Title: Colorado Dept. of R. v. District Ct. in & for C. of Adams
Citation: 470 P.2d 864
Docket Number: 24747
State: Colorado
Issuer: Colorado Supreme Court
Date: June 22, 1970

470 P.2d 864 (1970) COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE and John H. Heckers, Executive Director of said Department, Petitioner, v. The DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR the COUNTY OF ADAMS, the Honorable Jean J. Jacobucci, District Judge and Robert Darl Forbes, Respondents. No. 24747. Supreme Court of Colorado, En Banc. June 22, 1970. *865 Duke W. Dunbar, Atty. Gen., John P. Moore, Deputy Atty. Gen., Harold L. Neufeld, Asst. Atty. Gen., Denver, for petitioner. Donald L. Brundage, Westminster, for respondents. DAY, Justice. This is an original proceeding directed to the above named respondents for a rule to show cause why the district court of Adams County should not be prohibited from interfering with the statutory duties of the executive director of the Department of Revenuethe petitioner. Pursuant to authority granted the director under the provisions of 1967 Perm. Supp., C.R.S. 1963, 13-5-30, known as the "Implied Consent Law," he issued to Forbes a notice of hearing requiring an appearance before the department on May 1, 1970, to show cause why Forbes' driver's license should not be revoked. The latter was cited under the provision of the statute wherein is conferred upon the petitioner the responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the law. Contained in these provisions is authority vested in the executive director to hold hearings, make findings and determinations, and upon a proper showing revoke the driving privileges of a person found to have violated the aforementioned section. In particular, the statute provides that a person who drives on the highways of the state (as did Forbes) is deemed to have given his consent to a chemical test for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his blood if charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor. (Forbes was so charged.) If a driver refuses to submit to a chemical test as requested, the test shall not be given, but the arresting officer then must file with the Department of Revenue a written report of such refusal, stating that prior to the arrest he had reasonable grounds to believe that the person was driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and stating his grounds for such belief. Upon receipt of such a report the department is required to serve notice on the person refusing the test to appear before the department and show cause why his license should not be revoked. If it is established at the hearing that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the person was driving under the influence, and the person does not have available to him any of the legal defenses in 13-5-30 *866 (3), his license may be forthwith revoked for a period of six months. Provisions for stay pending judicial review are provided for by reference to C.R.S. 1963, 3-16-5(5). In an ex parte action before the respondent district judge in Adams County, Forbes sought and obtained a permanent injunction restraining the director of revenue from proceeding under the aforementioned statute. The court found the statute unconstitutional. It is the contention of the petitioner, with which we agree, that the district court does not have jurisdiction to restrain the executive director of the Department of Revenue from holding hearings in the administration and execution of his duties as set forth by statute, and that the proper procedure to challenge the questioned statute and the administration thereof is by judicial review after final administrative action has been taken. In a number of previous decisions we have held that a trial court has no jurisdiction to interfere with officers of the executive branch of government whose duties are imposed by statute, for the reason that the action of the lower court constitutes direct and unjustified judicial interference with a function properly delegated to the executive department. The most recent affirmation of this court's position is contained in People ex rel. Heckers v. District Court in and for the City and County of Denver, Colo., 463 P.2d 310. There the district court sought to enjoin the executive director from holding a hearing as provided in C.R.S. 1963, chapter 75, article 2 (the Liquor Code). That statute similarly required respondents to attend an administrative hearing to show cause why their license should not be suspended or revoked as provided by law. Therein it was alleged that they permitted gambling on the licensed premises, contrary to statute and department regulation. A criminal action involving the same gambling activities was pending, and it was alleged that the hearing would prejudice the defendants. We said in that case: It is contended by respondents that authority for the court injunction is to be found in subsection (8) of C.R.S. 1963, 3-16-5, as follows: As grounds for relief, petitioner asserted that he would be irreparably injured by revocation of his driver's license which he needed in connection with his employment and for his family's needs. He further asserted that the Implied Consent Law is unconstitutional because of a ruling by the Adams County district court in the case of People v. Brown, criminal action No. 3372 in the district court of Adams County, *867 wherein it was held that 1967 Perm.Supp., C.R.S. 1963, 13-5-30 (3) (a) (b) (c) (d) (g) and (h) are violative of due process. This argument of respondents misconceives the language of C.R.S. 1963, 3-16-5 (8), which gives the power of injunctive relief in a case "clearly beyond the constitutional or statutory jurisdiction or authority of the agency." In the case at bar the constitutional or statutory authority of the agency is not challenged. The constitution provides for executive enforcement of the laws and the statutes have set out the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Revenue and its director in the area of motor vehicles and operator licensing. He is not acting beyond his constitutional and statutory authority in proceeding under the statute in question. What was attempted to be challenged in the trial court was the constitutionality of the statute in question as it relates to an individual driver who may be affected by its provisions. The agency is clearly authorized. If it results in the deprivation of the constitutional rights of the person affected by it, the action is subject to judicial review. Until the agency makes a determination, action of the judiciary is premature. In People ex rel. Orcutt v. District Court, Colo., 445 P.2d 887, this court said: In an early casePeople ex rel. Alexander v. District Court, 29 Colo. 182, 68 P. 242, the special concurring opinion therein contains a lucid discussion on the separation of powers. Mr. Justice Gabbert there said: The rule is made absolute.