Document: 336 U.S. 106 69 S.Ct. 463 93 L.Ed. 533 RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY, Inc., et al.v.PEOPLE OF STATE NEW YORK. No. 51. Argued Dec. 6, 1948. Decided Jan. 31, 1949. Appeal from the Court of Appeals State New York. Mr. Ralph M. Carson, York City, for appellants. Stanley Buchsbaum, appellee. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion Court. 1 Section 124 Traffic Regulations City York1 promulgated by Police Commissioner provides: 2 'No person shall operate, or cause to be operated, in upon any street an advertising vehicle; provided that nothing herein contained prevent putting business notices delivery vehicles, so long as such vehicles are engaged usual regular work owner and not used merely mainly advertising.' 3 Appellant is a nation-wide express business. It operates about 1,900 trucks sells space on exterior sides these advertising. That most part unconnected with its own business.2 was convicted magistrates court fined. The judgment conviction sustained Special Sessions. 188 Misc. 342, 67 N.Y.S.2d 732. affirmed without divided vote. 297 N.Y. 703, 77 N.E.2d 13. case here appeal. Judicial Code § 237(a), 28 U.S.C. 344(a), amended, U.S.C.A. 344(a) (now 1257). 4 Fifth Ave. Coach Co. v. York, 221 467, 31 709, 55 815, predecessor ordinance present regulation over objection it violated due process equal protection clauses Fourteenth Amendment. true municipal resting broad base police power, while stands falls traffic regulation. But we do believe distinction warrants different result two cases. 5 Sessions concluded using streets constitutes distraction vehicle drivers pedestrians alike therefore affects safety public use streets.3 We sit weigh evidence issue order determine whether sound appropriate; nor our function pass wisdom. See Olsen Nebraska, 313 236, 61 862, 85 1305, 133 A.L.R. 1500. would trespassing one intensely local specialized all problems if held this had no relation problem City. authorities does have relation. And has been advanced which shows palpably false. 6 question laws pressed more strenuously us. pointed out draws line between advertisements products sold truck general advertisements. argued unequal treatment basis justified aim purpose said, example, appellant's carrying advertisement commercial house greater than carried same truck. Yet allows latter what former forbidden doing. contended classification makes since violation turns kind but whose they carried. 7 That, however, superficial way analyzing problem, even assume premised correct construction may well those who advertised their wares view nature extent use. take degree omniscience lack say case. If correct, displays exempt less incidence 8 cannot allowable one. is, made contain discrimination against Equal Protection Clause affords protection. practical considerations based experience rather theoretical inconsistencies answered. Patsone Commonwealth Pennsylvania, 232 138, 4, 34 281, 282, 58 539; Marcus Brown Holding Feldman, 256 170, 198, 199, 41 465, 466, 65 877; Metropolitan Casualty Brownell, 294 580, 585, 586, 538, 540, 541, 79 1070. fact sees fit eliminate touch ones category, vivid Times Square, immaterial. requirement evils genus eradicated none at all. Central Lumber South Dakota, 226 157, 160, 33 66, 67, 57 164. 9 finally burden interstate commerce Art. I, Constitution. Many delivering goods Jersey Where control highways involved where there conflicting federal regulation, great leeway allowed authorities, though materially interferes commerce. posture controlled Carolina Highway Department Barnwell Bros., 303 177, 187 seq., 510, 514, 82 734. see Maurer Hamilton, 309 598, 60 726, 84 969, 135 1347. 10 Affirmed. 11 RUTLEDGE acquiesces Court's judgment, dubitante laws. 12 JACKSON, concurring. 13 There Amendment invoke invalidate ordinances governments seek solve problems. One says state 'deprive life, liberty, property, law'. other declares 'deny within jurisdiction laws.' 14 My philosophy relative readiness should resort almost diametrically opposed prevails While claims denial frequently asserted, rarely sustained. uses clause strike down measures taken municipalities deal activities places consider create hazards, annoyances discomforts inhabitants. I dissented when thought power improperly denied. See, Douglas Jeannette companion cases, 319 166, 63 877, 882, 87 1324; dissents Saia People 334 558, 566, 68 1148; Prince Massachusetts, 321 158, 176, 64 438, 447, 88 645. 15 rest heavily persuade us substantive law ordinance. Even provident regulations disables government—state, dealing conduct because also applicable Federal Governments. Invalidation statute grounds leaves ungoverned ungovernable many people find objectionable. 16 Invocation clause, hand, disable governmental body subject hand. means prohibition must broader impact. regard salutary doctrine cities, states Government exercise powers discriminate inhabitants except some reasonable differentiation fairly related object This equality abstract justice. framers Constitution knew, forget today, hat effective guaranty arbitrary unreasonable government require principles officials impose minority imposed generally. Conversely, opens door action effectively allow pick choose only few whom will apply legislation thus escape political retribution might visited them larger numbers were affected. Courts can better measure assure just operation. 17 illustration. casual observations sidewalks show forbid run into conflict interests, including some, all, metropolitan newspapers, extensively. Their blandishment latest sensations diverted attention hazard commonplace cigarette truck-owner display. much clearer justification conditions enable enactment few. mention criticize motives enacted ordinance, dramatizes point likely arbitrariness many. Hence, my part, am receptive attack process, often clause. 18 In case, display tends intends distract persons increase dangers traffic, think fully constitutional undertake minimize generally restraint, limiting size, color, shape perhaps contents vehicular Instead advertising, seeks reduce saying may, others exhibit appeals. display, cigarettes, appellant carry trucks, dealer dealt cigarettes. identical advertisement, certainly shape, color appearance, proclaims offer transport message dealer's sell 19 urges applies equally permissible classification, (1) engaging selling move city traffic; (2) owners incidentally employing purpose, exception advertise trucks. that, hire cuts sought controlled. 20 difference activity one's sufficient sustain types applied other, elementary. very incidents wherein classes problems, charges, liability quality service. 21 difference, invok d dangers. courts declared sole before hazards. pretense created manner hazardous permitted. urged considerable force comply unequally relevant objects 22 As matter principle attitude toward differences under approved unrelated legislative purpose. ceases either avoided conceivable bound left free. announced appropriate Mayflower Farms Ten Eyck, 266, 56 457, 80 675; Smith Cahoon, 283 553, 51 582, 75 1264. motor struck citation 'such anything having made.' 567, 587. situation here, reach similar conclusion. 23 mind comes this. individuals contribute evil danger degree, prohibited, ends continue? answer hireling put class himself differently act own. lawmaker diminish evil. done classifications, wholly unsustainable. real doing self-interest hire, thing tolerate another permit promoted price. 24 Certainly presence absence hook highway supported. Rights passengers denied nonpaying guest automobile limit vexatious litigation. Silver Silver, 280 117, 50 57, 74 221, 939. A security injuries exact because, Sutherland it, 'The belong primarily ordinary way. purposes gain special extraordinary, and, least, prohibited conditioned Legislature deems proper.' Packard Banton, 264 140, 144, 44 257, 259, 596. let automobiles drive them, Court, through Butler, said State, 'It prohibit condition proper place private business.' Hodge Drive-It-Yourself Cincinnati, 284 335, 337, 52 145, 76 323. Sproles Binford, 286 374, 393, 581, 1167; Stephenson 287 251, 278, 53 181, 189, 288, 721; Hicklin Coney, 290 169, 54 142, 78 247; Public Utilities Commission, 295 76, 628, 1311; Aero T ansit Georgia Service 285, 1439; Dixie Ohio Express Revenue 306 72, 59 435, 83 495. rule flatly stated Brandeis: 'In highways, transportation, adopt favor solely owners, distinguished operated carriers Bradley Utilitics 289 92, 97, 577, 579, 1053, 1131. However, otherwise discriminations regulates commodities Quaker Cab 277 389, 48 72 927. 25 Of course, did hold itself everybody's rental incidental main brought streets. difficult day extravagant subsidized tax deduction, could become obnoxious enterprise. highly type business, concede cities protect citizens quiet orderly places, dissent 1148, below affirmed. pursuant granted department 435 Charter provides follows: duty * regulate, direct, restrict movement pedestrian facilitation convenience human life health; commissioner make rules streets, squares avenues he deem necessary *.' consisted posters three seven feet four ten portaying Camel Cigarettes, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, radio tation WOR. Drivers Albert Smoking Tobacco Navy convicted. element standards judged. accept authority Charter, note 1, supra. Price Illinois, 238 446, 451, 35 892, 894, 1400; Hartford Accident Indemnity N. O. Nelson Co., 291 352, 358, 392, 394, 840; Hanover Bank Trust Kelly, 94, 945, 947, 1282.

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