John Latham and Rachel Greene v. John J. Tynan, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, State of Connecticut

435 F.2d 1248, 1970 U.S. App. LEXIS 5926

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Decided: December 16, 1970
• Docket: 34668_1
• Status: Published

Opinions

DANAHER, Senior Circuit Judge:

Appellants, predicating their action upon 42 U.S.C. § 1983, asked that a three-judge district court be convened to declare that the Connecticut Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act¹ is unconstitutional, and thereupon that the court order a permanent injunction restraining the Commissioner of Motor Vehides from suspending their right to operate and register motor vehicles. District Judge Clarie ruled that the plaintiffs’ claims of unconstitutionality are without merit, and that no substantial federal constitutional question had been raised for adjudication. Accordingly, he entered his order denying the application for the convening of a three-judge court, and the action was dismissed. We are satisfied that there was no error, and we affirm.

Section 14-117(b) of the Act commands that the commissioner within ninety days after receipt of a report of a motor vehicle accident shall suspend² the license of each operator and all registrations of each owner of a motor vehicle in any manner involved in that accident, “unless such operator or owner or both deposit security” in a sum as determined by the commissioner, pursuant to § 14-117(a). Here, the Commissioner required Latham to deposit such security in the amount of $900. Greene, a participant in an unrelated accident, was required to deposit security in the amount of $3,100. Latham and Greene contend that they were not at fault in such accidents and that because of their poverty they are unable to provide the security prescribed by the Commissioner.

They argue that the pertinent Connecticut statutes are unconstitutional as arbitrarily discriminatory as to nonculpable uninsured motorists, like themselves and all other similarly situated who are too poor to post security deposits, and they thus are denied equal protection of the laws. Further, they submit that they are deprived of their property without due process of law in that they are penalized by loss of rights to register and operate motor vehicles without an opportunity to be heard,³ and the statutes as administered constitute a bill of attainder, penalizing them without the safeguards of judicial process.

I.

However vexatious the question in some circumstances,⁴ there would now seem to be no question that the appellants have properly here sought review. In Schackman v. Arnebergh, 387 U.S. 427, 87 S.Ct. 1622, 18 L.Ed.2d 865 (1967), the Supreme Court ruled flatly:

Appellants seek review by this Court of the refusal by the District Court to convene a three-judge District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281-2284. We have held that such review is available in the Court of Appeals, Idle-wild Bon Voyage Liquor Corp. v. Epstein, 370 U.S. 713, 82 S.Ct. 1294, 8 L.Ed.2d 794, and not in this Court, Buchanan v. Rhodes, 385 U.S. 3, 87 S.Ct. 33, 17 L.Ed.2d 3.

Thus specifically the Court interpreted its holding in Idlewild Liquor Corp. v. Epstein, 370 U.S. 713, 715, 82 S.Ct. 1294, 1296, 8 L.Ed.2d 794 (1962), where it was pointed out that the District Court's inquiry is appropriately limited to “determining whether the constitutional question raised is substantial, whether the complaint at least formally alleges a basis for equitable relief, and whether the case presented otherwise comes within the requirements of the three-judge statute.”

In Buchanan v. Rhodes, supra, the Court had granted a motion to dismiss, leaving review, obviously, to the Court of Appeals. Again, in Wilson v. City of Port Lavaca, Tex., 391 U.S. 352, 88 S.Ct. 1502, 20 L.Ed.2d 636 (1968), the Court pointed out that when a “single Judge declines to convene a three-judge Court and denies relief: an appeal lies to the appropriate United States Court of Appeals, and not to this Court. Schackman v. Arnebergh, 387 U.S. 427, 87 S.Ct. 1622, 18 L.Ed.2d 865.”

II.

Since the complaint on its face disclosed to Judge Clarie the absence of a substantial federal claim, he pereeived that a three-judge court was not required.⁵ Moreover, various decisions of the Supreme Court supported the constitutional authority of the State to act in the interest of public safety. Mr. Justice Frankfurter observed that the police power of a State, “especially when exerted for the protection of life and limb, is as pervasive as any of the reserved powers of the States and should be respected unless there is a clear collision with a national law which has the right of way under the Supremacy Clause of Article VI.”⁶ He recognized that the financial responsibility laws of the various States “are intended to discourage careless driving or to mitigate its consequences by requiring as a condition of licensing or registration * * * the posting of security to cover possible liability for a past accident, or the filing of an insurance policy or other proof of ability to respond to damages in the future.” ⁷

The theme thus treated reflects the long-asserted position of Connecticut:

The purpose of the legislature in enacting the financial responsibility provisions of the motor vehicle law was to keep off our highways the financially irresponsible owner or operator of an automobile who cannot respond in damages for the injuries he may inflict, and to require him, as a condition for securing or retaining a registration or an operator’s license, to furnish adequate means of satisfying possible claims against him. It is remedial legislation and must be given a construction sufficiently liberal to accomplish its purpose.⁸

And so in state after state, the courts have found⁹ that underlying the financial responsibility statutes is the valid legislative purpose to promote safety on the highways and financial responsibility on account of damages done by motor vehicles and their operators. Conneeticut, had it chosen to do so as a matter of policy, could have conditioned the licensing to operate and the registration of motor vehicles only upon compliance with some compulsory insurance requirement. Instead, Connecticut has adopted the modified form of protection here challenged. Although some may not be in position after the occurrence of an accident to make the required deposits and so may not enjoy the opportunity of driving on the public highways, it is equally true that many cannot afford even to purchase an automobile. When Judge Clarie here perceived no denial of equal protection of the laws and no failure to afford due process in the circumstances shown, we think he correctly discerned that there had been presented no substantial constitutional question. Accordingly he properly¹⁰ denied the motion that a three-judge court be convened.

III.

We find no merit in appellants’ contention that requiring security here operated as a bill of attainder. The requirement is not at all a penalty. The State has imposed conditions which in the first place must be satisfied even be-for any resident may lawfully register for use or operate a motor vehicle upon the State’s highways. When a driver shall have demonstrated his fitness qualifications and shall have paid the required fee, an operator’s license may be issued to him. So the State likewise requires the payment of registration fees not only for revenue purposes in administering its laws, but in furtherance of identification of the owner of vehicles and of the vehicles themselves.¹¹ Not here or elsewhere has it been advanced that those too poor to pay such fees.,,shall nevertheless receive the State’s permission to operate or to register a motor vehicle.

Here the State merely has taken one further step. Its statutes have simply prescribed in the respects considered, certain additional pre-conditions for continued use of the State’s highways, and they are in no sense penal within the ambit of a bill of attainder. The evident purpose of Connecticut’s statutes so clearly appears that no merit can be perceived in appellants’ final claim.¹²

Affirmed.

1 . Sections 14-113 through 14-133, Connecticut General Statutes Annotated (1958).

2 . With certain exceptions specified in § 14-119, not here pertinent.

3 . Section 14-114 (a) specifically prohibits the commissioner from making a determination as to fault or liability.

Section 14-114 (b) provides that any order of the commissioner under the provisions of the pertinent sections shall be subject to prompt review by appeal to the court of common pleas. That court is empowered to determine whether the filing of the appeal shall operate as a stay of the commissioner’s order and may modify, or affirm or reverse the order in whole or in part.

Sniadaeli v. Family Finance Corp.. 395 U.S. 337, 89 S.Ct. 1820, 23 L.Ed.2d 349 (1969), cited by the appellants, is readily distinguishable. In that case there was no “situation requiring special protection to a state,” id. at 339, 89 S.Ct. at 1821, 23 L.Ed.2d 349. Accordingly the prejudgment garnishment of a debtor’s wages at the instance of a private creditor was condemned where the sole opportunity to be heard came after the taking. Here, there has been no showing that the appellants had even sought whatever relief might have been afforded pursuant to Section ] 4-114 (b), supra.

4 . Swift & Co. v. Wickham, 382 U.S. Ill, 116, 86 S.Ct. 258, 15 L.Ed.2d 194 (1965), overruling Kesler v. Dept. of Public Safety, 369 U.S. 153, 82 S.Ct. 807, 7 L.Ed.2d 641 (1962); compare Heaney v. Allen. 425 F.2d 869 (2 Cir. 1970); Gold v. Lomenzo, 425 F.2d 959 (2 Cir. 1970); and Miller v. New York Stock Exchange, 425 F.2d 1074 (2 Cir.), cert. denied 398 U.S. 905, 90 S.Ct. 1696, 26 D.Ed.2d 64 (1970). And see White, X, concurring in Gunn v. University Committee, 399 U.S. 383, 391, 90 S.Ct. 2013, 26 L.Ed.2d 684 (1970)..

5 . Ex parte Poresky, 290 U.S. 30, 32, 54 S.Ct. 3, 78 L.Ed. 152 (1933) ; compare Bailey v. Patterson. 369 U.S. 31, 33, 82 S.Ct. 549, 7 L.Ed.2d 512 (1962).

6 . No “national law” was here involved as in Kesler v. Dept. of Public Safety, 369 U.S. 153, 172, 82 S.Ct. 807, 819, 7 L.Ed.2d 641 (1962) overruled on other grounds, Swift & Co. v. Wickham, supra, n. 4, 382 U.S. at 116, 86 S.Ct. 258, 15 L.Ed.2d 194. Compare Perez v. Campbell, 421 F.2d 619 (9 Cir., Jan. 26, 1970). cert. granted 400 U.S. 818, 91 S.Ct. 71, 27 L.Ed.2d 45, Oct. 13, 1970, where judgment debtors invoked Section 17 of the Bankruptcy Act, only to find conflict with the Arizona licensing and registration act.

7 . Kesler v. Dept. of Public Safety, supra, n. 6, 369 U.S. at 158-159, 82 S.Ct. at 811, 7 L.Ed.2d 641. The opinion traces the development of comparable statutes in various States including, particularly at 167, n. 31, the very statutes comprising the Connecticut Financial Responsibility Act.

8 . Dempsey v. Tynan, 143 Conn. 202, 208, 120 A.2d 700, 703 (1956).

Directly reflecting and recognizing Connecticut policy is Perez v. Tynan, D.C., 307 F.Supp. 1235 (1969), wherein the plaintiffs raised points presented here. The Perez counsel, appearing in behalf of Tolland-Windham Legal Assistance Program, Inc., thereafter instituted the instant action.

As to State policy in Massachusetts see MacQuarrie v. McLaughlin, 294 F.Supp. 176 (D.Mass.1968), affirmed 394 U.S. 456, 89 S.Ct. 1224, 22 L.Ed.2d 417 (1969).

9 . See, e. g., Escobedo v. State Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 35 Cal.2d 870. 222 P.2d 1, 6 (1950).

10 . See Part I, supra, and Perez v. Tynan, supra, n. 8. Now pending in the Supreme Court in Docket No. 495, Gaytan v. Cassidy, 39 L.W. 3109, is a motion to dismiss or affirm filed by the Attorney General of Texas, in an appeal from denial of relief by a three-judge court in the Western District of Texas, April 10, 1970, 317 F.Supp. 46. Cf. Perez v. Campbell, supra, n. 6.

11 . Dempsey v. Tynan, supra, n. 8.

12 . Trop v. Dulles. 356 U.S. 86, 95-96, 78 S.Ct. 590, 2 L.Ed.2d 630 (1958); cf. Garner v. Los Angeles Board, 341 U.S. 716, 722, 71 S.Ct. 909, 95 L.Ed. 1317 (1951).