Case Title: City of Stamford v. Ballard

Citation: 344 S.W.2d 861

Docket Number: A-8141

State: texas

Court: Texas Supreme Court

Date: 1961-03-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
344 S.W.2d 861 (1961) CITY OF STAMFORD et al., Appellants, v. J. R. BALLARD et al., Appellees. No. A-8141. Supreme Court of Texas. March 29, 1961. Jack W. Watson, Stamford, for appellants. Curtis F. Pogue, Ratliff & Ratliff, Haskell, for appellees. NORVELL, Justice. This is a plea of privilege case involving exception 4 of Article 1995, Vernon's Ann. Tex.Stats. Stockyards National Bank v. Maples, 127 Tex. 633, 95 S.W.2d 1300. J. R. McDaniel is the "resident defendant" and the City of Stamford is the "nonresident defendant." The plaintiffs J. R. Ballard and others prayed for judgment declaring that ordinance No. 364 of the City of Stamford was invalid upon the premise that it was contrary to the Water Safety Act, Article 1722a, Vernon's Ann.Pen.Code. The trial court overruled the pleas of privilege filed by McDaniel and the city. In a tentative opinion the Court of Civil Appeals sustained the action of the trial court in overruling McDaniel's plea inasmuch as he was a resident of Haskell County where the suit was filed, but sustained the city's plea upon the holding that no cause of action was proved against McDaniel, the resident defendant. This being a case which could not reach this Court by writ of error, State of Texas v. Wynn, 157 Tex. 200, 301 S.W.2d 76, and the controlling question being one of general importance throughout various sections of the State, the Court of Civil Appeals (pending rehearing) certified the following determining question to this Court in accordance with the provisions of Rule 461, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. We answer the question in the negative for the following reasons: Plaintiffs, J. R. Ballard and others sued J. R. McDaniel, a resident of Haskell County and the City of Stamford which "in the contemplation of the venue laws of this state * * * is a resident of and is domiciled in (Jones) County, where its governmental functions are exercised." City of Grand Prairie v. State ex rel. Crouch, Tex.Civ.App., 266 S.W.2d 184, 187, no wr. hist. McDaniel is employed by the city as a "Lake Officer" of the City of *862 Stamford and is attempting to collect the "inspection fees" provided for by ordinance No. 364 from Ballard and others who own some fifty boats which they rent to various persons who wish to use them for pleasure purposes on Lake Stamford. The lake is in Haskell County but has been annexed to the City of Stamford. It constitutes the municipal water supply for the city and is a recreational and boating center. Ordinance No. 364 contains detailed provisions as to the inspection of boats to be used on Lake Stamford and prohibits the operation of a boat upon the lake unless it has been inspected by the Lake Officer. It is made the duty of the Lake Officer to determine "whether said boat or craft is seaworthy or safe for use by person or persons upon Lake Stamford without danger to body or property." Provision is also made for testing the boat for seaworthiness, ascertainment of motor horsepower, fixing of proper passenger carrying capacities, use limitations and the like. A charge for such inspections is made, consisting of $5 for all boats except "rent boats", that is, craft kept on the lake for rental purposes. The inspection charge for the latter class of boats is fixed at $18 per year, and this is the exaction which plaintiffs are resisting. Section 4 of the Water Safety Act, Article 1722a, § 4, Vernon's Ann.Pen.Code, is a registration statute and provides for numbering of motorboats, registration thereof and the issuance to the owner of the boat of a "Certificate of Number stating the number awarded to the motorboat and the name and address of the owner." In the event of the sale of the boat, provision is made for the transfer of the Certificate of Number to the new owner. Section 17 of the Act, Article 1722a, § 17, Vernon's Ann.Pen.Code, provides for fees to be charged for the issuance of original or renewal Certificates of Number. This section contains a provision that: Section 13(a) of the Act, Article 1722a, § 13(a), Vernon's Ann.Pen.Code, provides that: We think the present case is clearly distinguishable from City of Corpus Christi v. Texas Driverless Co., Tex.Civ.App., 187 S.W.2d 607; Id., 144 Tex. 288, 190 S.W.2d 484, wherein both the Court of Civil Appeals and this Court treated the fee sought to be levied upon driverless automobiles vgfas a "license fee" and hence invalid. The provisions of the Water Safety Act which plaintiffs say operate to nullify the city ordinance relate strictly to registration of motorboats and the issuance of evidences of title. Such provisions do not comprehend such things as seaworthiness of boats, regulation of motor horsepower, passenger *863 carrying capacities and the like. We think the Court of Civil Appeals correctly disposed of plaintiffs' contentions in its tentative opinion wherein it was said: Certified question answered in the negative.