Case Title: Hambley v. Town of St. Johnsbury

Citation: 290 A.2d 18

Docket Number: 154-71

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 1972-04-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
290 A.2d 18 (1972) Robert HAMBLEY et al. v. TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY et al. No. 154-71. Supreme Court of Vermont, Caledonia. April 4, 1972. Richard S. Kohn, Vermont Legal Aid, Inc., St. Johnsbury, for plaintiff. Swainbank, Gensburg & Morrissette, St. Johnsbury, for Town of St. Johnsbury. Kyle T. Brown, St. Johnsbury, for Warren Motors, Inc. Before SHANGRAW, C. J., and BARNEY, SMITH, KEYSER and DALEY, JJ. SHANGRAW, Chief Justice. In January 1971 the plaintiffs in this action had their automobiles towed from a street and a parking lot in the Town of St. Johnsbury by defendant, Warren Motors, Inc., while it was acting as an agent for defendant, Town of St. Johnsbury. *19 The vehicles towed by Warren Motors, Inc. were parked in areas and at times which placed them in violation of Chapter 3, § 15 of the Ordinances of the Town of St. Johnsbury. Chapter 3, § 15 was enacted by the Town of St. Johnsbury in December 1966 under the Charter powers granted to it by the state by No. 345 of the Public Acts of 1957. The ordinance pursuant to which plaintiffs' vehicles were removed states: Soon after the plaintiffs recovered their vehicles they commenced this action in Caledonia County Court by filing a bill of complaint in which they alleged Chapter 3, § 15 of the Town of St. Johnsbury Ordinances was invalid because it was not in compliance with 23 V.S.A. §§ 1752, 1753 which provide as follows: In this action the plaintiffs sought to enjoin the enforcement of the ordinance and recover the amounts they paid for towing charges. The Caledonia County Court concluded that § 15, supra, of the ordinance was duly enacted and in full force and effect. Plaintiffs' prayer for relief was denied and they have appealed to this Court for review. 23 V.S.A. §§ 1752, 1753 empower towns to tow motor vehicles under certain conditions. These sections are within Chapter 19 of Title 23 which as originally enacted by the legislature by No. 103 of the Public Acts of 1961 was entitled "An Act To Provide For The Establishment of Police Courts." In 1967 the legislature by No. 292 of the Public Acts of 1967, Adjourned Session, amended 23 V.S.A. § 1752 to increase the maximum towing expense the owner of the vehicle may incur, and enacted 23 V.S.A. § 1753. Therefore, when the powers granted by 23 V.S.A. §§ 1752, 1753 are examined in view of the general objects *20 of Chapter 19 of Title 23 it becomes readily apparent they are enforcement powers granted to a municipality undertaking the operation of a police court. It is a fundamental rule of this Court that when we ascertain and give effect to the intention of the legislature the definitive source of such intent is the language of the enactment itself, if that language plainly sets it forth. Town School District of St. Johnsbury v. Town School District of Topsham, 122 Vt. 268, 271, 169 A.2d 352 (1961); State v. Mahoney, 122 Vt. 456, 458, 176 A.2d 747 (1962). In this instance we must first examine Chapter 19 of Title 23 to determine in what manner the legislature intended its provisions to authorize the creation of police courts. This is a necessary step, as the existence of a police court as provided for by Chapter 19 of Title 23 in the Town of St. Johnsbury has to be established before the issue as presented by the plaintiffs may arise. The section of Chapter 19 providing for the creation of a police court is 23 V.S.A. § 1742, and it states as follows: It is clear the term "may" as used in 23 V.S.A. § 1742 is used in a permissive sense rather than in a mandatory sense. See State v. Levine, 117 Vt. 320, 324-325, 91 A.2d 678 (1952), and cases therein cited. The procedure which the town is to follow when establishing a police court is set forth in 23 V.S.A. § 1751 where it is stated: Thus, the provisions contained within Chapter 19 are not to be given effect until a majority of the voters of the town seeking to establish a police court have adopted it. In this instance there is a complete absence of proof that the voters of the Town of St. Johnsbury have enacted an ordinance authorizing the creation of a police court as provided for in 23 V.S.A. § 1751. This Court has long held that it can not take judicial notice of a local ordinance. Eno v. City of Burlington, 125 Vt. 8, 9, 209 A.2d 499 (1965); Herbert v. Stanley, 124 Vt. 205, 207, 201 A.2d 698 (1964); State v. Pelletier, 123 Vt. 271, 272, 185 A.2d 456 (1962); State v. Bosworth, 74 Vt. 315, 318, 52 A. 423 (1902); State v. Cruickshank, 71 Vt. 94, 95, 42 A. 983 (1899); and State v. Soragan, 40 Vt. 450, 454 (1868). By reason of the foregoing the provisions of Chapter 19 of Title 23 cannot be assumed to have been adopted and therefore they are without force and effect in this case. The plaintiffs have not challenged the authority of the Town of St. Johnsbury to enact § 15 of the Ordinances of the Town of St. Johnsbury under its charter. The finding and conclusion of the court that the foregoing ordinance was in full force and effect must be sustained. The Town of St. Johnsbury, under § 8(c) of No. 345 of the Acts of 1957, was, by the legislature, given the power to establish ordinances regulating: Since the town did not elect to proceed under 23 V.S.A. § 1751, and thereby be bound by the provisions of 23 V.S.A. § 1752, its restrictions do not apply. The legislative grant in the charter amendment already noted authorizes the ordinance as drawn, and supports its appropriate enforcement. The relief sought by the plaintiffs was properly denied. Judgment order affirmed.