People v. Litvin

19 N.W.2d 485, 312 Mich. 57, 1945 Mich. LEXIS 296
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 29, 1945
DocketDocket No. 71, Calendar No. 42,806.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 19 N.W.2d 485 (People v. Litvin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Litvin, 19 N.W.2d 485, 312 Mich. 57, 1945 Mich. LEXIS 296 (Mich. 1945).

Opinion

Sharpe, J.

Defendant, Herman Litvin, was tried and convicted in tbe recorder’s court for tbe city of Detroit for violation of Detroit compiled ordinances, 1936, cbap. 74, § 15 (c), wbicb reads as follows :

*60 “No licensee shall sublet, sublease or otherwise permit .any parking lot or any portion thereof to be used by any vendor of goods, wares or merchandise or services for the conduct of such vendor’s business unless the same is conducted in a permanent building or structure.”

Defendant was a licensed parking-lot operator whose lot was located at the corner of Randolph street and Monroe avenue in Detroit. He permitted a portion of his parking lot to be used by hawkers, vendors, and pitchmen. After conviction, defendant removed the cause to the circuit court of Wayne county by certiorari, alleging that the ordinance was. invalid and unconstitutional.

The judge of the recorder’s court filed a return in which it was stated:

“That the testimony showed that the automobiles of patrons parked on the parking lot were generally left unlocked, with the keys in the car, and that such peddlers, vendors and merchants and prospective customers had ready and easy access to such cars.

“Testimony further showed that there was no barrier or fence between the portion of the parking lot made use of by the peddlers and vendors and that portion of the lot made use of for the parking of cars.

“Testimony further showed that the peddlers attracted all kinds and types of people, creating a serious police problem by crowding the parking lot and the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot, thus seriously impeding pedestrian traffic.

“Testimony further showed that for the year 1943, 626 automobiles were stolen from parking lots in the city of Detroit, and that on October 8, 1943, an Olds coupe, bearing license JGr 9069, was stolen from the parking lot operated by the defendant Litvin, at the foregoing location, Monroe and Randolph.

*61 ‘ ‘ Testimony further showed that many complaints have been made to the police department by reason of the theft of personal property from automobiles and that parking lot operators disavow any liability for the theft of personal property from parked automobiles.

“Testimony further showed that large crowds congregated in this parking lot which made it easy for pickpockets to ply their trade, thus causing a serious police problem.

“Testimony further showed that the ordinances prohibiting the use of parking lots for the sale of merchandise by peddlers and vendors was passed in order to prevent unauthorized persons from easy, access to parking lots, in order to prevent congestion on sidewalks, thus impeding pedestrian traffic; to prevent pickpockets from plying, their trade among crowds, and in order to enable parking lot operators to better control and operate their parking lots, and that the ordinance was necessary for the proper regulation and operation of parking lots.”

The trial court filed an opinion in which he said:

• ‘ ‘ The ordinance here undertakes to prohibit recognized legitimate businesses on private property and I don’t think that this is in the power of the common council.”

Subsequently, an order was entered reversing the judgment of conviction in the recorder’s court and discharging the defendant.

' Plaintiff, upon leave being granted, appeals and urges that the enactment of Detroit compiled ordinances,. 1936, chap. 74, § 15 (e), constitutes a reasonable and proper exercise of the police power of the municipality and does not violate section 1 of the Fourteenth, amendment to the Federal Constitution or article 2, § 16, of the State Constitution; that the *62 above section of the ordinance does not constitute an unreasonable and arbitrary classification; and that the finding of unreasonableness by the trial court is not justified by -the record.

Defendant urges that the particular section of the ordinance in question here is unconstitutional as it imposes an unreasonable regulation upon a lawful private business under the guise of the general police powers.

The city of Detroit is a home rule city. In People v. Sell, 310 Mich. 305, we said:

“The home rule city act (Act No. 279, §§ 4 — i, 4-j, Pub. Acts 1909, as added by Act No. 126, Pub. Acts 1929, and as amended by Act No. 283, Pub. Acts 1941 [Comp. Laws Supp. 1943, § 2239, 1 Comp. Laws 1929, §2240, Stat. Ann. 1944 Cum. Supp. § 5.2082, Stat. Ann. § 5.2083]) provides in part:

‘ ‘ ‘ Sec. 4-i. Each city may in its charter provide: #

“ ‘ (4) For the regulation of trades, occupations and amusements within its boundaries, not inconsistent with State and Federal laws, and for the prohibition of such trades, occupations and amusements as are detrimental to the health, morals or welfare of its inhabitants.’

“ ‘Sec. 4-j. Each city may in its charter provide: # # #

.“ ‘(3) For the exercise of all municipal powers in the management and control of municipal property and in the administration of the municipal government, whether such powers be expressly enumerated or not; for any act to advance the interests of the city, the good government and prosperity of the municipality and its inhabitants- and through its regularly constituted authority to pass all laws and ordinances relating to its municipal concerns subject to the Constitution and general laws of this State.’ ”

*63 Title 3, chap. 1, § 12, of the charter of the city of Detroit, as amended, provides:

“The legislative powers and duties of the council shall be as follows: * * *

“(d) To enact ordinances to carry into effect the powers conferred and the duties imposed upon, the' city by the Constitution and laws of the-State, to make' operative the provisions of this charter, and to promote the general peace, health, safety, welfare, and good government of the city; and to provide for the enforcement of such ordinances and the punishment of violations thereof. * * *

“(n) To provide for the regulation of trades, occupations and amusements and to provide for the prohibition of such trades, occupations and amusements as are detrimental to the health, morals or welfare of its inhabitants, and for the regulation and restriction of the territory within which intoxicating liquors are sold or manufactured, if not prohibited by law: Provided, that the council -shall by ordinance provide for the regulating, licensing and bonding of private detectives and private detective agencies.” ■ ' '

In Cady v. City of Detroit, 289 Mich. 499, 504, we said:

‘ ‘ The sovereign power of the State includes protection of the safety, health, morals, prosperity, comfort, convenience and welfare of the public, or any substantial part of the public. Schmidinger v. City of Chicago, 226 U. S. 578 (33 Sup. Ct. 182, 57 L. Ed. 364, Ann. Cas.

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Bluebook (online)
19 N.W.2d 485, 312 Mich. 57, 1945 Mich. LEXIS 296, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-litvin-mich-1945.