Georgia Automobile Importers Compliance Ass'n v. Bowers

639 F. Supp. 352
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedJune 13, 1986
DocketCiv. A. No. 85-4121-A
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 639 F. Supp. 352 (Georgia Automobile Importers Compliance Ass'n v. Bowers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Georgia Automobile Importers Compliance Ass'n v. Bowers, 639 F. Supp. 352 (N.D. Ga. 1986).

Opinion

ORDER

O’KELLEY, District Judge.

Presently before the court is the motion of plaintiffs for a preliminary and permanent injunction. Plaintiffs seek to have certain Georgia statutes found in violation of the United States Constitution. The court advanced and consolidated the hearing on the preliminary injunction with the trial of the suit on the merits. Fed.R. Civ.P. 65(a)(2). The trial was held on May 6, 1986. Upon review, the court finds that Georgia’s statutes, O.C.G.A. §§ 40-2-25.1, 40-3-29.1, and 16-9-110 violate the preemption clause of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7543(a), and enjoins the statutes to the extent that they attempt to regulate emissions controls governed by the Clean Air Act. The court declines to enjoin the [354]*354Georgia statutes as they attempt to regulate safety standards, finding that the statutes were not preempted by 15 U.S.C. § 1392(d) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Finally, the court finds that the Georgia statutes do not violate the commerce clause and are not unconstitutionally vague.

Plaintiffs are Georgia Automobile Importers Compliance Association, Inc. (GAI-CA), an organization that represents companies involved in some manner with direct importation of foreign automobiles, the German Connection Ltd., & firm which acts as broker in the importation of these vehicles, and Thomas Baker, who purchased a direct import vehicle. A direct import vehicle1 is one that has been imported into this country by an independent entity, not by an authorized dealer of the manufacturer. These vehicles were not manufactured to comply with United States clean air and safety standards. (See stipulation of facts, 111, at 1).

Two federal statutes posit requirements for all vehicles that are manufactured in or imported into the United States. First, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7521, et seq. (1982) (CAA), prohibits the sale, delivery for introduction or introduction into commerce, or importation of a new motor vehicle or engine, unless that vehicle is covered by a certificate of conformity issued under regulations prescribed by the statute. Id. § 7522(a)(1). An exemption exists, however. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of the Treasury may provide by regulation “for deferring final determination as to admission and authorizing the delivery of [a new] motor vehicle or engine offered for import to the owner or consignee thereof upon such terms and conditions ... as ... appropriate to insure that ... [the] vehicle or engine will be brought into conformity with” the statute. Id. § 7522(b)(2). These regulations have been promulgated. 40 CFR 85.1501.09 (1985)

Additionally, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966,15 U.S.C. § 1392(a) (1982) (MVSA), provides that the Secretary of Transportation shall establish federal motor vehicle safety standards. No vehicle shall be manufactured, sold, offered for sale, delivered for introduction or introduced into commerce, or imported unless it is in conformity with applicable federal safety standards. Id.

An exemption from the safety standard requirements is provided for imported motor vehicles or equipment. The Secretaries of Transportation and the Treasury are permitted to provide for the importation of the vehicle or equipment “as may appear ... appropriate to insure that [the] ... vehicle or ... equipment will be brought into conformity with any applicable Federal ... safety standard.” Id. § 1397(b)(3). The respective secretaries have set up a procedure in accordance with this statute. 19 CFR 12.80 (1985).

The parties have stipulated that certain procedures must be followed to gamer the federal exemptions. The court has reviewed the stipulation and lists in a footnote those portions which are pertinent to the instant case.2

[355]*355The challenged Georgia statutes are O.C. G.A. §§ 40-2-25.1, 40-3-29.1, and 16-9-110 (1985). The statutes became effective on July 1, 1985. Section 40-2-25.1 provides that:

(a) No application shall be accepted and no certificate of registration shall be issued to any motor vehicle which was not manufactured to comply with federal emission and safety standards applicable to new motor vehicles as required by ... the “Clean Air Act”, ... and as required by ... the “National Traffic and Motor Safety Act,” ... unless and until the United States Customs Service or the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have certified that the motor vehicle complies with such applicable federal standards and unless all documents required by the Department of Revenue for processing an application for a certificate of registration or title are printed and filled out in the English language or are accompanied by an English translation.

O.C.G.A. § 40-2-25.1(a) (1985).3

Section 40-3-29.1 states that:

[356]*356[N]o application shall be accepted and no certificate of title shall be issued to any motor vehicle which was not manufactured to comply with federal emission and safety standards applicable to new motor vehicles as required by ... the “Clean Air Act” ... and as required by the “National Traffic and Motor Safety Act,” ... unless and until the United States Customs Service or the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have certified that the motor vehicle complies with such applicable federal standards and unless all documents required by the Department of Revenue for processing an application for a certificate of registration or title are printed and filled out in the English language or are accompanied by an English translation.

O.C.G.A. § 40-3-29.1 (1985).4

Section 16-9-110 provides that:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation knowingly to sell, transfer, or otherwise convey any motor vehicle which was not manufactured to comply with federal emission and safety standards applicable to new motor vehicles as required by ... the “Clean Air Act,” ... and the “National Traffic and Motor Safety Act,” ...

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Related

Myra Holladay Sims v. State Of Florida
832 F.2d 1558 (Eleventh Circuit, 1987)
GEORGIA AUTO. IMPORTERS COMPLIANCE v. Bowers
639 F. Supp. 352 (N.D. Georgia, 1986)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
639 F. Supp. 352, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/georgia-automobile-importers-compliance-assn-v-bowers-gand-1986.