Document: 402 U.S. 558 91 S.Ct. 1697 29 L.Ed.2d 178 UNITED STATES, Appellant,v.INTERNATIONAL MINERALS & CHEMICAL CORP. No. 557. Argued April 26, 1971. Decided June 1, Syllabus Appellee was charged by information with shipping sulfuric and hydrofluosilicic acids in interstate commerce that it 'did knowingly fail to show on the papers required classification of said property, wit, Corrosive Liquid, violation 49 CFR 173.437,' issued pursuant 18 U.S.C. § 834(a). Section 834(f) provides whoever 'knowingly violates such regulation' shall be fined imprisoned. The District Court dismissed information, holding did not charge a 'knowing violation' regulation. Held: statute does signal an exception general rule ignorance law is no excuse. word 'knowingly' pertains knowledge facts, where, as here, dangerous products are involved, probability regulation so great anyone who aware he possession or dealing them must presumed Pp. 560—565. Reversed. John F. Dienelt, Washington, D.C., for appellant, pro hac vice, special leave Court. Harold E. Spencer, Chicago, Ill., appellee. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion 1 appellee shipped acid classfication C.F.R. 173.427.' 2 Title 834(a) gives Interstate Commerce Commission power 'formulate regulations safe transportation' 'corrosive liquids' states any 3 Pursuant granted regulatory agency1 promulgated already cited which reads part: 4 'Each shipper offering transportation hazardous material subject this chapter, describe article paper name prescribed 172.5 chapter 172.4 may add further description inconsistent therewith. Abbreviations used.' 173.427. 5 Court, relying primarily Boyce Motor Lines, Inc. v. United States, 342 337, 72 329, 96 L.Ed. 367, ruled accordingly 318 F.Supp. 1335. 6 States filed notice appeal Appeals, 3731, reliance section later moved certify case Appeals did; we noted probable jurisdiction, 400 990, 451, 27 437. 7 Here Freed, 401 601, 1112, 28 356, dealt hand grenades, strict absolute liability imposed; shipment materials required. sole narrow question whether 'knowledge' also It zone issue 'mens rea' raised; bears down hard provision fined, etc. 8 supra, relied, dispositive issue. involved governing transporting explosives, inflammable liquids, like drivers 'avoid, far practicable, and, where feasible, prearrangement routes, driving into through congested thoroughfares, places crowds assembled, street car tracks, tunnels, viaducts, crossings.' punished violated Id., at 339, S.Ct., 330. raised below, turning standard guilt unconstitutionally vague. 340, 330—331. In void vagueness said: 9 'The punishes only those violate Regulation. This requirement presence culpable intent necessary element offense much destroy force argument application Regulation would unfair held invalid. That evident from consideration effect case. To sustain conviction, Government prove petitioner could have taken another route both commercially practicable appreciably safer (in its avoidance crowded etc.) than one follow. shown knew there yet deliberately took more tunnel, willfully neglected exercise duty under inquire availability alternative route. 10 'In effort give point argument, asserts trucks might followed pass they were avoid. If true congestion surrounding lower Hudson way crossing River avoided points danger substantially greater extent taken, then has But plainly matter proof trial. We conversant all routes area may, facts record before us, assume allegations indictment false. will thus distort judicial concept strike adopted after consultation affected penalizing prohibition.' 342—343, 331—332. 11 emerged foregoing discussion but less within meaning Jackson, writing dissent himself, Black, Frankfurter, correctly 12 'I do suppose intends suggest if nothing existence constitute defense.' U.S., 345, 333. 13 There present propriety delegation establish validity therefore see reason why 'regulations' should construed shorthand designation specific acts omissions Act. Act, viewed, excuse wholly consistent legislative history. 14 failure change language 834 1960 lead contrary conclusion. Senate approved amendment deleting substituting therefor 'being formulated explosives other articles.'2 House refused agree. As Committee stated, version 'retain providing person regulations.'3 15 'judicial pronouncement standards conduct make 'knowing' violation.'4 St. Johnsbury Trucking Co. 220 F.2d 393, 397, Chief Judge Magruder had concluded necessary. referring Lines clear since views Congress.5 intended. felt too stringent rejected position Commission.6 despite protestations avoiding very likely result because been unnecessary business know involved. Thus rejecting liability.7 conclude carving out 16 principle defense applies duly published context these proposed amendments decline attribute Congress inaccurate view Act requires law, well intended endorse interpretation retaining 'knowingly.' meager history makes unwarranted conclusion abandoned pertinent criminal conviction sustained 17 So possession, say, concerned made evidenced use A thinking good faith distilled water when fact some covered. stated Morissette 246, 250, 240, 243, 288: contention injury can amount crime inflicted intention provincial transient notion. universal persistent mature systems belief freedom human consequent ability normal individual choose between evil.' 19 leeway congressional discretion applying reach rea.' Balint, 258 42 301, 66 604. Murdock, 290 389, 54 223, 78 381, closely confined 'willfully' income tax include purpose bring about forbidden result: 20 'He whose defined fails pay tax, return, keep records, supply needed information. intend person, bona fide misunderstanding his adequacy records maintained, become mere measure up conduct. And omission instances willful, criminal, persuasive same essential failing information.' 396, 226. 21 Balint drugs, Freed acids. Pencils, dental floss, clips regulated. type raise substantial due process questions require, murdock, each ingredient offense. here deleterious devices obnoxious waste 22 23 STEWART, whom HARLAN BRENNAN join, dissenting. 24 stirs large questions—questions go moral foundations law. Whether postulated problem rea,' 'willfulness,' 'criminal responsibility,' 'scienter,' infliction punishment upon unaware long troubled fair administration justice. See, e.g., 288; Lambert California, 355 225, 228; Scales 367 203, 81 1469, 782. Cf. Durham 94 U.S.App.D.C. 228, 214 862. occasion involvement root jurisprudence, me punishable knowing violations question. what quite clearly says, federal courts held, confirms. 25 statutory hardly complex. 18, U.S.C., agency of, among things, liquids.' '(w)hoever $1,000 imprisoned year, both.' dismissing applicable labeling regulation, Porter ordinary English language. 26 true, today out, now us directly claim valid, bottomed reasoning proposition 'the (is) offense.' 342, 332. Other courts, faced precise presented, means exactly says—that words mean regulation.' 393 (CA1 1955); Chicago Express, 235 785 (CA7 1956). concurring case, put thus: 'If thought indicated seriously hamper effective enforcement regulations, answer liberty fix striking * mens rea—'knowingly'—as applied sort sell adulterated milk, complete defendant sells knows even though statute, time-honored provides, 835, guilty offense, seem unless terms doing again definition control legislature.' F.2d, 398. decisions brought attention appropriate committees Commission, asked overcome their impact amending either simply or, alternatively, articles.'1 passed bill adopting second alternative, based committee report stated: 30 'Prosecution Commission's extremely difficult 835 act violators regulations. While believes every reasonable precaution provide punishing violating promote safety, creation deemed stringent.'2 31 House, however, accept Senate's resubstituted 'knowingly,' stating: 32 Transportation Explosives committed penalty violation. 33 Under instant quantum 'any being articles' noncompliance Such create almost Since penalties require little occurred, considered departure warranted. retain 34 Three days agreed resubstitution passing bill. 35 grants Executive Branch explicitly grant 1960. effectively deletes I cannot join exercise, requiring total disregard plain language, established precedent, explicit 36 final order. Today's decision practical prosecution motor carriers institutional shippers. For members regulated industry, officers, agents, employees question.4 matter, therefore, species requirement. This, doubt, be. Dotterweich, 320 277, 64 134, 88 48; Likewise, regular shippers impeded requirement, triers difficulty whatever inferring part know, contrary. real casual shipper, man, woman, child Nation. never heard single covered course lifetime. natural him deliver common carrier depend properly labeled Yet today's holds just year prison. seems perversion 37 respectfully judgment authority originally transferred Department 80 Stat. 939, 1655(e) (1964 ed., Supp. V). See H.R.Rep.No.1975, 86th Cong., 2d Sess., 10—11, U.S.Code Cong. Admin. News 1960, pp.3351, 3352. 2, p. Ibid, HEW Staff Memorandum, id., 16—19. S.Rep.No.901, 1st 3. 'well violation.' 2; 10—11. 2—3. 2. 397.02.

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