State v. Rousseau

13 Fla. Supp. 110
CourtCircuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami-Dade County
DecidedOctober 30, 1958
DocketNo. 4633
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 13 Fla. Supp. 110 (State v. Rousseau) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami-Dade County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Rousseau, 13 Fla. Supp. 110 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1958).

Opinion

ROBERT H. ANDERSON, Circuit Judge.

The appellant, Ivan Ronald Rousseau, was convicted in the metropolitan court of Dade County (1) of unlawfully driving a vehicle upon'a public street in Dade County while under the influence of intoxicating liquor in violation of section 19.01-1 and (2) of unlawfully driving a vehicle in Dade County in such a manner as to indicate a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property in violation of section 19.03-1 of the Traffic Ordinance of Dade County. He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail of Dade County for the term of 48 hours and to pay a fine of $150 for the first offense and to pay a fine of $25 for the second. The offenses occurred in the unincorporated area of the county.

He timely filed a plea to the jurisdiction of the court and made a written demand for a jury trial, both of which were denied. He took an appeal from the judgment of conviction of the two charges and assigned as error the ruling of the court on his plea to the jurisdiction and on his demand for a jury trial.

At the outset there was some doubt in the court’s mind as to its jurisdiction to hear this appeal, but that was quickly dissipated. A tribunal always has jurisdiction to determine its own jurisdiction, Sun Insurance Co. v. Boyd (Fla.), 105 So. 2d 574; State ex rel. B. F. Goodrich Co. v. Trammell (1939), 140 Fla. 500, 192 So. 175, though few do it adversely. The Home Rule Charter provides in section 6.02 F that — “Appeals will lie to the circuit court of this county from any final judgment [of the metropolitan court].” This is not in conflict with the Florida Appellate Rules.

Turning then to the merits, we take up first the plea to the jurisdiction. The constitution, article VIII, section 11 (1), provides that — “The electors of Dade County, Florida, are granted power to adopt, revise, and amend from time to time a home rule charter of government for Dade County, Florida, under which the Board of County Commissioners of Dade County shall be the governing body.” This the electors did on May 21, 1957. In speaking of this action the Supreme Court, in Dade County v. Young Democratic Club (1958), 104 So. 2d 636, said at page 640—

“It was the people’s device for naming their governing officers — the county commissioners. In a democracy like ours, the people are the source of all law. Executives, legislators [112]*112and judges exist because it is impractical for the people to perform the functions they are clothed with. Every official act they perform is delegated to them by the people. The people can cut the grass from under their feet at will. It is true that devious, but not impossible, means have been provided for doing this, but after all is said, we are the people’s agents to administer government by the rules they prescribe ... in view of this reasoning, it does seem to me that it would be the quintessence of impudence for this court to strike down the provisions of the Charter in question.”

The home rule amendment to article VIII, section 11, of the constitution provides that the charter which the electors were given the power to adopt, revise, and amend — “(b) May grant full power and authority to the Board of County Commissioners of Dade County to pass ordinances relating to the affairs, property and government of Dade County and provide suitable penalties for the violation thereof; . .

Acting under this provision, the Dade County Commission on September 20, 1957, adopted “The Traffic Ordinance” (Ordinance 57-12). This is a comprehensive act dealing with a vast number of subjects concerning traffic. It contains a great many definitions relating to traffic matters. It provides for the enforcement of and obedience to traffic regulations, to accidents, to traffic control devices, stopping, standing or parking in specified places and restricted by prohibited areas, the rights and duties of pedestrians, regulation of bicycles, speed restrictions, turning movements and stopping, driving on the right side of the roadway, overtaking and passing, parking, and to incompetent drivers, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and careless driving.

It is perfectly apparent, therefore, that the Traffic Ordinance adopted by the board of county commissioners on September 20, 1957 related to “the affairs, property and government of Dade County” within the true meaning and intent of the constitution authorizing the electors to adopt a Home Rule Charter.

The charter so adopted, which has been expressly upheld by the Supreme Court (see Dade County v. Kelly, Sheriff (1957), 99 So. 2d 856; Chase v. Cowart (1958), 102 So. 2d 147; Dade County v. Young Democratic Club, supra), provides, inter alia, “A court is hereby established, the name of which shall be the metropolitan court” (section 6.01 A), and “The court shall have jurisdiction to try all cases arising under ordinances adopted by the board” (section 6.02 A), and “No person shall upon conviction for the violation of any county ordinance be punished by a fine exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail for more than one year [113]*113or by both such fine and imprisonment. If the offense is punishable 'by a fine exceeding $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for more than 60 days, the accused shall be entitled to a trial by jury upon demand” (section 6.02 D).

The constitution, article VIII, section 11 (f), provides that the home rule charter — “ .... may create new courts . . . with jurisdiction to try all offenses against ordinances passed by the Board of County Commissioners of Dade County and none of the other courts provided for by this constitution or by general law shall have original jurisdiction to try such offenses, . . .”

The county commissioners on September 25, 1957 adopted ordinance 57-13, entitled “An Ordinance Implementing Charter Establishment of Metropolitan Court. . .” It provides in section 3.02—

“Section 3.02. Jurisdiction. The court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to try all cases arising under ordinances adopted by the commission . . . Each judge, sitting alone, may exercise all the power and jurisdiction of the court, except that the judges shall adopt uniform rules of procedure by a majority vote.”

The constitution does not expressly give the criminal court of record jurisdiction of all criminal cases. No other court, in Dade County may try the offenses of which the appellant was convicted (Traffic Ordinance 57-12, section 26.02).

It is, therefore, apparent that the appellant’s plea to the jurisdiction was not well taken and the trial judge was correct in overruling it.

It is equally clear that the metropolitan court was correct in denying the defendant’s request for a jury trial. As above pointed out, the Home Rule Charter provides in section 6.02 D—

“No person shall upon conviction for the violation of any county ordinance be punished by a fine exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail for more than one year or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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Related

State v. McIntosh
15 Fla. Supp. 75 (Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, 1959)
State v. Campbell
14 Fla. Supp. 124 (Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, 1958)
State v. Zito
13 Fla. Supp. 141 (Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, 1958)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
13 Fla. Supp. 110, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-rousseau-flacirct11mia-1958.