United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Buck v. California, 343 U.S. 99 (1952)

Buck v. California

No. 165

Argued November 28-29, 1951

Decided March 10, 1952

343 U.S. 99

Syllabus

1. Appellants are taxicab drivers who transported passengers from Mexico across an unincorporated area of San Diego County, California, to points not in the unincorporated area. They were convicted of driving taxicabs in an unincorporated area of the county without a permit from the sheriff required by a county ordinance. The ordinance required a written supplication for a permit, payment of a $1 fee, and compliance with certain standards relating to the public safety.

Held: the ordinance as here applied was not invalid under the Commerce Clause of the Federal Constitution. Pp. 343 U. S. 100-104.

(a) The ordinance was not inconsistent with the Motor Carrier Act of 1935 or Interstate Commerce Commission regulations. Pp. 343 U. S. 101-102.

(b) Nor was the ordinance an unreasonable burden on foreign commerce. Pp. 343 U. S. 102-103.

2. The question of the constitutional validity of a provision of the ordinance requiring a taxicab operator's license and payment of a $50 fee therefor is not here presented. Pp. 343 U. S. 103-104.

101 Cal.App.2d 907, 226 P.2d 87, affirmed.

Page 343 U. S. 100