Court Opinion

ID: 893595
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 18:58:12.418571+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:09:31.688304
License: Public Domain

1   This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Reports. Please
 2   see Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the citation of unpublished memorandum opinions.
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 6 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 7   M. CHRISTINE MONTOYA,
 8   ROLAND M. CHEEKU, BETTY
 9   DELGADO, SYLVIA PEREZ, and
10   SUSAN L. ABRUMS, and all others
11   similarly situated,

12          Plaintiffs-Appellants,

13 v.                                                                                    NO. 29,838

14 CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE,

15          Defendant-Appellee.

16 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY
17 Nan G. Nash, District Judge

18   The Branch Law Firm
19   Turner W. Branch
20   Frank V. Balderrama
21   Paul D. Dominguez
22   Albuquerque, NM

23 for Appellants

24 City of Albuquerque
25 Robert M. White, Acting City Attorney
 1 Michael I. Garcia, Assistant City Attorney
 2 Albuquerque, NM

 3 for Appellee

 4                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

 5 CASTILLO, Chief Judge.

 6        This is the second challenge to the City of Albuquerque’s (Albuquerque) Safe

 7 Traffic Operations Program (STOP) to come before this court. See Victor A. Titus

 8 & the Titus & Murphy Law Firm v. City of Albuquerque (Titus), ___- NMCA-___, ¶

 9 ___, ___ N.M. ___, ___ P.3d ___ (No. 29,461, March 9, 2011). Appellants brought

10 suit as a class challenging the legality and constitutionality of STOP. Albuquerque

11 responded by filing a motion for declaratory judgment asking the court to determine

12 that STOP is a valid and lawful exercise of Albuquerque’s authority as a home rule

13 municipality. Appellants simultaneously filed a motion for summary judgment

14 wherein they argued that STOP is prima facie invalid and requested the court to order

15 Albuquerque to return “all monies collected under the illegal penalty scheme” to the

16 class members. In a memorandum order, the court denied Appellant’s motion for

17 summary judgment and granted Albuquerque’s motion for declaratory judgment. We

18 affirm.

19 BACKGROUND

20        This matter was initiated by the Branch Law Firm after Turner W. Branch

                                             2
 1 received notice that he had purportedly committed a STOP violation. The factual

 2 allegations in the complaint filed in November 2006, include the following. Mr.

 3 Branch was informed that STOP equipment detected his vehicle traveling within

 4 Albuquerque in excess of the designated speed limit. A later communication alleged

 5 that Mr. Branch failed to respond to the notice of violation within the allowable period

 6 of time. As such, Mr. Branch incurred penalty fees bringing the total STOP fine to

 7 $600.00 and was instructed that failure to pay the fine could potentially result in the

 8 seizure of his vehicle.

 9        The complaint was brought on behalf of Mr. Branch and “as a class action

10 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, on behalf of all people who paid any

11 funds to [Albuquerque] pursuant to [STOP].” The class was subsequently certified

12 by the district court as “all parties who have received a civil citation pursuant to . . .

13 [STOP].” We refer to the Appellants in this matter—Mr. Branch, the other parties

14 specifically named, and the entire class—as the Class.

15        The Class filed two amended complaints naming additional specific parties and,

16 in the last of those complaints, specified the relief requested. This included: a

17 declaratory judgment finding that STOP is unconstitutional, inconsistent with, and

18 preempted by varying state laws; and an injunction precluding Albuquerque from

19 collecting STOP fines or seizing vehicles under the authority of STOP.

                                               3
 1        In June 2009, Albuquerque filed a motion for declaratory judgment and,

 2 roughly two hours later on the same day, the Class filed a motion for summary

 3 judgment. In its motion for declaratory judgment, Albuquerque asked the court to

 4 conclude that STOP is presumptively constitutional and a valid and lawful exercise

 5 of Albuquerque’s authority as a home rule municipality to abate nuisances. The Class,

 6 in its summary judgment motion, asked the court to issue an order declaring STOP

 7 prima facie invalid, declaring that Albuquerque was prohibited from enacting STOP

 8 from its inception until July 1, 2008, when the New Mexico Legislature lawfully

 9 recognized the program and declaring that the Class is entitled to a refund of any

10 monies collected under STOP.

11        In July 2009, the district court issued a memorandum order on the motions. The

12 court reached the following conclusions: (1) STOP is a legislative enactment entitled

13 to a presumption of constitutionality; (2) Albuquerque is entitled to use its nuisance

14 abatement powers to address traffic control; (3) STOP is civil rather than criminal and

15 the administrative review process established by STOP does no injury to an alleged

16 violators due process rights. Accordingly, the court denied the Class’s motion for

17 summary judgment and granted Albuquerque’s motion for declaratory judgment. The

18 Class appeals.

19 DISCUSSION

                                              4
 1        On appeal, the Class makes varying arguments with the same common premise:

 2 that STOP is unconstitutional and/or inconsistent with New Mexico law and,

 3 therefore, invalid. We note at the outset of our discussion that the Class’s arguments

 4 were either directly considered in Titus or are governed by the analysis in that case.

 5 Accordingly, we rely on our holding in Titus. Before we address each of the Class’s

 6 arguments, we turn our attention to two preliminary matters.

 7        First, the Class was instructed to address whether the district court’s

 8 memorandum order is final and that it complied with this instruction. Albuquerque

 9 now concedes that the order was final. We agree. Second, at oral argument, we

10 identified problems with the record that raise significant questions about the propriety

11 of this appeal. We explain.

12        Since its enactment in 2005, the STOP ordinance has been amended on three

13 occasions. We pointed this out at oral argument and noted that the version of the

14 ordinance the Class submitted into the record proper—which appears beginning at

15 page 345—included amendments through 2009. The Class’s complaint was filed in

16 November 2006 and attacked the ordinance as it was originally enacted in 2005. We

17 informed the Class that we required clarification regarding which version of the

18 statute controls and specifically asked whether the version of the ordinance submitted

19 into the record was controlling. The Class confirmed that the version of the ordinance

                                              5
 1 beginning at record proper 345 governed. In light of the Class’s response, we then

 2 asked whether the Class intended to challenge the forfeiture provisions of STOP and

 3 noted that those provisions are not part of the ordinance in the record. The Class

 4 responded that the forfeiture provisions were an issue in its lawsuit and that it did

 5 intend to address the forfeiture provisions on appeal.

 6        We remain uncertain about which specific version of the ordinance the Class

 7 is challenging and what effect, if any, the varying amendments to STOP have here.

 8 The Class did not address these concerns even though they were raised at oral

 9 argument, and they continue to trouble us. See Sonntag v. Shaw, 2001-NMSC-015,

10 ¶ 2, 130 N.M. 238, 22 P.3d 1188 (stating that our Supreme Court would not address

11 a party’s claim when the party failed to provide citations to relevant authority and

12 failed to argue the issue with sufficient particularity). Nevertheless, because Titus

13 controls the issues presented, we proceed to the Class’s arguments.

14        We begin with the standard of review. “Interpretation of an ordinance is a

15 matter of law subject to our de novo review using the same rules of construction

16 applicable to statutes.” Kirkpatrick v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs of Santa Fe Cnty.,

17 2009-NMCA-110, ¶ 11, 147 N.M. 127, 217 P.3d 613. We review questions involving

18 statutory interpretation, preemption, and constitutional challenges de novo. See

19 Oldham v. Oldham, 2009-NMCA-126, ¶ 5, 147 N.M. 329, 222 P.3d 701 (“We review

                                             6
 1 the district court’s statutory interpretation and conclusions of law de novo.”), aff’d in

 2 part, rev’d in part on other grounds, 2011-NMSC-007, 149 N.M. 215, 247 P.3d 736;

 3 Weise v. Washington Tru Solutions, L.L.C., 2008-NMCA-121, ¶ 9, 144 N.M. 867, 192

 4 P.3d 1244 (“Whether a state claim is preempted by federal law is a legal question that

 5 we review de novo.”); ACLU of N.M. v. City of Albuquerque, 2006-NMCA-078, ¶ 10,

 6 139 N.M. 761, 137 P.3d 1215 (“We review constitutional challenges de novo.”).

 7 Turning to the issues on appeal, we review them in the order presented.

 8        The Class first argues that STOP is contrary to varying provisions in the New

 9 Mexico Constitution dealing with separation of powers principles. Specifically, the

10 Class claims that Albuquerque unlawfully “usurped judicial power” by creating “an

11 inferior administrative court to govern and rule upon violations of the New Mexico

12 Motor Vehicle Code [(MVC)].” The assumption underlying this argument is that

13 STOP violations are, in fact, MVC violations. In Titus, we considered and rejected

14 the claim that “STOP violations are ‘properly’ MVC violations.” ___-NMCA-___,

15 ¶ 31. Because the assumption underlying the Class’s separation of powers argument

16 is invalid, the argument fails.

17        The Class next argues that STOP conflicts with “existing state law” as it

18 impermissibly declares “one, isolated traffic violation” a public nuisance. In Titus,

19 we set out the law of nuisances; concluded that speeding and red light infractions, the

                                               7
 1 target of STOP, could constitute nuisances per se if so designated by a municipality;

 2 explained that, when a municipality determines that certain conduct or conditions

 3 constitute a public nuisance, such a determination is entitled to substantial deference

 4 and is deemed presumptively correct; and, finally, concluded that “Albuquerque acted

 5 within its municipal authority as provided in [NMSA 1978,] Section 3-18-17(A)

 6 [(2009)] in enacting STOP and designating speeding and red light infractions

 7 nuisances.” Titus, ___-NMCA-___, ¶ 21. This conclusion governs the Class’s

 8 nuisance argument.

 9        In the nuisance section of the brief in chief, the Class also appears to claim that

10 STOP is inconsistent with and preempted by the MVC. This argument was addressed

11 and rejected in Titus where we stated that “STOP does not conflict with the MVC or

12 invade the state’s statutory authority to regulate traffic under the MVC.” Id. ¶ 35. We

13 explained that “STOP merely provides civil monetary penalties for conduct that is also

14 a criminal offense under the MVC” and that “[t]hose civil monetary penalties do

15 nothing to upend the MVC.” Id. As in Titus, we reject the assertion that STOP is

16 preempted by the MVC. Id. We proceed to the Class’s next argument.

17        The Class asserts that STOP is “unconstitutional because it treats a criminal

18 case as a civil case[.]” In Titus, we concluded that STOP is a civil remedial legislation

19 enacted for the purpose of nuisance abatement and not, as was argued by the appellant

                                               8
 1 in Titus and as the Class argues in this appeal, a criminal statute. Id. ¶¶ 36-37. The

 2 Class goes on to argue that the due process rights of individuals charged with STOP

 3 violations are adversely impacted because STOP lowers the evidentiary burden of

 4 proof regarding what is, in the Class’s view, a criminal penalty. [AB 9] This

 5 argument fails in light of our conclusion that a STOP violation does not constitute a

 6 criminal offense.

 7        Next, the Class raises a procedural due process objection. It argues that the

 8 administrative hearing process in which alleged violators must participate if they wish

 9 to challenge a STOP violation is woefully inadequate in light of the nature of the

10 deprivation associated with a STOP violation. The Class does not focus on the seizure

11 provisions of STOP. Rather, its primary objection appears to be that STOP does not

12 permit alleged violators an adequate opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses and

13 the evidence that form the basis of a STOP violation. Specifically, the Class contends

14 that alleged violators are denied “access to the technologies and equipment used by”

15 Albuquerque to prove the violation and that STOP bars an alleged violator from

16 “asserting defective calibration” of the equipment. We are unpersuaded.

17        First, the Class’s contentions as to the process are contrary to what is stated in

18 STOP. Albuquerque, N.M., Ordinances, chapter 7, article XI, section 7-11-5(F)

19 (2009) of STOP provides that the alleged violator “may challenge the weight or

                                              9
 1 accuracy of the evidence.”      The Class appears to concede that this provision

 2 undermines its claims and counters that this provision is meaningless as alleged

 3 violators are given “no avenue in which to challenge the accuracy of the evidence.”

 4 We do not agree. Albuquerque, N.M., Ordinances, chapter 7, article XI, section 7-11-

 5 5(G) of STOP provides specific procedures that govern when a violator objects to the

 6 camera speed device evidence. In light of this provision, it appears to us that STOP

 7 provides alleged violators the opportunity to do exactly what the Class contends they

 8 cannot: challenge the accuracy and functionality of the electronic detection equipment.

 9        In addition to the foregoing, we note that the Class cited almost no authority in

10 support of its due process argument. See ITT Educ. Servs., Inc. v. Taxation & Revenue

11 Dep’t, 1998-NMCA-078, ¶ 10, 125 N.M. 244, 959 P.2d 969 (stating that this Court

12 will not consider propositions that are unsupported by citation to authority). Indeed,

13 the Class has neither identified nor set out the analysis that governs procedural due

14 process objections. In Titus, we analyzed the enforcement procedures in STOP under

15 the standard articulated in Board of Education v. Harrell, 118 N.M. 470, 478, 882

16 P.2d 511, 519 (1994) and, after considering the procedures under the factors

17 established in Harrell, we concluded that they were essentially fair. Titus, ___-

18 NMCA-___, ¶ 43. Based on that conclusion, we reject the Class’s procedural due

19 process claim.

                                             10
 1        The Class next raises two jurisdictional issues.        The Class argues that

 2 administrative enforcement of STOP is contrary to both NMSA 1978, Section 30-8-

 3 8(B) (1963), and NMSA 1978, Section 34-8A-3(A)(1) (2001). We addressed whether

 4 the former of these two provisions, Section 30-8-8(B), conflicted with STOP in Titus.

 5 Section 30-8-8(B) provides the following:

 6        A civil action to abate a public nuisance may be brought, by verified
 7        complaint in the name of the state without cost, by any public officer or
 8        private citizen, in the district court of the county where the public
 9        nuisance exists, against any person, corporation or association of persons
10        who shall create, perform or maintain a public nuisance.

11 The Class argues that this statute requires Albuquerque to “process” STOP violators

12 through the Bernalillo County district court and prohibits Albuquerque from enforcing

13 STOP through an administrative hearing. In Titus, we concluded that Section 30-8-

14 8(B) “does not preclude [an] abatement action from first being brought in an

15 administrative setting with express allowance for an appeal to the district court as is

16 provided in STOP.” Titus, ___-NMCA-___, ¶ 29. This conclusion addresses the

17 Class’s concern.

18        Turning to the Class’s other jurisdictional claim, we observe that the appellant

19 in Titus also asked us to evaluate whether STOP was inconsistent with Section 34-8A-

20 3(A)(1). Titus, ___-NMCA-___, ¶ 30. We declined, however, to address that

21 question as we concluded that the appellant had failed to adequately develop the issue.

                                             11
 1 Id. For the reasons below, we reach the same conclusion here.

 2        Section 34-8A-3(A)(1) provides that “a metropolitan court shall have

 3 jurisdiction within the county boundaries over all . . . offenses and complaints

 4 pursuant to ordinances of the county and of a municipality located within the county

 5 in which the court is located.” The Class references this ordinance in passing;

 6 dedicates only a few cursory sentences to it; fails to analyze or interpret this language;

 7 and gives us no direction as to whether a STOP violation is a form of “offense” or

 8 “complaint” as contemplated by the statute. Albuquerque points out that it adjudicates

 9 many other matters governed by ordinances through administrative hearings including

10 but not limited to: weed and litter removal orders, see Albuquerque, N.M., Ordinances

11 ch. 9, art. XIII, § 9-8-28 (1992), and land use issues, see Albuquerque, N.M.,

12 Ordinances ch. 14, art. XVI, § 14-16-4-4(C) (2008). Thus, the implications of the

13 Class’s argument are far reaching. Without more, we decline to reach or rule on

14 whether Section 34-8A-3(A)(1) precludes STOP violations from being adjudicated

15 through an administrative hearing.          See Headley v. Morgan Mgmt. Corp.,

16 2005-NMCA-045, ¶ 15, 137 N.M. 339, 110 P.3d 1076 (stating that this Court has no

17 duty to review an argument that is not adequately developed).

18        In its final argument, the Class claims that STOP conflicts with Section 3-18-

19 17(A)(3). It asserts that Albuquerque acted in derivation of this statute in the period

                                               12
 1 of time preceding its enactment and unjustly enriched itself during that time. We

 2 disagree. Section 3-18-17(A)(3) was enacted on June 19, 2009, and establishes a fee

 3 sharing system between Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico for monies

 4 Albuquerque accrued from the STOP program. Id. The statute and the agreement

 5 memorialized within it became effective as to any monies accrued after the date of

 6 enactment. The Class does not argue and there is no indication the statute was

 7 intended to be retroactive. Swink v. Fingado, 115 N.M. 275, 283, 850 P.2d 978, 986

 8 (1993) (“New Mexico law presumes a statute to operate prospectively unless a clear

 9 intention on the part of the [L]egislature exists to give the statute retroactive effect.”

10 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Albuquerque correctly argues that

11 it “cannot have violated a law that did not exist.” We agree.

12 CONCLUSION

13        For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

14        IT IS SO ORDERED.

15                                          __________________________________
16                                          CELIA FOY CASTILLO, Chief Judge

17 I CONCUR:

                                               13
1 __________________________________
2 JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge

3 MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge (dissenting)

                                   14
1 VIGIL, Judge (dissenting).

2        For the reasons stated in my dissent in Titus v. City of Albuquerque, No. 29,

3 461, filed March 9, 2011, I dissent.

4                                        __________________________________
5                                        MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge

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