April 12, 1939
HonorableA. .I.Luckett CouutyAttorney Coiml coimty Rev Rrauufels,Texas
Daar Sir:
oplnlonNo..o-609
Re: ~iheth.+,wider the facts'shted, the'transpor&atlonoflabor&3t6' Ohiiiis in dolation bf Art.'l69Oa, PenalCode;withont obtairilng certTflcafe'br permitfromthe RallroadCommlssionunderArt. 9&* R. c. s.
Ue are in receiptof your letterof April 6, 1939, whereinyou outline $he folIowingfacts:
"A~citiaenofthis coasmmltyhascontractedwiththe ~.'ownerof a ,largetruck.farmin'theState of Ohto to furnisha numbarof Mexicanlaborers. He has contacted a numberof local laborersand they have agreed to go with him to Ohio.His agreementW:to deliverat the truckfarmona certaindate the+e laborersfor the purposeof cultivating the cros and harvestingsqme. lieplans to transport'. these laborersfrom.thls commuuityto Ohio on a truck ovned and operatedby him. He receivesa compensation of about $10.00 to $15.00per haad from these laborersfor gettingthem this .job. He will also receivea compensationfrom the truck farmerfor locatingthese laborers. After they arrive in Ohio,he will act as a sort of sub- foremanand'tlmelzeper.Upon the completionof the work in the fall,he is to return these laborersto this Countywithoutany additionalchargesto them. If for-anyreasonhe is unableto transport6aid laborers,ha will make said trip to Ohio with his familyon the same truck."
You requestour opinionwhetheror not under the above facts the person transporting said laborerswill be in violationof Article 1690~~ of the Penal Coda uulesshe first obtainse permit from the RailroadCommission Of Texas under Articleglla,RevisedCivil Statutes. . . 1
Hon. A. J. Luckett,April 12, 1939,Page #2 0-6'39
Article16903,Penal Code, providesa penaltyfor those who violate Article glla,RevisedCivil Statutes. Article9lla providesfor the regulationof motor bus transportation.Section 1 (c) of the last mentionedact reads in pert as r0ihf6:
%he'term 'MotorBus Company'when used in this Act (Art. gllajP. C. l&la) means every corporationor persons as herein defined,their lessees,trustees,receivers,or trusteesappointedby any courtwhatsoever,owning, controlling,operating,or managingany motor propelled psssengervehicle,not usuallyoperatedon or over rails, and engagedin the businessof transportingpersonsfor compensationor hire over the publichi&ways within the State of Texas,whetheroperatingover fined routesor fixed schedules,or otherwise;. . ."
Section2 of said Articlegala, providesthat "all motor bus companies as definedherein are.hereby.declared to be common carriersand subject.toregulationbytheState of Banas and shallnotoperata any mot& popelled passengervehiclefor the regulartransportation of peraoneaapsssengersfor compensation or hire over any publichighway In this State in accordance.wlththe provisionof this Act."
Other parts 0r Articleglla providefor the issuance0r certificates andpermits under propar.circumstances.~
In the case of Hoffmanv. State,20 5. W. (2) 1057, it was held that this law is not violatedby an agent 0r .a.OOnpanywho hires a .service car one time to transport'overa::publlchighway of.this State passengers who bad been brought.toour State.~lineupon a -vehicleoperated,outside the State by such company.
In the case of Coaanercia1Credit'Company.e.Groeeclose;66 8. W. 709, the El Paso Court of Civil Appealsheld that Artlcle.16gOaof the Penal Code was not violatedby a.personwho-in making an isolatedtrip fromEi Paso to Big Spring,acceptedcompensation.from.a.,personwho nccompanied.him on the trip.
Under the facts outlinedby you,.theperson whom you~mention~iaapparently not engagedin the regulartransportation of.personsas passengersfor compansation'or hire over the publichighwaysof this State.andthe above caseswould control.
Our answerto your questionis .inthe ne.gative. Hon. A. J. Luck&t, ALgil 3.2,1939,Page # 3 0-60s;
Yours very t-uly
ATTORNEXGz?mmu OF TEXAS
s/ GlennR. Lewis
.By Glenn 3. Lewis Assistant