Court Opinion

ID: 2722333
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-29 23:01:51.186381+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:39:09.812392
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/29/14 Marin General Services Authority v. Novato Taxi CA1/5
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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               IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                       FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION FIVE

MARIN GENERAL SERVICES
AUTHORITY et al.,
         Plaintiffs and Respondents,
                                                                     A139070
v.
NOVATO TAXI et al.,                                                  (Marin County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. CIV 1001653)
         Defendants and Appellants.

         State law requires local government to regulate privately operated taxicab
companies to protect public safety. (Gov. Code, § 53075.5.)1 State law also requires that
such regulations include a mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing
certification program. (§ 53075.5, subd. (b)(3)(A).) In Marin County, regulation and
permitting of taxicabs is conducted by the Marin General Services Authority (MGSA), a
joint powers authority (§ 6500 et seq.), which administers a variety of county-wide
programs. MGSA regulations require taxicab companies to report the results of
employees’ drug and alcohol screening tests as a condition of permitting.
         Novato Taxi and its owner, Dan Carlson (collectively appellants), refused to
complete permit applications, maintaining that the reporting requirement conflicted with,
and was preempted by, section 53075.5, subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv). MGSA and the City
of Novato (collectively respondents) filed an action in Marin County Superior Court

         1   Undesignated statutory references are to the Government Code.

                                                             1
seeking to enjoin appellants from operating a taxicab company without the necessary
permits, and to impose fines and penalties. After a bench trial, the trial court issued an
order permanently enjoining appellants from operating a taxicab business without the
required permits. Appellants argue that the trial court misconstrued section 53075.5 and
abused its discretion by excluding expert testimony. We affirm.
                            I.     REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
       The California Constitution provides: “A county or city may make and enforce
within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in
conflict with general laws.” (Cal. Const., art. XI, § 7.) “The regulation of the taxicab
industry is a traditional subject of the police power of cities and counties. [Citations.]”
(Cotta v. City and County of San Francisco (2007) 157 Cal. App. 4th 1550, 1560; see also
Veh. Code, § 21100, subd. (b) [“[l]ocal authorities may adopt rules and regulations by
ordinance or resolution” regarding “[l]icensing and regulating the operation of vehicles
for hire and drivers of passenger vehicles for hire”].) “California courts have consistently
held that taxicab drivers do not obtain any vested right in the grant of permission to
operate taxicabs on the public roadways. Rather, that permission may be altered at the
discretion of the issuing authority.” (Cotta, at p. 1560.)
       The Legislature of the State of California has specifically determined that local
governments must regulate privately operated taxicab companies to protect public safety.
(§ 53075.5, as amended by Stats. 1995, ch. 405, § 1, p. 2359; Stats. 1986, ch. 248, § 87,
p. 1242 [renumbering and amending former § 53075]; Stats. 1983, ch. 1260, §§ 1–2,
p. 4999 [enacting former § 53075].) Section 53075.5 provides in relevant part:
       “(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 5351) of Division 2 of
the Public Utilities Code, every city or county shall protect the public health, safety, and
welfare by adopting an ordinance or resolution in regard to taxicab transportation service
rendered in vehicles designed for carrying not more than eight persons, excluding the
driver, which is operated within the jurisdiction of the city or county.
       “(b) Each city or county shall provide for, but is not limited to providing for, the
following: [¶] . . . [¶]

                                              2
       “(3)(A) A mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing certification
program. The program shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following
requirements:
       “(i) Drivers shall test negative for each of the controlled substances specified in
Part 40 (commencing with Section 40.1) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations,[2] before employment. Drivers shall test negative for these controlled
substances and for alcohol as a condition of permit renewal or, if no periodic permit
renewals are required, at such other times as the city or county shall designate. As used
in this section, a negative test for alcohol means an alcohol screening test showing a
breath alcohol concentration of less than 0.02 percent.
       “(ii) Procedures shall be substantially as in [federal regulation 40.1 et seq.], except
that the driver shall show a valid California driver’s license at the time and place of
testing, and except as provided otherwise in this section. Requirements for rehabilitation
and for return-to-duty and follow-up testing and other requirements, except as provided
otherwise in this section, shall be substantially as in [federal regulation 382.101 et seq.].
       “(iii) A test in one jurisdiction shall be accepted as meeting the same requirement
in any other jurisdiction. Any negative test result shall be accepted for one year as
meeting a requirement for periodic permit renewal testing or any other periodic testing in
that jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction, if the driver has not tested positive subsequent
to a negative result. However, an earlier negative result shall not be accepted as meeting
the pre-employment testing requirement for any subsequent employment, or any testing
requirements under the program other than periodic testing.
       “(iv) In the case of a self-employed independent driver, the test results shall be
reported directly to the city or county, which shall notify the taxicab leasing company of
record, if any, of positive results. In all other cases, the results shall be reported directly

       2Subsequent references to “federal regulations” are to the parts in title 49 of the
Code of Federal Regulations.

                                               3
to the employing transportation operator, who may be required to notify the city or
county of positive results.
       “(v) All test results are confidential and shall not be released without the consent
of the driver, except as authorized or required by law.
       “(vi) Self-employed independent drivers shall be responsible for compliance with,
and shall pay all costs of, this program with regard to themselves. Employing
transportation operators shall be responsible for compliance with, and shall pay all costs
of, this program with respect to their employees and potential employees, except that an
operator may require employees who test positive to pay the costs of rehabilitation and of
return-to-duty and followup testing.
       “(vii) Upon the request of a driver applying for a permit, the city or county shall
give the driver a list of the consortia certified pursuant to [federal regulation 382.101
et seq.] of that the city or county knows offer tests in or near the jurisdiction.
       “(B) No evidence derived from a positive test result pursuant to the program shall
be admissible in a criminal prosecution concerning unlawful possession, sale or
distribution of controlled substances.
       “(c) Each city or county may levy service charges, fees, or assessments in an
amount sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out an ordinance or resolution adopted
in regard to taxicab transportation services pursuant to this section.
       “(d) Nothing in this section prohibits a city or county from adopting additional
requirements for a taxicab to operate in its jurisdiction.
       “(e) For purposes of this section, ‘employment’ includes self-employment as an
independent driver.” (Italics added.)

                                               4
                   II.     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND3
       The City of Novato has delegated primary responsibility for taxicab regulation to
MGSA, but retained its traditional police power authority over enforcement of its
ordinances. In 2006, MGSA passed the Marin General Services Authority Taxi
Regulation Program (MGSA Taxicab Regulations), which is the subject of this litigation.
The MGSA Taxicab Regulations require company, driver, and vehicle permits for
taxicabs operating within Marin County.
       Under the MGSA Taxicab Regulations, “[n]o [c]ompany shall operate or permit a
Taxicab owned or controlled by it to be operated as a vehicle for hire . . . without having
first obtained a Company Permit from the MGSA.” One of the requirements for a
company permit is “[s]ubmission of a copy of the Company’s drug and alcohol policy
which must include at a minimum that employment or an offer of employment for any
Driver is conditioned upon an acceptable drug and alcohol test meeting the requirements
of these regulations and of . . . Section 53075.5 . . . .” In order to obtain a permit, a driver
is required to provide “[e]vidence of compliance with the mandatory controlled substance
and alcohol testing certification program, as set forth below: [¶] i. Drivers shall show
proof from a drug testing company approved by the Executive Officer that the Driver
tested negative for each of the controlled substances specified in [federal regulation 40.1
et seq.], before employment. Drivers must also test negative for alcohol. Drivers must
show proof of negative tests for these controlled substances and for alcohol as a condition
of Permit issuance or renewal. Drivers may be also be [sic] subject to random drug
and/or alcohol testing during the term of his/her Permit. . . . All test results shall be
reported to the [MGSA] Executive Officer or his/her designee; and [¶] . . . [¶] iv. In the
case of either a Company employee or a self-employed independent Driver, the test

       3 Appellants, in their appellate briefs, often fail to support their factual assertions
with citations to the appellate record. We do not consider such factual assertions. (See
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C); Guthrey v. State of California (1998)
63 Cal. App. 4th 1108, 1115 [appellate court may treat as waived any factual contentions
not supported by a citation to the record].)

                                               5
results shall be reported directly to the Company and the [MGSA] Executive Officer, who
shall notify the taxicab leasing company of record, if any, of positive results.”4 (Italics
added.)
       Unlike other taxicab companies in Marin County, Novato Taxi’s drivers, other
than Carlson and his wife, are employees and not independent contractors. In April 2008,
Novato Taxi and its employees began the process of applying for permits under the
MGSA Taxicab Regulations. The applications were not completed because Carlson
refused to sign a release allowing MGSA to directly receive the results of all employee
drug tests.5 Carlson maintained that, pursuant to section 53075.5,
subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv), an independent driver’s test results must all be reported to
MGSA, but only an employee’s positive test results can be reported outside the company.
       In December 2009, MGSA’s executive officer issued a compliance order, which
demanded that Novato Taxi comply with the MGSA Taxicab Regulations or face the
threat of judicial enforcement. MGSA also notified appellants that it intended to seek
termination of Novato Taxi’s telephone service, pursuant to section 53075.8. Appellants
filed a protest and requested a hearing.
       On February 9, 2010, the MGSA Board held a hearing at which appellants,
represented by counsel, argued that the MGSA Taxicab Regulations violated
section 53075.5, as well as federal regulations upon which section 53075.5 was modeled.
MGSA took the position that its regulations did not conflict with section 53075.5 because
it was merely imposing “additional requirements for a taxicab to operate in its
jurisdiction.” (§ 53075.5, subd. (d).) MGSA also argued that its regulations did not
conflict with the federal regulations. It relied on federal regulation 40.331(e), which
provides: “If requested by a Federal, state or local safety agency with regulatory

       4 The italicized language was added to the regulations after Carlson first refused to
agree to report employees’ negative test results.
       The form authorizes release of test results to “Marin County Drug Program
       5
Coordinator Jeff Rawles” and “[t]he Back Up Anti-Drug Program coordinator for the
company [an applicant drives] for.”

                                              6
authority over you or the employee, you must provide drug and alcohol test records
concerning the employee.”
       The MGSA Board rejected appellants’ preemption argument. Thereafter,
respondents filed an action in Marin County Superior Court requesting that the court
issue preliminary and permanent injunctions restraining appellants from operating a
taxicab company without the necessary permits. Respondents also sought a fine and an
order terminating Novato Taxi’s telephone service.
       On June 17, 2010, the Honorable James R. Ritchie issued an order granting a
preliminary injunction. Appellants moved, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure
section 533, to dissolve the preliminary injunction. Judge Ritchie denied the motion. We
dismissed, as untimely, appellants’ appeal from the trial court’s order denying the
motion. (Marin General Services Authority v. Novato Taxi (Apr. 17, 2012,
No. A130764) [nonpub. opn.].) Thereafter, appellants submitted the results of the drug
and alcohol tests, obtained the necessary permits from MGSA, but reserved their rights to
“argu[e] any issue whatsoever in the pending case . . . .”
       The case proceeded to a bench trial before the Honorable Faye D’Opal. At trial
the facts were undisputed, but appellants continued to maintain that the requirement that
all employee drug test results be reported directly to MGSA conflicted with, and was
preempted by, section 53075.5, subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv). Appellants presented
legislative history materials, as well as the testimony of Carolina Rose, an attorney, who
opined that “local government was [not] given discretionary authority to require that all
test results of employees be reported directly to local government.” Respondents
objected to Rose’s testimony as inadmissible legal opinion.
       Initially, Judge D’Opal allowed Rose’s testimony, but later reconsidered the
evidentiary ruling and sustained respondents’ objections. The trial court also entered
judgment for respondents, issued a permanent injunction compelling appellants to
comply with the MGSA Taxicab Regulations prior to operating any taxi, and ordered
appellants to pay a fine of $5,000. The court’s statement of decision provides: “Nothing
in [the] legislative history [of section 53075.5] bars any City or County from also

                                             7
requiring the drug test results for employee drivers to be submitted directly to them.
[¶] The legislative purpose in adopting the statutory language was not to force these
agencies to incur unwanted expense, oversight duties or liability in administering the
drug testing program. If the Cities and Counties voluntarily decided it was in the interest
of public safety to take a more active role in ensuring the sobriety of taxicab drivers, and
to require the testing labs to also send all drug tests (for both independent and employee
drivers) directly to them, there is nothing in the statute or in the legislative history to
indicate that they should be prevented from adopting the additional regulation at issue
here.” (Some italics omitted.) Appellants filed a timely notice of appeal from the
judgment.
                                     III.    DISCUSSION
       In their briefs, appellants do not argue that the MGSA Taxicab Regulations violate
the Fourth Amendment or Novato Taxi employees’ right of privacy under article I,
section 1, of the California Constitution.6 Instead, appellants contend that the trial court
erred by failing to conclude that the challenged ordinance is preempted by
section 53075.5. Appellants also maintain that the trial court abused its discretion by
excluding Rose’s expert testimony. Neither argument has merit.
A.     Preemption
       Appellants argue that the plain language of section 53075.5, and its legislative
history, suggests that the Legislature sought to prohibit local government from requiring
direct government reporting of all drug test results. They urge, “By permitting the
MGSA and the City to enact an ordinance that requires the very conduct that the plain
language of the statute precludes, and which the legislature had considered and rejected

       6  At oral argument, appellants attempted to raise new arguments, which we will
not address. (See People v. Thompson (2010) 49 Cal. 4th 79, 110, fn. 13 [an argument not
made in briefs is forfeited and cannot properly be raised at oral argument]; Sunset Drive
Corp. v. City of Redlands (1999) 73 Cal. App. 4th 215, 226 [“[a]bsent a sufficient showing
of justification for the failure to raise an issue in a timely fashion, we need not consider
any issue which, although raised at oral argument, was not adequately raised in the
briefs”].)

                                               8
in enacting the law, the trial court interpreted the statute in a manner that renders . . .
section 53075.5(b)(3)(A)(iv) superfluous.” Respondents, on the other hand, argue the
challenged regulation is authorized by section 53075.5, subdivisions (b)(3)(A) and (d).
       We review questions of statutory interpretation and preemption de novo. (Farm
Raised Salmon Cases (2008) 42 Cal. 4th 1077, 1089, fn. 10; Lewis C. Nelson & Sons, Inc.
v. Clovis Unified School Dist. (2001) 90 Cal. App. 4th 64, 69; Bank of America v. Giant
Inland Empire R.V. Center, Inc. (2000) 78 Cal. App. 4th 1267, 1276.) “ ‘[T]he
construction of statutes and the ascertainment of legislative intent are purely questions of
law. This court is not limited by the interpretation of the statute made by the trial court
. . . .’ [Citation.] Nor are we limited to the evidence presented on the question in the trial
court. [Citation.]” (Bravo Vending v. City of Rancho Mirage (1993) 16 Cal. App. 4th 383,
391–392.)
       “The party claiming that general state law preempts a local ordinance has the
burden of demonstrating preemption. [Citation.]” (Big Creek Lumber Co. v. County of
Santa Cruz (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 1139, 1149.) “[I]n view of the long tradition of local
regulation and the legislatively imposed duty to preserve and protect the public health,
preemption may not be lightly found. [¶] ‘Local legislation in conflict with general law is
void. Conflicts exist if the ordinance duplicates [citations], contradicts [citation], or
enters an area fully occupied by general law, either expressly or by legislative implication
[citations]. If the subject matter or field of the legislation has been fully occupied by the
state, there is no room for supplementary or complementary local legislation, even if the
subject were otherwise one properly characterized as a “municipal affair.” [Citations.]’
[Citation.] [¶] . . . [¶] Preemption by implication of legislative intent may not be found
when the Legislature has expressed its intent to permit local regulations. Similarly, it
should not be found when the statutory scheme recognizes local regulations.” (People ex
rel. Deukmejian v. County of Mendocino (1984) 36 Cal. 3d 476, 484–485.)
       Preemption analysis “consists of four questions, which in order of increasing
difficulty may be listed as follows: (1) Does the ordinance duplicate any state law?
(2) Does the ordinance contradict any state law? (3) Does the ordinance enter into a field

                                               9
of regulation which the state has expressly reserved to itself? (4) Does the ordinance enter
into a field of regulation from which the state has implicitly excluded all other regulatory
authority? [Citations.]” (Bravo Vending v. City of Rancho Mirage, supra,
16 Cal.App.4th at p. 397.) Section 53075.5 expressly makes clear that further local
regulation was expected. Thus, appellants apparently concede that the challenged
regulation does not duplicate state law or enter into a field expressly or implicitly
reserved to the state. Instead, they focus only on the second test. They contend: “[T]he
MGSA ordinance clearly contradicts the Government Code because it directs that drug
test results[, which section 53075.5] commands be delivered only to an employer[,] also
be delivered to [MGSA’s] designated officer.” The MGSA Taxicab Regulations
unquestionably require direct reporting of an employee’s test results, including negative
results, to local government. However, the parties disagree regarding whether that
requirement conflicts with section 53075.5. We must construe the statute.
       “The relevant principles that guide our decision are well known. ‘ “Our function
is to ascertain the intent of the Legislature so as to effectuate the purpose of the law.
[Citation.] To ascertain such intent, courts turn first to the words of the statute itself
[citation], and seek to give the words employed by the Legislature their usual and
ordinary meaning. [Citation.] When interpreting statutory language, we may neither
insert language which has been omitted nor ignore language which has been inserted.
(Code Civ. Proc., § 1858.) The language must be construed in the context of the statutory
framework as a whole, keeping in mind the policies and purposes of the statute [citation],
and where possible the language should be read so as to conform to the spirit of the
enactment. [Citation.]” ’ [Ciations.] [¶] We also must endeavor to harmonize, both
internally and with each other, separate statutory provisions relating to the same subject.
[Citation.]” (Lewis C. Nelson & Sons, Inc. v. Clovis Unified School Dist., supra,
90 Cal.App.4th at pp. 69–70.) “ ‘ “It is an elementary rule of construction that effect
must be given, if possible, to every word, clause and sentence of a statute.” A statute
should be construed so that effect is given to all its provisions, so that no part will be
inoperative or superfluous, void or insignificant, and so that one section will not destroy

                                              10
another unless the provision is the result of obvious mistake or error.’ [Citations.]”
(Rodriguez v. Superior Court (1993) 14 Cal. App. 4th 1260, 1269.)
       “If the language is clear and unambiguous there is no need for construction, nor is
it necessary to resort to indicia of the intent of the Legislature (in the case of a statute)
. . . . [Citations.]” (Lungren v. Deukmejian (1988) 45 Cal. 3d 727, 735.) “When the
language is susceptible of more than one reasonable interpretation, however, we look to a
variety of extrinsic aids, including the ostensible objects to be achieved, the evils to be
remedied, the legislative history, public policy, contemporaneous administrative
construction, and the statutory scheme of which the statute is a part. [Citations.]”
(People v. Woodhead (1987) 43 Cal. 3d 1002, 1008.) “We must select the construction
that comports most closely with the apparent intent of the Legislature, with a view to
promoting rather than defeating the general purpose of the statute, and avoid an
interpretation that would lead to absurd consequences. [Citation.]” (People v. Jenkins
(1995) 10 Cal. 4th 234, 246.)
       Section 53075.5 provides, in relevant part: “(b) Each city or county shall provide
for, but is not limited to providing for, the following: [¶] . . . [¶] (3) [¶] (A) A mandatory
controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program. The program shall
include, but need not be limited to, all of the following requirements: [¶] (i) Drivers shall
test negative for each of the controlled substances specified in [federal regulation 40.1
et seq.], before employment. Drivers shall test negative for these controlled substances
and for alcohol as a condition of permit renewal or, if no periodic permit renewals are
required, at such other times as the city or county shall designate. As used in this section,
a negative test for alcohol means an alcohol screening test showing a breath alcohol
concentration of less than 0.02 percent. [¶] (ii) Procedures shall be substantially as in
[federal regulation 40.1 et seq.], except that the driver shall show a valid California
driver’s license at the time and place of testing, and except as provided otherwise in this
section. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] (iv) In the case of a self-employed independent driver, the test
results shall be reported directly to the city or county, which shall notify the taxicab
leasing company of record, if any, of positive results. In all other cases, the results shall

                                                11
be reported directly to the employing transportation operator, who may be required to
notify the city or county of positive results. [¶] (v) All test results are confidential and
shall not be released without the consent of the driver, except as authorized or required by
law. [¶] . . . [¶] (B) No evidence derived from a positive test result pursuant to the
program shall be admissible in a criminal prosecution concerning unlawful possession,
sale or distribution of controlled substances. [¶] . . . [¶] (d) Nothing in this section
prohibits a city or county from adopting additional requirements for a taxicab to operate
in its jurisdiction.” (Italics added.)
       According to appellants, because the express language of section 53075.5 provides
that employees’ drug test results “shall” be reported to the employer, the Legislature
necessarily expressed its intent that all results shall not be reported to local government.
Appellants are correct that “shall” ordinarily means “must” and is inconsistent with
discretion. (People v. Municipal Court (Hinton) (1983) 149 Cal. App. 3d 951, 954.) But,
the trial court’s and MGSA’s interpretation of the statutory language does no violence to
the “shall” in section 53075.5, subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv). Under the MGSA Taxicab
Regulations, the results of an employee’s drug test are being reported to his or her
employer. The question is what the statute provides with respect to reporting results to
local government. With respect to employee test results, section 53075.5,
subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv) states that employers “may be required to notify the city or
county of positive results.” Nothing in section 53075.5, subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv),
explicitly prohibits reporting an employee’s negative test results to local government.
       Appellants also rely on expressio unius est exclusio alterius and argue, “the
expression that the employer is the recipient of employees’ drug test results necessarily
involves exclusion of the city and county, which entities are not expressed.” One could
also argue that by stating employers “may be required to notify the city or county of
positive results,” the Legislature intended to exclude negative results. “A recognized rule
of statutory construction is that the expression of certain things in a statute necessarily
involves exclusion of other things not expressed—expressio unius est exclusio alterius.”
(Henderson v. Mann Theatres Corp. (1976) 65 Cal. App. 3d 397, 403.) The problem with

                                               12
appellants’ argument is that it overlooks section 53075.5, subdivision (d), which invites
local authorities to “adopt[] additional requirements for a taxicab to operate in its
jurisdiction.” Ignoring this language, as appellants ask us to do, would violate the
fundamental rule that “[c]ourts should give meaning to every word of a statute if
possible, and should avoid a construction making any word surplusage. [Citation.]” (Big
Creek Lumber Co. v. County of Santa Cruz, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 1155.) The plain
language of section 53075.5 compels local governments to promulgate regulations
meeting the minimum requirements of the statute, but it also grants local government the
authority to promulgate additional requirements not in conflict. MGSA has done just
that. The MGSA Taxicab Regulations ensure that results of employee drug tests are
provided to the employer, but they additionally provide for reporting all results to the
MGSA. Thus, the MGSA Taxicab Regulations provide an “additional requirement,” not
a contradictory requirement.
       Inasmuch as the plain language of section 53075.5 expresses a clear legislative
intent to grant local government authority to include additional reporting requirements,
we need go no further. But even if some ambiguity were to exist in the statutory
language, our conclusion is reinforced by the legislative history.
       During the 1994–1995 regular legislative session, drug and alcohol testing for
taxicab drivers was proposed in Senate Bill No. 46, introduced by Senator Ayala.
Originally, the bill proposed legislation that differs significantly from that ultimately
enacted. (Compare Stats. 1995, ch. 405, § 1, pp. 2359–2361 with Sen. Bill No. 46
(1994–1995 Reg. Sess.) as introduced Dec. 19, 1994, p. 2.) A March 27, 1995
amendment to the bill proposed, in relevant part, that “[s]ection 53075.5 . . . [be]
amended to read: [¶] . . . [¶] (b) Each city or county shall provide for, but is not limited to
providing for, the following: [¶] . . . [¶] (3) A mandatory controlled substance and alcohol
testing program that is functionally equivalent to the program required under Section
34520 of the Vehicle Code. The city or county shall require that tests be administered
before employment and as a condition of permit issuance or renewal, and may require
that the tests be administered after an accident and at random times. Results of the tests

                                              13
shall be reported directly to the city or county, and shall not be used for criminal
prosecution. . . .” (Sen. Amend. to Sen. Bill No. 46 (1994–1995 Reg. Sess.) March 27,
1995, pp. 2–3, some italics omitted.)
       When Senate Bill No. 46 was amended again on April 25, 1995, the proposed
reporting provisions first distinguished between employee drivers and independent
contractors. (Sen. Amend. to Sen. Bill No. 46 (1994–1995 Reg. Sess.) April 25, 1995,
p. 3.) Specifically, the April 25, 1995 amendment proposed, in relevant part: “(b) Each
city or county shall provide for, but is not limited to providing for, the following: [¶] . . .
[¶] (3) (A) A mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing program that is
functionally equivalent to the program required under Section 34520 of the Vehicle
Code. . . . [¶] (B) In the case of a self-employed independent contractor applying for a
permit, the results of the test shall be reported directly to the city or county issuing the
permit. In the case of an employee applying for a permit and in all other test instances,
whether an employee or an independent contractor, the results shall be sent directly to
the employing transportation operator or the taxicab leasing company who shall notify
the applicable city or county of any positive test results.” (Sen. Amend. to Sen. Bill No.
46 (1994–1995 Reg. Sess.) April 25, 1995, pp. 2–3.) Significantly however, the
amendment also proposed recordkeeping and inspection requirements for employers and
taxicab leasing companies. (Id. at p. 3.) The legislative history is not explicit about the
reason for the amendment. However, the distinction apparently was made after the
Taxicab Paratransit Association of California proposed the language italicized above.7

       7  On April 17, 1995, the Taxicab Paratransit Association of California had written
the Senate Transportation Committee to express its “concern [that it be made] clear that
the adoption of this testing program does not result in an increased level of liability for
employing transportation operators and taxicab leasing companies.” Letters to legislators
expressing support or opposition to a bill generally “do not aid in interpretation of the
statute, but merely state the individual opinions of their authors.” (Quintano v. Mercury
Casualty Co. (1995) 11 Cal. 4th 1049, 1062, fn. 5.) Here, however, we are not interested
in the letters for the opinions stated therein, but rather because they illustrate the context
in which the Legislature arrived at the ultimately enacted statute. They are relevant on
this basis. (See City of Brentwood v. Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Bd.

                                               14
       But it was not until the bill was further amended in the Assembly that the disputed
language now found in section 53075.5, subdivision (b)(3)(A) first appeared. (Assem.
Amend. to Sen. Bill No. 46 (1994–1995 Reg. Sess.) June 13, 1995, pp. 3–5.) Again, the
legislative history is not explicit about the reason for the changes. However, on May 3,
1995, the League of California Cities had written Senator Ayala and the Senate
Appropriations Committee and expressed its concerns with the legislation: “[C]ities are
wary of the procedural and financial burdens this measure will impose on local agencies.
Cities were in general, supportive of the earlier version of [Senate Bill No. 46], which
was modeled after the private sector truck program in that the employer is responsible for
self policing their employees with federal oversight. [Senate Bill No. 46] puts cities in
the position of policing a whole class of independent private employees. Cities are
extremely uncomfortable with this situation.” (Italics added.)
       On May 4, 1995, the California State Association of Counties had also written
Senator Ayala to express its concern that “[Senate Bill No. 46] would put counties in the
position of watching over a whole class of privately employed, independent individuals.
We envision liability problems arising out of this responsibility to police taxicab drivers
through county administration of drug and alcohol tests.” Yet the California State
Association of Counties still envisioned results of testing being reported directly to the
city or county, and it also proposed the language that would become section 53075.5,
subdivision (d).
       Thereafter, on June 13, 1995, the inspection and recordkeeping requirements were
removed and the language regarding reporting of employees’ positive test results was
changed from “shall notify the applicable city or county” to “may be required to notify
the city or county of positive results.”8 (Italics added.) At the same time, subdivision (d)

(2004) 123 Cal. App. 4th 714, 728.) Furthermore, appellants have raised no objection to
consideration of these legislative materials.
       8Compare Senate Amendment to Senate Bill No. 46 (1994–1995 Reg. Sess.)
April 25, 1995, pages 2–3 and Senate Amendment to Senate Bill No. 46 (1994–1995

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of section 53075.5 was added, permitting cities and counties to adopt additional
requirements for taxicab operations. (See fn. 8.)
       Appellants maintain that their interpretation of section 53075.5 is “confirmed by
the legislative history . . . , which demonstrates that the legislature expressly considered
the very requirement that the MGSA seeks to impose . . . and rejected it.” We disagree.
The history of the legislation suggests that the Legislature intended to grant local
government discretion with respect to the enforcement scheme. Nothing indicates that
the Legislature intended to limit local government’s authority so that it could only obtain
positive test results from employees. And we cannot conceive that the Legislature would
intend to so limit local discretion in the enforcement scheme but also include
subdivision (d) in the statute. By removing record-keeping and inspection provisions
from section 53075.5, adding subdivision (d), and providing in subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iv)
that employers “may be required to notify the city or county of [an employee’s] positive
results,” the Legislature demonstrated its intent to provide local government with
flexibility. We agree with the trial court that “[t]he legislative purpose in adopting the
statutory language was not to force these agencies to incur unwanted expense, oversight
duties or liability in administering the drug testing program. If the Cities and Counties
voluntarily decided it was in the interest of public safety to take a more active role in
ensuring the sobriety of taxicab drivers, and to require the testing labs to also send all
drug tests (for both independent and employee drivers) directly to them, there is nothing
in the statute or in the legislative history to indicate that they should be prevented from
adopting the additional regulation at issue here.” (Some italics omitted.) Even if the
statutory language was ambiguous, the legislative history shows an intent to allow local
government precisely the kind of discretion that MGSA has exercised.
       Appellants’ reliance on the federal regulations does not assist their cause. It is
undisputed that taxicab companies and drivers are not directly regulated by these federal

Reg. Sess.) May 10, 1995, page 3 with Assembly Amendment to Senate Bill No. 46
(1994–1995 Reg. Sess.) June 13, 1995 at pages 3–5.

                                              16
regulations or the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). (See fed.
reg. 40.1.) Rather, appellants point out that “[t]he [Claifornia] legislature . . .
demonstrated its intent that [section 53075.5] be interpreted consistently with” certain
federal regulations. (See § 53075.5, subd. (b)(3)(A)(ii) [“[p]rocedures shall be
substantially as in [federal regulation 40.1 et seq.]”].) According to appellants, the
MGSA Taxicab Regulations are not in “substantial compliance” with the federal
regulations because they require release of all drug test results to a “third party.”
       Federal regulation 40.321 does not support this argument. That section provides
in relevant part: “Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, as a service agent or
employer participating in the DOT drug or alcohol testing process, you are prohibited
from releasing individual test results or medical information about an employee to third
parties without the employee’s specific written consent.” (Italics added.) But, “third
party” is defined as “any person or organization to whom other subparts of this regulation
do not explicitly authorize or require the transmission of information in the course of the
drug or alcohol testing process.” (Id., 40.321(a).) And, the federal regulations
specifically require employers to disclose test results, upon request, to federal, state, and
local agencies. (See Id., 40.331(e) [“[i]f requested by a Federal, state or local safety
agency with regulatory authority over you or the employee, you must provide drug and
alcohol test records concerning the employee”].)9 Thus, MGSA is not a “third party”
under the federal regulations.

       9 Federal regulation 40.331 provides, in relevant part: “As an employer or service
agent you must release information under the following circumstances: [¶] . . . [¶] (b) If
you are an employer, you must, upon request of DOT agency representatives, provide the
following: [¶] (1) Access to your facilities used for this part and DOT agency drug and
alcohol program functions. [¶] (2) All written, printed, and computer-based drug and
alcohol program records and reports (including copies of name-specific records or
reports), files, materials, data, documents/documentation, agreements, contracts, policies,
and statements that are required by this part and DOT agency regulations. You must
provide this information at your principal place of business in the time required by the
DOT agency. [¶] (3) All items in paragraph (b)(2) of this section must be easily
accessible, legible, and provided in an organized manner. If electronic records do not

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       Contrary to appellants’ contention, the MGSA Taxicab Regulations are not in
substantial conflict with the federal scheme. We conclude that the challenged ordinance
is not preempted by section 53075.5.
B.     Exclusion of Expert Testimony
       Appellants also argue that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding Rose’s
expert testimony. We review the trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence for
abuse of discretion. (Caloroso v. Hathaway (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 922, 928.)
       We see no such abuse of discretion. Rose essentially opined that section 53075.5
did not give local entities the discretionary authority to require direct government
reporting of all employee test results. This was the legal question to be decided by the
court. “An expert witness may not properly testify on questions of law or the
interpretation of a statute.” (Communications Satellite Corp. v. Franchise Tax Bd. (1984)
156 Cal. App. 3d 726, 747.) “The reason is that the lawyer-expert who expounds on the
law usurps the role of the trial court.” (Summers v. A. L. Gilbert Co. (1999)
69 Cal. App. 4th 1155, 1160.)
       The authority relied on by appellants does not hold otherwise. (See, e.g., Huber,
Hunt & Nichols, Inc. v. Moore (1977) 67 Cal. App. 3d 278, 313 [involving expert
testimony regarding standard of care applicable to architects]; Western Medical
Enterprises, Inc. v. Albers (1985) 166 Cal. App. 3d 383, 392 [“[a]t no point in the record
cited by appellant [did the witnesses] testify as to the proper judicial interpretation of
Medi-Cal rules and regulations”].) Appellants also misplace their reliance on American
Home Assurance Co. v. Hagadorn (1996) 48 Cal. App. 4th 1898, 1902–1903, Fallbrook
Sanitary Dist. v. San Diego Local Agency Formation Com. (1989) 208 Cal. App. 3d 753,

meet these standards, they must be converted to printed documentation that meets these
standards. [¶] . . . [¶] (d) If requested by the National Transportation Safety Board as part
of an accident investigation, you must provide information concerning post-accident tests
administered after the accident. [¶] (e) If requested by a Federal, state or local safety
agency with regulatory authority over you or the employee, you must provide drug and
alcohol test records concerning the employee.” (Italics added.)

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764, and Roberts v. Gulf Oil Corp. (1983) 147 Cal. App. 3d 770, 781–782. These cases do
not address an argument regarding the admissibility of expert opinion testimony on
legislative intent. Opinions are not authority for propositions not considered. (People v.
Avila (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 491, 566.) The trial court properly considered the legislative
history in resolving the legal question presented. Appellants have not demonstrated that
the trial court abused its discretion.
                                     IV.   DISPOSITION
       The judgment is affirmed. Respondents are to recover their costs on appeal.

                                                 _________________________
                                                 Bruiniers, J.

We concur:

_________________________
Jones, P. J.

_________________________
Simons, J.

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