Opinion ID: 1144890
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: district parking restrictions

Text: Plaintiffs contend that the city ordinances that restrict parking by those persons employed, resident or lodged within the District while in their place of employment or while in their lodging or residence constitute a denial of equal privileges or immunities under article I, section 20, of the Oregon Constitution or a denial of equal protection under the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution. Both constitutional provisions prohibit class discrimination. See, e.g., School Dist. No. 12 v. Wasco County, 270 Or. 622, 627-28, 529 P.2d 386 (1974); Plummer v. Donald M. Drake Co., 212 Or. 430, 437, 320 P.2d 245 (1958). Plaintiffs contend that article I, section 20, is violated because District employers, employees, residents and hotel and motel guests are prohibited from enjoying the free parking privileges available to all other members of the public. Article I, section 20, however, prohibits only the grant of a privilege which does not belong to all citizens  upon the same terms.  In the instant case, those persons in the District subject to the parking restrictions nevertheless may enjoy the privilege of free parking upon the same terms as all members of the general public: when they are not working or residing in the District. And no member of the public may park for free while he is employed, resident or lodged in the District. We note that the trial court found that these parking restrictions are intended to prohibit those who would regularly be downtown anyway and who would use downtown facilities for longer periods of time from occupying free parking spaces to the exclusion of consumers and clients, thereby defeating the purpose of the free parking program. We therefore conclude that the terms of the parking ordinance do not violate article I, section 20, of the Oregon Constitution and, for the same reasons, do not violate the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution.