US v. Rogers, 94-1400M.

• Decision Date: 26 September 1994
• Docket Number: No. 94-1400M.,94-1400M.
• Citation: 865 F. Supp. 718
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Michael ROGERS, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Colorado

865 F. Supp. 718

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Michael ROGERS, Defendant.

No. 94-1400M.

United States District Court, D. Colorado.

September 26, 1994.

Stuart Keown, for defendant.

James W. Winchester, Asst. U.S. Atty., Denver, CO, for plaintiff.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

BORCHERS, United States Magistrate Judge.

THIS MATTER came before the Court on September 20, 1994 for a hearing on the motion to dismiss the charge of driving under suspension filed by Defendant Michael Rogers. The prosecution was represented by AUSA James Winchester and Defendant was represented by Stuart Keown. Argument was provided by counsel, and the motion then was taken under advisement. Further argument is waived.

Defendant received three violation notices on July 16, 1994 at Rocky Mountain National Park (Park), a national park located within this District. One of the charges filed against him was driving under suspension. The prosecution has alleged that Defendant was driving in the Park on a Massachusetts license that had been suspended.

Defendant has filed a motion to dismiss the charge on the basis that it cannot legally stand. The prosecution has opposed the motion, arguing that Defendant may be convicted of this charge, even though his license suspension occurred within the State of Massachusetts.

In order to examine the issue involved in this motion, it is necessary to review how the case was filed in this Court. The Park is subject to exclusive federal jurisdiction. As such, Colorado traffic and criminal law applies to the Park only so far as allowed by the Assimilative Crimes Act (ACA), 18 U.S.C. § 13, or by a provision of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Congress has provided that the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations for national parks, monuments, and reservations under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. 16 U.S.C. § 3. Congress has decreed that violation of a promulgated regulation is punishable by fine and imprisonment up to six months. Further, Congress has specifically provided that § 3 is applicable to Rocky Mountain National Park. 16 U.S.C. § 197.

Pursuant to the power granted by § 3, the Secretary has promulgated 36 C.F.R. § 4.2 which reads as follows:

(a) Unless specifically addressed by regulations in this chapter, traffic and the use of vehicles within a park area are governed by State law. State law that is now or may later be in effect is adopted and made a part of the regulations in this part.

(b) Violating a provision of State law is prohibited.

This regulation thus applies Colorado traffic law to the Park. The violation notice given to Defendant also refers to the ACA. The ACA has no applicability to the Park as to application of Colorado traffic statutes. United States v. Brotzman, 708 F.Supp. 713 (D.Md.1989); United States v. Hall, 979 F.2d 320 (3rd Cir.1992). It is the regulation that controls, not the ACA. Further, the penalty of the regulation is applicable, not what may be authorized by state law.

Defendant was charged under 36 CFR 4.2(b), as it incorporated Colo.Rev.Stat. § 42-2-130. This section of the Colorado traffic code was amended in 1993 by House Bill 93-1219. The parts of the amended statute that are at issue in this case read, in part, as follows:

(1)(a) Any person who drives a motor vehicle or all-terrain recreational vehicle upon any highway of this state with knowledge that such person's license or privilege to drive, either as a resident or a nonresident, is under restraint for any reason other than a conviction of an alcohol-related driving offense pursuant to section 42-4-1202(1) or (1.5) is guilty of a misdemeanor....

(4) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "Knowledge" means actual knowledge of any restraint from whatever source, or knowledge of circumstances sufficient to cause a reasonable person to be aware that such person's license or privilege to drive was under restraint. "Knowledge" does not mean knowledge of a particular restraint or knowledge of the duration of the restraint.

(b) "Restraint" or "restrained" means any denial, revocation or suspension of a person's license or privilege to driver a motor vehicle in this state, or any combination of denials, revocations, or suspensions. (emphasis added).

Colo.Rev.Stat. § 42-2-130. Defendant argues that the statute, as amended, allows for prosecution of driving under restraint charges only when the restraint on the license took place in Colorado. Defendant concedes that a charge of driving without a license would be proper. Colo.Rev.Stat. § 42-2-101(1).¹ Defendant challenges in this motion only the charge of driving under suspension. It is that charge Defendant wishes to have dismissed.

The prosecution's argument is that the entire Colorado Motor Vehicle Code must be read as a whole. When read as a whole, it is argued that the Colorado General Assembly did not want suspended drivers...