Village of St. Paris v. Galluzzo

2014 Ohio 3260

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 25, 2014
• Docket: 2014-CA-4
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Village of St. Paris v. Galluzzo, 2014-Ohio-3260.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

VILLAGE OF ST. PARIS : : Appellate Case No. 2014-CA-4 Plaintiff-Appellee : : Trial Court Case No. 2013-TRD-2570 v. : : MICHAEL A. GALLUZZO : (Criminal Appeal from : (Champaign County Municipal Court) Defendant-Appellant : :

........... OPINION Rendered on the 25th day of July, 2014. ...........

JARED B. CHAMBERLAIN, Atty. Reg. #0090785, Chamberlain Law Group, 419 North Wayne Street, Piqua, Ohio 45356 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

MICHAEL A. GALLUZZO, Post Office Box 710, St. Paris, Ohio 43072 Defendant-Appellant, pro se

.............

FAIN, J.,

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Michael Galluzzo appeals from his conviction and sentence

for expired vehicle registration, in violation of Village of St. Paris Ordinance 71.01. Galluzzo 2

contends that the Champaign Municipal Court lacked both subject-matter and personal

jurisdiction. He also contends that the trial court erred by striking his demurrer. He further

contends that the ordinance infringes upon his constitutional right to travel. Galluzzo claims that

he is not required to register his automobile because it is a consumer good. He also argues that

the Village ordinance constitutes an unconstitutional “Bill of Pains and Penalties.” Finally, he

argues that the trial court improperly denied him access to its rulings, and improperly denied his

request for findings of fact.

{¶ 2} We conclude that the trial court did not err in striking the demurrer, because

demurrers are not recognized pleadings in Ohio. We further conclude that the trial court had

both subject-matter and personal jurisdiction in this matter. We find no infringement upon

Galluzzo’s right of travel. Galluzzo’s arguments that he is not required to register his vehicle,

and that the Village ordinance is a bill of pains and penalties are without merit. Finally, we

conclude that Galluzzo was not improperly denied access to rulings or findings of fact.

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.

I. The Course of Proceedings

{¶ 3} In December 2013, Police Officer Tim Taulbee stopped Galluzzo and cited him

for expired vehicle registration, in violation of St. Paris Village Ordinance 71.01, a minor

misdemeanor traffic charge. Prior to his arraignment, Galluzzo, acting pro se, filed a demurrer

to the complaint, in which he argued that the Municipal Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

The demurrer also argued that he was exercising his right to travel, and therefore did not commit

any act for which he could be arrested. Finally, he argued that his vehicle is a consumer good, 3

for which registration is not required.

{¶ 4} At his arraignment, Galluzzo declined to enter a plea, stating that he would enter

the demurrer instead of a plea. The trial court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The

matter was set for trial.

{¶ 5} Before trial, by written entry, the trial court struck Galluzzo’s demurrer. At the

commencement of the trial, Galluzzo again asserted his right to file a demurrer. The trial court

informed Galluzzo that the demurrer had been stricken, and the attendant motion to dismiss for

lack of jurisdiction had been overruled. The prosecution presented the testimony of Officer

Taulbee. Galluzzo was permitted to cross-examine the officer. Thereafter, the prosecution

rested. Galluzzo declined to call any witnesses, and did not testify on his own behalf. The trial

court permitted both parties to make closing arguments during which Galluzzo argued the trial

court’s lack of jurisdiction and also that he was not required to register his vehicle. He further

argued that the State of Ohio had prevented him from registering his vehicle, but did not present

any evidence in support thereof.

{¶ 6} The trial court filed a sentencing entry, in which it found the violation had been

proven. The court fined Galluzzo $100. Thereafter, Galluzzo filed a request for findings of fact

and conclusions of law pursuant to Civ.R. 52. The trial court denied the motion. Galluzzo filed

this pro se appeal.

II. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Striking Galluzo’s Demurrer

{¶ 7} For his First Assignment of Error, Galluzzo asserts the following:

AS A MATTER OF LAW, THE CORPORATE COURT COMMITTED 4

PLAIN ERROR WHEN THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY STRUCK THE

DEFENDANT’S COMMON LAW DEMURRER WITHOUT HOLDING THE

REQUIRED HEARING PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE 2941.62

WHERE A COMMON LAW DEMURRER EXISTS AS A CONSTITUTIONAL

VEHICLE TO CHALLENGE JURISDICTION AND FOR AND OTHER [SIC]

ATTACKS ON THE SUFFICIENCY OF AN ACCUSATORY PLEADING.

{¶ 8} Galluzzo appears to be making five arguments in support of this assignment of

error. First, he contends that the trial court erred by striking his demurrer. Next, he contends

that the trial court lacked both personal and subject-matter jurisdiction. Galluzzo also contends

that the ordinance and the prosecution for its violation infringe upon his constitutional right to

travel. He also claims that he cannot be required to register his vehicle, because it is a consumer

good. Finally, Galluzzo contends that the ordinance constitutes a “Bill of Pains and Penalties.”

{¶ 9} We begin with the issue of the demurrer. Galluzzo contends that he has the right

to file a common law demurrer to the charges. In support, he cites R.C. 2941.57, which permits

demurrers to indictments, and R.C. 2941.62, which requires a hearing thereon. The prosecution

contends that demurrers were abolished by Crim.R. 12(A).

{¶ 10} While Crim.R. 12(A) does abolish demurrers, it is not applicable in this case.

The Ohio Traffic Rules apply to all matters involving the “violations of a law, ordinance, or

regulation governing the operation and use of vehicles.” Crim.R. 1(C)(3); Traf.R. 1(A) and

2(A). Traf.R. 11 is the equivalent of Crim.R. 12(A), relating to pleadings and motions before

plea and trial. While it does not specifically abolish demurrers, it does not mention demurrers as

permissible pleadings. Traf.R. 11(A). In any event, demurrers “were previously abolished in 5

misdemeanor cases by R.C. 2937.04, and exceptions to the complaint that could have been made

thereunder were consolidated into a motion to dismiss the complaint.” 2 Katz & Giannelli,

Criminal Law, Section 47.2, fn. 2 (2009). We conclude that the trial court did not err in striking

the demurrer.

{¶ 11} We next turn to the question of jurisdiction. The decision of the Fifth District

Court of Appeals in City of Mount Vernon v. Young, 5th Dist. Knox No. 2005CA45,

2006-Ohio-3319, is instructive. In that case, the court stated:

The judicial power of the state is vested in “such other courts inferior to

the supreme court as may from time to time be established by law.” Section 1,

Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The constitution gives the General Assembly the

power to provide for municipal courts and their jurisdiction. Behrle v. Beam, 6

Ohio St.3d 41, 42, 451 N.E.2d 237 (1983). Municipal courts, as they exist today

in Ohio, were established in 1951 with the enactment of R.C. Chapter 1901. Id.,

State v. Spartz, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA99-11-026, 2000 WL 204280, * 1 (Feb.

22, 2000).

Generally, all Ohio courts have jurisdiction over violations of Ohio law

occurring in Ohio. See R.C. 2901.11(A). More to the point, municipal courts have

jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses.

Pursuant to R.C.1901.20, “The municipal court has jurisdiction of the

violation of any ordinance of any municipal corporation within its territory * * *

and of the violation of any misdemeanor committed within the limits of its

territory.” 6

***

The Ohio Constitution Section 3, art. 18, provides: “Municipalities shall

have authority to exercise all powers of local self-government and to adopt and

enforce within their limits such local police, sanitary and other similar regulations,

as are not in conflict with general laws.” The Ohio Supreme Court in Village of

Struthers v. Sokol, 108 Ohio St. 263, 140 N.E.2d 519 (1923) noted “ * * * by

virtue of section 3, art. 18, of the Ohio Constitution, as amended in 1912,

municipalities of the state have police power directly conferred by the people in all

matters of local self-government * * *.” Id. at 267, 140 N.E.2d 520-521.

“Promptly after the establishment of home rule in Ohio, municipal control over

municipal streets was clearly enunciated. Billings v. Cleveland Ry. Co., 92 Ohio

St. 478, 111 N.E. 155 (1915).” State v. Parker, 68 Ohio St.3d 283-284, 626

N.E.2d 106, 107 (1994). In Parker the Court reiterated “ * * * a municipality's

authority to regulate traffic comes from the Ohio Constitution * * *.” Id. at 285,

626 N.E.2d at 108.

Young at ¶ 54-58.

{¶ 12} R.C.1901.02 confers jurisdiction upon the Champaign County Municipal Court

for misdemeanors occurring within its territorial boundaries. Galluzzo failed to refute evidence

that the offense with which he was charged occurred in the Village of St. Paris, nor did he refute

the evidence that the Village is located within Champaign County. Thus, the Champaign County

Municipal Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the violation of the ordinance of the Village

of St. Paris. We conclude that the trial court properly exercised jurisdiction over the appellant 7

and the case at bar.

{¶ 13} Galluzzo next contends that R.C. 4503.11 is unconstitutional, because it prevents

him from exercising his right to travel by car.

{¶ 14} Statutes are presumed to be constitutional. State ex rel. Dickman v. Defenbacher,

164 Ohio St. 142, 128 N.E.2d 59 (1955). All reasonable doubts as to the constitutionality of a

statute must be resolved in its favor. Id. Courts have a duty to liberally construe statutes in

order to save them from constitutional infirmities. Wilson v. Kennedy, 151 Ohio St. 485, 492, 86

N.E.2d 722 (1949).

{¶ 15} This issue has been recently decided by the Tenth District Court of Appeals in

State v. Gunnell, 10th Dist. Franklin No 13AP-90, 2013-Ohio-3928, ¶ 13, wherein the court

stated:

[A challenge to R.C. 4503.11 - vehicle registration requirements - fails] as

“there is no fundamental right to drive a motor vehicle,” and “[a] burden on a

single mode of transportation simply does not implicate the right to interstate

travel.” Duncan v. Cone, 6th Cir. No. 00–5705, [2000 WL 1828089] (Dec. 7,

2000). See also Aziza El v. Southfield, E.D.Mich. No. 09–11569[,] [2010 WL

1063825] (Mar. 22, 2010) (“Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to

operate a motor vehicle and state licensure and registration requirements do not

violate an individual's constitutional right to travel”); McGhee v. McCall,

W.D.Mich. No. 1:10–cv–333[,] [2010 WL 2163818] (Apr. 19, 2010) (noting that

“federal courts uniformly reject suits by plaintiffs who seek vindication of their

nonexistent ‘right’ to operate motor vehicles without complying with state 8

licensing laws”).

{¶ 16} We agree.

{¶ 17} Galluzzo next contends that he cannot be required to register his vehicle, because

it is a consumer or household good, as defined by the Uniform Commercial Code. He fails to

cite, and we have not found, any controlling case or statutory law or Constitutional provision that

supports this argument. Whether or not Galluzo’s motor vehicle is deemed to be a consumer or

household good, it is subject to motor vehicle registration requirements.

{¶ 18} Finally, Galluzzo contends that the registration ordinance constitutes a

constitutionally prohibited Bill of Attainder or Bill of Pains and Penalties. In support, he argues

that “traffic statutes and ordinances, prosecuted under alleged criminal law, that proscribe

penalties before any trial or conviction, are in essence, bills of pains and penalties.” Appellant’s

Brief p. 16. He claims that because he was informed at arraignment that the offense carries up to

a $150 fine, his penalty was “proscribed * * * before any trial or conviction,” thus making it a bill

of pains and penalties. Id. at p. 17.

{¶ 19} A bill of attainder is “a law that legislatively determines guilt and inflicts

punishment upon an identifiable individual without provision of the protections of a judicial

trial.” Nixon v. Adm. of Gen. Serv., 433 U.S. 425, 468, 97 S.Ct. 2777, 53 L.Ed.2d 867, (1977).

A bill of pains and penalties is similar except that the “punishment is less severe.” Black’s Law

Dictionary 88 (5th Ed. 1983). Such bills are prohibited by the United States Constitution. U.S.

Constitution, Article I, Section 10, cl. 1.

{¶ 20} We conclude that this argument is without merit, because Galluzzo was afforded

the protection of a trial prior to the imposition of a punishment. The mere fact that the trial court 9

advised him of the possible penalties prior to trial does not change this conclusion.

{¶ 21} Galluzzo’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.

III. The Trial Court Did Not Deny Galluzo Access to its Rulings, and Was Not Required

to Make Findings of Fact or Conclusions of Law Pursuant to Civ.R. 52

{¶ 22} Galluzzo’s Second Assignment of Error states:

PURSUANT TO THE PRECEDING, THE CORPORATE COURT

COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR WHEN IT RUSHED TO JUDGMENT WHILE

WITHHOLDING JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND FILINGS FROM THE

DEFENDANT UNTIL AFTER THE HEARING AND PROHIBITING THE

DEFENDANT FROM SEEING AND ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES DURING

THE HEARING. THE CORPORATE COURT FURTHER DENIED THE

DEFENDANT FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW.

{¶ 23} Galluzzo contends that the trial court erred by denying him access to its decision

striking his demurrer, and by denying him the opportunity to address the issues raised therein at

trial. He further contends that the trial court erred by denying his Civ.R. 52 motion for findings

of fact.

{¶ 24} We first note that the record does not support a finding that the trial court denied

Galluzzo access to its decision striking his demurrer. Furthermore, Galluzzo was permitted to

reiterate all of the claims raised in his demurrer prior to the presentation of testimony. We find

no error.

{¶ 25} After the sentencing entry was filed, Galluzzo filed a request for findings of 10

fact and conclusions of law, pursuant to Civ.R.. 52, which the trial court denied. We find no

error; Civ.R. 52 is not applicable to criminal proceedings

{¶ 26} The Second Assignment of Error is overruled.

IV. Conclusion

{¶ 27} All of Galluzzo’s assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment of

the trial court is Affirmed.

FROELICH and WELBAUM, JJ., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Jared B. Chamberlain Michael A. Galluzzo Hon. Gil S. Weithman