Hon. Jerry Sadler,Commlrrloner Hon. Olin Culbereon,Ocumuiesloner RailroadCcmmlesionof Texas Austin, Texas
Gentlemen: AttorneyGeueral'eOplnlonlo. 0 -3249 Re: Authorityunder Article 169Ob,V.A.P.C.,to proee- cute a personcrlmiually for violatinga rata order passedby the RailroadCom- mlsslonunder Section 48 of Article glib,V.A.C.S. . Thlo is In answer to your requestfor an opinion ou the questionof whether'ornot a personcan be prose- cuted criminallyfor violatluga RailroadCcamieelonorder fixingrates for motor carriers. Your requestrsada as follows:
'your attentionis called to the attached letterdated March 5, 1941, addressedto Jams R. Kilday by George E. Hughes, to which said letter there is attacheda propoeedcomplaintfor use In filing criminalchargesagainstmotor car- riers for violatingthe rate etmxturss of the Commlesion.
"Your opinion la respectfullyrequeetedas to whether or not euch complaints,if and when filed, will be good or whether the Commission and the State are limitedto civilproceedlnge when such rats structureis vl6latsd."
The statutesauthorizingthe regulationof motor carriersby the RailroadCommissionof Texas, and providing .,
Hon. Jerry Sadler,Ccanmissioner Hon. Olin Oulbemon, Oaarmlerloner,
for remediesand prooedure in case of violations,am codified as Articlesgll8 and glib of Vernon'sAcnotate~RevisedCivil Statuteaof Texas and Articles 16gOa and 16gObof Vernon's AnnotatedPenal Code. Said ltatutnewere originallypassed &a follows: Howe Blll270, FortiethLegislature, Regular Qesslon, 1927; House Bill 654, Forty-firstIsgielature, RegularSession, 1929;House Bill 155, Forty-firstLegis- Firat Call Ser~lon, 1929;House Bill 335, Forty- 'lature, secondIagirlature,Regular Seesion,1931;lud Howe Bill 25, Forty-seventhLeglrlature,RegularSernion,1941.
Section 48 of said Articleglib, Vernon'rAnno- tatedRevisedCivil Statutesof Texas,reads as follows:
"The Commissionis hereby vestedwith power and authorityand it Is herebymade its duty to superviseand regulate the transportation of propertyfor ccenpeneation or hire by motor vehicleon any public highway in tbie State, to fix, prescribeor approvethe ~~~iunuu or rates,fares mlnlmm or maximum and m1niviu~11 and chargesof each motor carrier.1~accordance with the specificprovisionshereincontained, to prescribeall rules and regulationsnecessary for the govcrmaentof motor carriers,to prescribe rules and regulationsfor the safetyof opemtlons of each of such motor carriers,to requirethe filing of such monthly, annualand other reports and other data of motor carriersas the COnnUissiOn may deem necessary,to prescribethe schedulesand serviceeof motor carriersoperatingas common carriem, and to eupervlacand regulatemotor car- riers In allmattere affectingthe rslationshlp betweensuch carriersand the shippingpublic whetherherein specificallymentionedor not."
Paragraphs(a), (b) and (c) of said Article 169Ob, Vernon'sAnnotatedPenal Code of Te.xae,reads as follows:
"(a) Every officer,agent,eervantor employee i of any corporationand every other personwho violates or falls to comply with or procurce,aide or abets in the violationof any provisionof this Act or who violatesor fails to obey, observeor complywith Hon. Jerry Sadler,Ommirelouer Hon. Olin Culbermon,Oomls~louer, Page 3
auy lawfulorder, decleiou,rcle or regulation, direction,deamud,or requirementof the Ccmtl~olon b shall be guilty of b mledemeanorand upon conviction thereof,rhall be punlahsdby b flue of not lere than Twenty-fiveDollan ($25.00), nor more than Rro Hundred Dollarm ($200.00),and the vlolatlonr.~ occurringon each day #hall each corutltutea mep- *rate offense.
"(b) Every officer,agent, servantor employee of any corporationand every other peraon who vio- latea or falla to comply with or procures,aids or abets in the violationof any provisionof thie Act i or who violatesor fail.6to obey, observeor comply : with any Lawful order, decision,rule or regulation, direction,demand or requirementof the Cmml~eion shall in additionbe subject to