Interstate Towing Ass'n, Inc. v. Cincinnati

799 F. Supp. 805, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14518, 1992 WL 232384
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJune 15, 1992
DocketNo. C-1-90-698
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 799 F. Supp. 805 (Interstate Towing Ass'n, Inc. v. Cincinnati) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Interstate Towing Ass'n, Inc. v. Cincinnati, 799 F. Supp. 805, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14518, 1992 WL 232384 (S.D. Ohio 1992).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

SPIEGEL, District Judge.

The plaintiffs allege that Chapter 869 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, as applied to consensual tows by towing firms whose primary place of business is located outside the City of Cincinnati, has been preempted by federal law, places an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce in violation of the Commerce Clause, is arbitrary and unreasonable in violation of the Due Process Clause, and is discriminatory in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. Chapter 869 regulates towing services provided within the City of Cincinnati.

[807]*807This Court conducted a trial in this matter on May 13, 1992. For the reasons set forth below, the Court concludes that the Cincinnati towing ordinance is not unconstitutional on its face or as applied to these plaintiffs.

In rendering our decision on the merits of this matter, we have considered the testimony and exhibits offered at trial, the plaintiffs’ and the defendants’ proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the plaintiffs’ and the defendants’ supplemental proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. In weighing the testimony of the witnesses, we considered each witness’ relationship to the plaintiff or the defendant; their interest, if any, in the outcome of the trial; their opportunity to observe or acquire knowledge concerning the facts about which they testified; and the extent to which they were supported or contradicted by other credible evidence.

Pursuant to Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, we set forth our findings of fact and conclusions of law as follows:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiff Interstate Towing Association (“ITA”) is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of automotive towing firms holding certificates of authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission; Plaintiff Towing and Recovery Association of Kentucky (“TRAK”) is a non-profit trade organization representing the interests of automotive towing firms in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; Plaintiff Tri-State Towing Association is a non-profit trade organization representing the interests of automotive towing firms in the tristate area of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio; Plaintiff Al’s Towing is an automotive towing business located in Covington, Kentucky.

2. The City of Cincinnati is a municipal corporation organized and existing under the constitution and laws of the State of Ohio.

3. Cincinnati City Council enacted Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 869 which regulates the business of using a wrecker or other vehicle to remove parked or disabled motor vehicles from any street or property located in the City of Cincinnati. Cincinnati Municipal Code § 869-7.

4. Chapter 869 requires a towing operator to obtain a license (called a “T-sticker”) in order to engage in the business of towing vehicles from Cincinnati streets or property.1 Cincinnati Municipal Code § 869-7.

5. The ordinance exempts towing operators whose place of business is more than twenty-five miles outside the Cincinnati corporate limits and are subject to and have complied with the United States Department of Transportation safety regulations. Cincinnati Municipal Code § 869-7. The ordinance further exempts towing operators who use their wreckers exclusively for towing or moving their own property. Cincinnati Municipal Code § 869-7.

6. To obtain a T-sticker, an applicant must: (a) file an application; (b) furnish proof of not less than $300,000 of general liability insurance which contains an endorsement providing 10 days notice by the insurer to the City of Cincinnati prior to any material change or cancellation; (c) tender all applicant vehicles to the City impound yard for inspection; (d) post a $5000 bond; (e) pay an $80 per wrecker fee; and (f) comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to the ordinance.

[808]*8087. Each T-sticker is valid for one year.

8. To successfully complete the application process, the applicant must bring the tow truck to the Cincinnati impoundment facility for a vehicle and equipment inspection before the T-sticker can be placed on the tow truck windshield.

9. To obtain a T-sticker, an applicant must incur expenses for the per truck license fee, equipment down-time, driver time, fuel expense, administrative and clerical labor, and the cost of the bond.2

10. In addition to the Cincinnati ordinance, there are Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (“FMCSRs”), 49 C.F.R. 387 and 390-399.

11. The FMCSRs apply to for-hire motor carriers transporting property in interstate commerce which have a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more. 49 C.F.R. § 387.3(a) and (c) (1991).

12. All tow trucks subject to the FMCSRs must be inspected at least annually by an inspector qualified pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 and inspected daily pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 396.11.

13. Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 387 motor carriers (including tow trucks) must maintain at least $750,000 in liability insurance.

14. To obtain a T-sticker, those tow truck operators not exempt from the Cincinnati ordinance must comply with the ordinance regardless of whether or not they comply with the FMCSRs.

15. In establishing the twenty-five mile boundary, the City reasoned that: (a) the Cincinnati T-sticker requirement must have some outer geographic boundary; (b) towing firms located farther away from the City are less likely to tow vehicles from Cincinnati property; and (c) towing firms located more than twenty-five miles outside the City are more likely to travel to Cincinnati on an interstate highway where they will be subject to inspection at state weigh stations enforcing the FMCSRs. Tow operators within the twenty-five mile boundary, even if they travel briefly by interstate highway, are less likely to pass a state inspection station.

16. The plaintiffs in this action challenge the constitutionality of Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 869 as it applies to consensual towing services3 performed by towing firms whose primary business operations are located outside the City of Cincinnati but within twenty-five miles of the city limits.

17. The plaintiffs admit that Chapter 869 is constitutional as applied to tow truck operators whose business is located within the City, operators who perform non-consensual tows within the City (e.g. where vehicles are impounded), and tow operators on the City’s police rotation.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

I. Federal Preemption

1.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
799 F. Supp. 805, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14518, 1992 WL 232384, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/interstate-towing-assn-inc-v-cincinnati-ohsd-1992.