State v. Bahl

242 N.W.2d 298, 1976 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 1012
Supreme Court of Iowa·Decided May 19, 1976·No. 58219·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinion

HARRIS, Justice.

Defendant’s appeal from a manslaughter conviction challenges a number of pretrial and trial rulings. We affirm the' trial court.

*300 Lyman David Wiseman (decedent) died following the crash of a small airplane in which he was a passenger. The plane was piloted by Gregory John Bahl (defendant). Decedent and defendant were friends; both were employed in an industrial plant near Fort Madison in Lee County.

On the afternoon in question, July 12, 1974, the two had gone to three taverns before deciding to go for an airplane ride. They flew from the Fort Madison airport, returning once prior to the crash. On the second flight they flew to the industrial plant where they worked. After numerous passes over or near the plant the wings of the craft caught in highline wires causing the plane to crash near the plant. Defendant and decedent were taken to a local hospital. Decedent, was transferred that night to an Iowa City hospital where he died. Other facts can more appropriately be related in connection with specific assignments.

I. Defendant was charged with, and convicted of, manslaughter in violation of § 690.10, The Code. That section prescribes the punishment for the offense but does not define it. We have therefore adhered to the common-law definition of manslaughter which describes the offense as the unlawful killing of another without malice, expressed or implied. State v. Shimon, 182 N.W.2d 113, 114 (Iowa 1970).

“ * * * [0]ur cases acknowledge manslaughter can be committed by operating a motor vehicle in either of two ways. Manslaughter may result from the reckless operation of a motor vehicle. (Authorities). It may result from operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. (Authority).” (Emphasis added.) State v. Stewart, 223 N.W.2d 250, 252 (Iowa 1974). It can also be committed through flying an aircraft. 2A C.J.S. Aeronautics & Aerospace § 287, p. 427.

Section 328.41, The Code, provides in part:

“It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an aircraft in the air space above this state or on the ground or water within this state, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotics, or other habit-forming drug, or to operate an aircraft in the air space above this state or on the ground or water within this state in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.”

Defendant contends the section is unconstitutional, claiming it violates Article III, § 29 of the Iowa Constitution which provides that “[e]very.act shall embrace but one subject, and matters properly connected therewith; which subject shall be expressed in the title. * * *.”

Defendant’s challenge under this provision is twofold. He insists § 328.41 covers more than one subject. He also asserts the subjects contained in the section are not expressed in the title of the act. Defendant’s third claim of unconstitutionality is derived from his assertion § 328.41 bases a criminal violation on mere general negligence. In all three constitutional challenges defendant “ * ⅜ * faces the heavy burden of overcoming the presumption of constitutionality which legislative acts carry. (Authority).” Green v. City of Cascade, 231 N.W.2d 882, 886 (Iowa 1975).

In asserting § 328.41 covers more than one subject defendant claims there are two: (1) the illegality of operating an aircraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and drugs, and (2) the illegality of operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner.

“We have long been committed to the principle that [Article III, § 29, Iowa Constitution] should be given liberal construction to permit one act to embrace all matters reasonably connected with the subject expressed in the title and not utterly incongruous thereto. * * *." Webster Realty Company v. City of Fort Dodge, 174 N.W.2d 413, 418 (Iowa 1970). See Long v. Board of Supervisors, 258 Iowa 1278, 1283, 142 N.W.2d 378, 381 (1966).

The subject of Acts of the 52nd G.A., 1947 Regular Session, ch. 181, § 1, was the proscription of the dangerous operation of aircraft. We believe defendant’s distinc *301 tion between the two “subjects” of this act is imaginary. It was entirely reasonable for the legislature to group together such dangerous operation, whether it be by drunken pilots or careless ones. We believe the act embraces but one subject.

In claiming the title to the act does not express the subject matter, defendant points to the editorial name of chapter 328, The Code. He cites the words “aeronautics commission”, words given in The Iowa Code Annotated. We note the Code editor lists only the word “aeronautics” as the name for chapter 328 and the words “operating recklessly or while intoxicated” for § 328.41. But the question is to be determined on the basis of the title of the act. It is unaffected by the name given the Code chapter or section. Green, supra; Webster Realty Company, supra; State v. Nickelson, 169 N.W.2d 832, 835 (Iowa 1969).

The act itself, Acts of the 52nd G.A., 1947 Regular Session, ch. 181, § 1, was entitled “Flying While Intoxicated.” It was officially described as “An Act relating to the flight of aircraft over lands and waters of the state and the prohibiting of operation of aircraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquors or habit-forming drugs, or in a careless or reckless manner.” This is nearly as explicit as the act itself and certainly expresses the subject of it. The constitutional mandate of Article III, § 29 was met. Defendant’s arguments to the contrary are without merit.

We turn then to defendant’s separate contention § 328.41 is unconstitutional because it bases a criminal violation on mere general negligence. In this contention defendant cites Central City v. Eddy, 173 N.W.2d 582 (Iowa 1970) and City of Vinton v. Engledow, 258 Iowa 861, 140 N.W.2d 857 (1966). Defendant’s reliance on Eddy and Engledow is misplaced.

Engledow was an appeal from a traffic conviction under a city ordinance. The ordinance allowed a finding of guilt if the driver was found either to be negligent or reckless. A state statute (§ 5028, The Code, 1931) had once provided criminal punishment for negligent driving but had been repealed. In Engledow a majority of the court held, because state statutes had preempted the field of reckless driving, the municipal ordinance was invalid. 258 Iowa at 868, 140 N.W.2d at 862. No other constitutional issue was considered.

Eddy

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State v. Bahl, 242 N.W.2d 298, 1976 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 1012 (iowa 1976).

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