someone to do something he invokes the jurisdiction of the “licensor” which, in this case, is the state. In essence, the licensee may well be seeking to be regulated by the “licensor.”
“A license fee is a charge made primarily for regulation, with the fee to cover costs and expenses of supervision or regulation.” State vs. Jackson, 60 Wisc.2d 700; 211 NW.2d 480, 487.
The fee is the price; the regulation or control of the licensee is the real aim of the legislation. Are these licenses really used to fund legitimate government, or are they nothing more than a subtle introduction of police power into every facet of our lives? Have our “enforcement agencies” been diverted from crime prevention, perhaps through no fault of their own, instead now busying themselves as they “check” our papers to see that all are properly endorsed by the state? How much longer will it be before we are forced to get a license for our lawn mowers, or before our wives will need a license for her “blender” or “mixer?” They all have motors on them and the state can always use the revenue.
Police power
The confusion of the police power with the power of taxation usually arises in cases where the police power has affixed a penalty to a certain act, or where it requires licenses to be obtained and a certain sum be paid for certain occupations. The power used in the instant case cannot, however, be the power of taxation since an attempt to levy a tax upon a right would be open to constitutional objection. (See “taxing power,” infra.)
Each law relating to the use of police power must ask three questions: “1. Is there threatened danger? 2. Does a regulation involve a constitutional right? 3. Is this regulation reasonable?” People vs. Smith, 108 Am.St.Rep. 715; Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., under “Police Power.”
When applying these three questions to the statute in question, some very important issues emerge. First, “is there a threatened danger” in the individual using his automobile on the public highways, in the ordinary course of life and business? The answer is No! There is nothing inherently dangerous in the use of an automobile when it is carefully managed. Their guidance, speed, and noise are subject to a quick and easy control, under a competent and considerate manager, it is as harmless on the road as a horse and buggy. It is the manner of managing the automobile, and that alone, which threatens the safety of the public. The ability to stop quickly and to respond quickly to guidance would seem to make the automobile one of the least dangerous conveyances. (See Yale Law Journal, December, 1905.) “The automobile is not inherently dangerous.” Cohens vs. Meadow, 89 SE 876; Blair vs. Broadmore , 93 SE 532.
To deprive all persons of the right to use the road in the ordinary course of life and business, because one might, in the future, become dangerous, would be a deprivation not only of the right to travel, but also the right to due process. (See “Due Process,” infra.)
Next, does the regulation involve a constitutional right? This question has already been addressed and answered in this brief, and need not be reinforced other than to remind this Court that this Citizen does have the right to travel upon the public highway by automobile in the ordinary course of life and business. It can therefore be concluded that this regulation does involve a constitutional right.
The third question is the most important in this case. “Is this regulation reasonable?” The answer is No! It will be shown later in “Regulation,” infra., that this licensing statute is oppressive and could be effectively administered by less oppressive means. Although the Fourteenth Amendment does not interfere with the proper exercise of the police power, in accordance with the general principle that the power must be exercised so as not to invade unreasonably the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, it is established beyond question that every state power, including the police power, is limited by the Fourteenth Amendment (and others) and by the inhibitions there imposed. Moreover, the ultimate test of the propriety of police power regulations must be found in the Fourteenth Amendment, since it operates to limit the field of the police power to the extent of preventing the enforcement of statutes in denial of rights that the Amendment protects. (See Parks vs. State, 64 NE 682.) “With regard particularly to the U.S. Constitution, it is elementary that a right secured or protected by that document cannot be overthrown or impaired by any state police authority.” Connolly vs. Union Sewer Pipe Co., 184 US 540; Lafarier vs. Grand Trunk R.R. Co., 24 A. 848; O’Neil vs. Providence Amusement Co., 108 A. 887.
“The police power of the state must be exercised in subordination to the provisions of the U.S. Constitution.” [emphasis added] Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. vs. State Highway Commission, 294 US 613; Bacahanan vs. Wanley, 245 US 60.
“It is well settled that the constitutional rights protected from invasion by the police power, include rights safeguarded both by express and implied prohibitions in the Constitutions.” Tiche vs. Osborne, 131 A. 60.
“As a rule, fundamental limitations of regulations under the police power are found in the spirit of the Constitutions, not in the letter, although they are just as efficient as if expressed in the clearest language.” Mehlos vs. Milwaukee, 146 NW 882.
As it applies in the instant case, the language of the Fifth Amendment is clear: No person shall be…deprived of Life, Liberty, or Property without due process of law. As has been shown, the courts at all levels have firmly established an absolute right to travel. In the instant case, the state, by applying commercial statutes to all entities, natural and artificial persons alike, has deprived this free and natural person of the right of Liberty, without cause and without due process of law.
Due process
“The essential elements of due process of law are *** notice and The Opportunity to defend.” Simon vs. Craft, 182 US 427. Yet, not one individual has been given notice of the loss of his/her right, let alone before signing the license (contract). Nor was the Citizen given any opportunity to defend against the loss of his/her right to travel, by automobile, on the highways, in the ordinary course of life and business. This amounts to an arbitrary deprivation of Liberty. “There should be no arbitrary deprivation of Life or Liberty…” Barbour vs. Connolly, 113 US 27, 31; Yick Wo vs. Hopkins, 118 US 356.
And …
“The right to travel is part of the Liberty of which a citizen cannot deprived without due process of law under the Fifth Amendment. This right was emerging as early as the Magna Carta.” Kent vs. Dulles, 357 US 116 (1958). The focal point of this question of police power and due process must balance upon the point of making the public highways a safe place for the public to travel. If a man travels in a manner that creates actual damage, an action would lie (civilly) for recovery of damages. The state could then also proceed against the individual to deprive him of his right to use the public highways, for cause. This process would fulfill the due process requirements of the Fifth Amendment while at the same time insuring that rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the state constitutions would be protected. But unless or until harm or damage (a crime) is committed, there is no cause for interference in the private affairs or actions of a Citizen.
One of the most famous and perhaps the most quoted definitions of due process of law, is that of Daniel Webster in his Dartmouth College Case (4 Wheat 518), in which he declared that by due process is meant “a law which hears before it condemns, which proceeds upon inquiry, and renders judgment only after trial.” (See also State vs. Strasburg, 110 P. 1020; Dennis vs. Moses, 52 P. 333.)
Somewhat similar is the statement that is a rule as old as the law that “no one shall be personally bound (restricted) until he has had his day in court,” by which is meant, until he has been duly cited to appear and has been afforded an opportunity to be heard. Judgment without such citation and opportunity lacks all the attributes of a judicial determination; it is judicial usurpation and it is oppressive and can never be upheld where it is fairly administered. (12 Am.Jur. [1st] Const. Law, Sect.573, p.269.)
Note: This sounds like the process used to deprive one of the “privilege” of operating a motor vehicle “for hire.” It should be kept in mind, however, that we are discussing the arbitrary deprivation of the right to use the road that all citizens have “in common.”
The futility of the state’s position can be most easily observed in the 1959 Washington Attorney General’s opinion on a similar issue: “The distinction between the right of the Citizen to use the public highways for private, rather than commercial purposes is recognized…”’
And …
“Under its power to regulate private uses of our highways, our legislature has required that motor vehicle operators be licensed (I.C. 49-307). Undoubtedly, the primary purpose of this requirement is to insure, as far as possible, that all motor vehicle operators will be competent and qualified, thereby reducing the potential hazard or risk of harm, to which other users of the highways might otherwise be subject. But once having complied with this regulatory provision, by obtaining the required license, a motorist enjoys the privilege of travelling freely upon the highways…”; Washington A.G.O. 59-60 No. 88, p. 11. This alarming opinion appears to be saying that every person using an automobile as a matter of right, must give up the right and convert the right into a privilege. This is accomplished under the guise of regulation. This statement is indicative of the insensitivity, even the ignorance, of the government to the limits placed upon governments by and through the several constitutions. This legal theory may have been able to stand in 1959; however, as of 1966, in the United States Supreme Court decision in Miranda, even this weak defense of the state’s actions must fall. “Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them.” Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 US 436, 491. Thus the legislature does not have the power to abrogate the Citizen’s right to travel upon the public roads, by passing legislation forcing the citizen to waive his right and convert that right into a privilege. Furthermore, we have previously established that this “privilege” has been defined as applying only to those who are “conducting business in the streets” or “operating for-hire vehicles.” The legislature has attempted, by legislative fiat, to deprive the Citizen of his right to use the roads in the ordinary course of life and business, without affording the Citizen the safeguard of “due process of law.” This has been accomplished under supposed powers of regulation.
Regulation
“In addition to the requirement that regulations governing the use of the highways must not be violative of constitutional guarantees, the prime essentials of such regulation are reasonableness, impartiality, and definiteness or certainty.” 25 Am.Jur. (1st) Highways, Sect.260.
And …
“Moreover, a distinction must be observed between the regulation of an activity which may be engaged in as a matter of right and one carried on by government sufferance of permission.” Davis vs. Massachusetts, 167 US 43; Pachard vs. Banton, supra.
One can say for certain that these regulations are impartial since they are being applied to all, even though they are clearly beyond the limits of the legislative powers. However, we must consider whether such regulations are reasonable and non-violative of constitutional guarantees.
First, let us consider the reasonableness of this statute requiring all persons to be licensed (presuming that we are applying this statute to all persons using the public roads). In determining the reasonableness of the statute we need only ask two questions: 1. Does the statute accomplish its stated goal? The answer is No! The attempted explanation for this regulation “to insure the safety of the public by insuring, as much as possible, that all are competent and qualified.” However, one can keep his license without retesting, from the time he/she is first licensed until the day he/she dies, without regard to the competency of the person, by merely renewing said license before it expires. It is therefore possible to completely skirt the goal of this attempted regulation, thus proving that this regulation does not accomplish its goal. Furthermore, by testing and licensing, the state gives the appearance of underwriting the competence of the licensees, and could therefore be held liable for failures, accidents, etc. caused by licensees. 2. Is the statute reasonable?
The answer is No!
This statute cannot be determined to be reasonable since it requires to the Citizen to give up his or her natural right to travel unrestricted in order to accept the privilege. The purported goal of this statute could be met by much less oppressive regulations, i.e., competency tests and certificates of competency before using an automobile upon the public roads. (This is exactly the situation in the aviation sector.)
But isn’t this what we have now? The answer is No! The real purpose of this license is much more insidious. When one signs the license, he/she gives up his/her constitutional right to travel in order to accept and exercise a privilege. After signing the license, a quasi-contract, the Citizen has to give the state his/her consent to be prosecuted for constructive crimes and quasi-criminal actions where there is no harm done and no damaged property.
These prosecutions take place without affording the Citizen of their constitutional rights and guarantees such a the right to a trial by jury of twelve persons and the right to counsel, as well as the normal safeguards such as proof of intent and a corpus dealecti and a grand jury indictment. These unconstitutional prosecutions take place because the Citizen is exercising a privilege and has given his/her “implied consent” to legislative enactments designed to control interstate commerce, a regulatable enterprise under the police power of the state. We must now conclude that the Citizen is forced to give up constitutional guarantees of “Right” in order to exercise his state “privilege” to travel upon the public highways in the ordinary course of life and business.
Surrender of rights not required
A Citizen cannot be forced to give up his/her rights in the name of regulation. “…the only limitations found restricting the right of the state to condition the use of the public highways as a means of vehicular transportation for compensation are (1) that the state must not exact of those it permits to use the highways for hauling for gain that they surrender any of their inherent U.S. constitutional rights as a condition precedent to obtaining permission for such use…”; [emphasis added] Riley vs. Laeson, 142 So. 619; Stephenson vs. Binford, supra.
If one cannot be placed in a position of being forced to surrender rights in order to exercise a privilege, how much more must this maxim of law, then, apply when one is simply exercising (putting into use) a right? “To be that statute which would deprive a Citizen of the rights of person or property, without a regular trial, according to the course and usage of the common law, would not be the law of the land.” Hoke vs. Henderson, 15 NC 15.
And …
“We find it intolerable that one constitutional right should have to be surrendered in order to assert another.” Simons vs. United States, 390 US 389. Since the state requires that one give up rights in order to exercise the privilege of driving, the regulation cannot stand under the police power, due process, or regulation, but must be exposed as a statute which is oppressive and one which has been misapplied to deprive the Citizen of rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the state constitutions.
Taxing power
“Any claim that this statute is a taxing statute would be immediately open to severe constitutional objections. If it could be said that the state had the power to tax a right, this would enable the state to destroy rights guaranteed by the constitution through the use of oppressive taxation. The question herein, is one of the state taxing the right to travel by the ordinary modes of the day, and whether this is a legislative object of the state taxation. The views advanced herein are neither novel nor unsupported by authority. The question of taxing power of the states has been repeatedly considered by the Supreme Court. The right of the state to impede or embarrass the constitutional operation of the U.S. Government or the rights which the Citizen holds under it, has been uniformly denied.” McCulloch vs. Maryland, 4 Wheat 316.
The power to tax is the power to destroy, and if the state is given the power to destroy rights through taxation, the framers of the Constitution wrote that document in vain. “…It may be said that a tax of one dollar for passing through the state cannot sensibly affect any function of government or deprive a Citizen of any valuable right. But if a state can tax…a passenger of one dollar, it can tax him a thousand dollars.” Crandall vs. Nevada, 6 Wall 35, 46.
And …
“If the right of passing through a state by a Citizen of the United States is one guaranteed by the Constitution, it must be sacred from state taxation.” Ibid., p.47. Therefore, the right of travel must be kept sacred from all forms of state taxation and if this argument is used by the state as a defense of the enforcement of this statute, then this argument also must fail.
Coverting a right into a crime
As previously demonstrated, the citizen has the right to travel and to transport his property upon the public highways in the ordinary course of life and business. However, if one exercises this right to travel (without first giving up the right and converting that right into a privilege) the Citizen is by statute, guilty of a crime. This amounts to converting the exercise of a constitutional right into a crime. Recall the Miller vs. U.S. and Snerer vs. Cullen quotes from p.5, and, “The state cannot diminish rights of the people.” Hurtado vs. California, 110 US 516.
And …
“Where rights secured by the constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them.” Miranda, supra.
Indeed, the very purpose for creating the state under the limitations of the constitution was to protect the rights of the people from intrusion, particularly by the forces of government. So we can see that any attempt by the legislature to make the act of using the public highways as a matter of right into a crime, is void upon its face. Any person who claims his right to travel upon the highways, and so exercises that right, cannot be tried for a crime of doing so.
And yet, this free man stands before this court today to answer charges for the “crime” of exercising his right to liberty. As we have already shown, the term “drive” can only apply to those who are employed in the business of transportation for hire. It has been shown that freedom includes the citizen’s right to use the public highways in the ordinary course of life and business without license or regulation by the police powers of the state.
Conclusion
It is the duty of the court to recognize the substance of things and not the mere form. “The courts are not bound by mere form, nor are they to be misled by mere pretenses. They are at liberty indeed they are under a solemn duty to look at the substance of things, whenever they enter upon the inquiry whether the legislature has transcended the limits of its authority. If, therefore, a statute purported to have been enacted to protect *** the public safety, has no real or substantial relation to those objects or is a palpable invasion of rights secured by the fundamental law, it is the duty of the courts to so adjudge, and thereby give effect to the Constitution.” Mulger vs. Kansas, 123 US 623, 661.
And …
“It is the duty of the courts to be watchful for the constitutional rights of the citizen and against any stealthy encroachments thereon.” Boyd vs. United States, 116 US 616. The courts are “duty bound” to recognize and stop the “stealthy encroachments” which have been made upon the citizen’s right to travel and to use the roads to transport his property in the “ordinary course of life and business.” (Hadfield, supra.) Further, the court must recognize that the right to travel is part of the liberty of which a citizen cannot be deprived without specific cause and without the “due process of law” guaranteed in the Fifth Amendment. (Kent, supra.) The history of this “invasion” of the citizen’s right to use the public highways shows clearly that the legislature simply found a heretofore untapped source of revenue, got greedy, and attempted to enforce a statute in an unconstitutional manner upon those free and natural individuals who have a right to travel upon the highways.
This was not attempted in an outright action, but in a slow, meticulous, calculated encroachment upon the citizen’s right to travel. This position must be accepted unless the prosecutor can show his authority for the position that the “use of the road in the ordinary course of life and business” is a privilege. To rule in any other manner, without clear authority for an adverse ruling, will infringe upon fundamental and basic concepts of constitutional law.
This position, that a right cannot be regulated under any guise, must be accepted without concern for the monetary loss of the state. “Disobedience or evasion of a constitutional mandate cannot be tolerated, even though such disobedience may, at least temporarily, promote in some respects the best interests of the public.” Slote vs. Examination, 112 ALR 660.
And …
“Economic necessity cannot justify a disregard of constitutional guarantee.” Riley vs. Carter, 79 ALR 1018; 16 Am.Jur. (2nd), Const. Law, Sect.81.
And…
“Constitutional rights cannot be denied simply because of hostility to their assertions and exercise; vindication of conceded constitutional rights cannot be made dependent upon any theory that it is less expensive to deny them than to afford them.” Watson vs. Memphis, 375 US 526. Therefore, the court’s decision in the instant case must be made without the issue of cost to the state being taken into consideration, as that issue is irrelevant. The state cannot lose money that it never had a right to demand from the “sovereign people.”
Finally, we come to the issue of “public policy.” It could be argued that the “licensing scheme” of all persons is a matter of “public policy.” However, if this argument is used, it too must fail, as: “No public policy of a state can be allowed to override the positive guarantees of the U.S. constitution.” 16 Am.Jur. (2nd), Const. Law, Sect.70.
So even “public policy” cannot abrogate this Citizen’s right to travel and to use the public highways in the ordinary course of life and business. Therefore, it must be concluded that: “We have repeatedly held that the legislature may regulate the use of the highways for carrying on business for private gain and that such regulation is a valid exercise of the police power.” Northern Pacific R.R. Co., supra.
And …
“The act in question is a valid regulation, and as such is binding upon all who use the highway for the purpose of private gain.” Ibid. Any other construction of this statute would render it unconstitutional as applied to this citizen or any citizen.
The Accused therefore moves this court to dismiss the charge against him, with prejudice. July 10, 2017.
More on Red Bank, a great little Tennessee town
