Court Opinion

ID: 9689060
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:18:01.553041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:44.075900
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Justice,
concurring in the result.
I agree that the double jeopardy clause prevents any further proceedings against Knittel and, accordingly, the appeal should be dismissed. Section 29-28-35, NDCC, apparently requires this court, nevertheless, to point out errors by the trial court. Because a driver’s license is a privilege and not a right, its suspension by the State requires such due process as is required by the Legislature. Constructive notice is all that is required by the Legislature — that is obligatory on the trial courts and on this court.
The dicta in the majority opinion will, I’m afraid, be construed as an invitation to anyone with driver’s license problems to claim that he or she did not get actual notice. An order by the highway commissioner suspending driving privileges in the manner authorized by the Legislature, which is sent to the driver involved, is not void. If we are going to so hold, we ought to wait until we have a direct, not a collateral, challenge.