Title: State v. Edwards
Citation: 177 N.W.2d 40
Docket Number: 41742
State: Minnesota
Issuer: Minnesota Supreme Court
Date: May 1, 1970

177 N.W.2d 40 (1970) STATE of Minnesota, Respondent, v. Brenda EDWARDS, Appellant. No. 41742. Supreme Court of Minnesota. May 1, 1970. *41 Robins, Meshbesher, Singer &amp; Spence, and Morley Friedman, Minneapolis, for appellant. Larry Leventhal, Minneapolis, amicus curiae. Douglas M. Head, Atty. Gen., St. Paul, Keith Stidd, City Atty., Austin Ditzler, Asst. City Atty., Minneapolis, James E. Sutherland, St. Paul, for respondent. MURPHY, Justice. This is an appeal from an order of the municipal court denying a motion by defendant, Brenda Edwards, for dismissal and from a judgment whereby she was convicted of violating Minn.St. 169.974, subd. 4(a). The motion to dismiss asserts that the statute "is unconstitutional since it is repugnant to the reserved powers clause of the Ninth Amendment and to the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and to Article I, Section II, the rights and privileges clause and Article I, Section XVI, the reserve powers clause of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, and, as such, constitutes an illegal exercise of the police powers of the State of Minnesota." In this court defendant urges that the statute has no relation to public welfare and safety, does not promote the general welfare, invades fundamental rights of the individual, and denies to motorcyclists equal protection of the laws. It appears from the record that defendant was arrested on the public streets of Minneapolis on May 1, 1968, the effective date of the so-called Minnesota Motorcycle Helmet Law, and charged with the operation of a motorcycle in violation of § 169.974, subd. 4(a): The facts are undisputed. At the time of her arrest, Mrs. Edwards was not wearing a protective headgear as required by statute. She argues that the statute exceeds the police power of the state because it protects the motorcyclist from self-harm with no concomitant benefits to the public health, safety, or welfare. She contends that the statute not only interferes with her personal right in that it discriminates against her as a motorcyclist but also denies equal protection of the law. In support of this claim she points out that the statute does not apply equally to automobilists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The trial court determined that the statute is constitutional and in an interesting and well-written memorandum stated: We agree with the trial court that the question of whether or not the statute bears a real and substantial relation to the public health, safety, and welfare or whether it is unreasonable or arbitrary are questions which are committed in the first instance to the judgment and discretion of the legislative body, and unless the decisions of that body on those questions appear to be clearly erroneous, courts will not interfere. State v. Target Stores, Inc., 279 Minn. 447, 156 N.W.2d 908; State v. Kenny Boiler &amp; Mfg. Co., 202 Minn. 605, 279 N.W. 407; 3B Dunnell, Dig. (3 Ed.) § 1605; 16 Am.Jur. (2d) Constitutional Law, §§ 281, 282. A great many courts have considered the constitutionality of statutes requiring the wearing of helmets by motorcyclists and have almost uniformly held that such statutes are constitutional. In general, courts have been of the view that motorcycles, capable of operating at very high speed, are far more hazardous to their riders than automobiles or other kinds of vehicles. They are not only less stable but also have no protective frame or structure which might serve to lessen the hazards of injury. The real and potential dangers inherent in the use of motorcycles impose upon the public the consequent burden of providing services and facilities incident to such hazards. All of the objections raised in the briefs of defendant and amicus curiae have been fully discussed and resolved in decisions of other courts. Recent decisions by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Bisenius *44 v. Karns, 42 Wis.2d 42, 165 N.W.2d 377, and the Washington Supreme Court, State v. Laitinen, Wash., 459 P.2d 789, which uphold the constitutionality of such statutes, discuss at length the principles of law which support their validity. Other authorities include Commonwealth v. Arnold, 215 Pa.Super. 444, 258 A.2d 885; State v. Eitel (Fla.), 227 So. 2d 489; State v. Fetterly, Ore., 456 P.2d 996; State v. Solomon, Vt., 260 A.2d 377; Arutanoff v. Metropolitan Government, Tenn., 448 S.W.2d 408; Krafft v. New York (N.Y. County Court, Onondaga County, March 4, 1969), certiorari denied and appeal dismissed, 396 U.S. 24, 90 S. Ct. 198, 24 L. Ed. 2d 145; Ex parte Smith (Tex.Cr.App.), 441 S.W.2d 544; State ex rel. Colvin v. Lombardi, R.I., 241 A.2d 625; Commonwealth v. Howie, 354 Mass. 769, 238 N.E.2d 373, certiorari denied, 393 U.S. 999, 89 S. Ct. 485, 21 L. Ed. 2d 464; People v. Schmidt, 54 Misc.2d 702, 283 N.Y.S.2d 290, appeal dismissed, 23 N.Y.2d 686, 295 N.Y.S.2d 936, 243 N.E.2d 153; People v. Newhouse, 55 Misc.2d 1064, 287 N.Y.S.2d 713; People v. Carmichael, 56 Misc.2d 388, 288 N.Y.S.2d 931; State v. Anderson, 3 N.C.App. 124, 164 S.E.2d 48. See also, Comment, 71 W.Va. L.Rev. 191; Note, 1969 Wis.L.Rev. 320; Comment, 73 Dickinson L.Rev. 100. Cf., American Motorcycle Assn. v. Department of State Police, 11 Mich.App. 351, 158 N.W.2d 72. The policy of this court in connection with the legislature's authority to enact police measures has been well expressed by Mr. Justice Nelson in Beck v. Groe, 245 Minn. 28, 40, 70 N.W.2d 886, 895: The assertion that the statute unfairly discriminates against motorcycle users and lacks proper classification may be disposed of by observing that public highways have long been recognized as an appropriate subject of the police power, and regulations may be established governing the use and users of highways. State v. LeFebvre, 174 Minn. 248, 219 N.W. 167; State v. Palmer, 212 Minn. 388, 3 N.W.2d 666; Minneapolis Gas Co. v. Zimmerman, 253 Minn. 164, 91 N.W.2d 642. The legislature has plenary power over the regulation of the privilege to use the highways for the safety and best interests of the public. Hess v. Pawloski, 274 U.S. 352, 47 S. Ct. 632, 71 L. Ed. 1091; Kelly v. Anderson, 74 Ariz. 364, 249 P.2d 833; Ragland v. Wallace, 80 Ohio App. 210, 70 N.E.2d 118. Affirmed.