State v. Willburn
State v. Willburn
Opinion of the Court
OPINION OF THE COURT BY
Defendant was charged in the District Court of Honolulu with a violation of specified sections of “the Rules and Regulations Governing Waikiki Beach, Department of Transportation, State of Hawaii, promulgated
An appeal having been taken by the State on points of law, the sole question before us is whether R.L.H. 1955, § 112-5, as amended by Act 115, S.L. 1965 (Supp. 1965), is so lacking in a proper standard as to preclude the promulgation under it of any valid regulation whatsoever.
Section 112-5, R.L.H. 1955, was further amended by Act 44, S.L. 1966, but that amendment is not involved. As amended by Act 115, S.L. 1965, section 112-5 read in pertinent part as follows:
“Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, and subject to chapter 6C, Revised Laws of Hawaii, 1955, as amended, and to terms, conditions and covenants of easements herein described, the director shall also be authorized with respect to lands along the shores of the State encumbered by a public easement to promulgate rules and regulations governing any and all uses and activities within such easement area.”
While the term “lands along the shores” is a broad one, in the light of the title of Act 115
S.L. 1927, c. 273, provided for the building of a beach at Waikiki, and directed that construction work should not begin “unless and until legal arrangements are made whereby the general public shall be assured of the right to use such portion of any beach built as lies within seventy-five (75) feet shoreward of the mean high water mark.” It also was provided that: “Any beach so built shall be and remain free of all structures.” Further funds for beach improvements were appropriated by Act 201, S.L.. 1963, section IB, item 3(c), as amended by Act 31, S.L. 1964. This appropriation was for Kuhio Beach improvements. With reference to private owners along the shoreline from the northern boundary of Kuhio Beach to the northern boundary of the Boyal Hawaiian Hotel, it was required that before constructing the Kuhio Beach improvements the State enter into an agreement with these owners whereby no accretion to their land Avould accrue thenceforth, except as agreed.
The original enactment, Act 201, S.L. 1963, with evident reference to the agreements made under the 1927 act, provided that “the existing public easement created under the 1928-1929 Waikiki Beach Beclamation Agreements shall remain as is; and provided further that the State of Hawaii shall not construct any permanent structures in the easement area fronting any private property.” As set forth in the urgency clause of the amendatory act, Act 31, S.L. 1964, § 1, difficulty was encountered because
We think it clear that the easement areas established by the 1928-1929 agreements made under the 1927 act, as the same might be modified as to location or terms by the agreement made pursuant to the 1963 and 1964 acts, were easement areas within the meaning of R.L.H. 1955, § 112-5, as amended by Act 115, S.L. 1965. Whether the easement areas covered by Act 115 included other areas besides the ones above identified, we are not called upon to say. It is sufficient for present purposes that there Avere at least some identifiable areas.
Defendant has not shown that he has standing to attack the act for indefiniteness as to the areas covered by it. Cf., Gorieb v. Fox, 274 U.S. 603, 606; Territory v. Reyes, 33 Haw. 180, 194-95; Territory v. Field, 23 Haw. 230, 232-33; Territory v. Hoy Chong, 21 Haw. 39, 42. As stated in Southern Ry. v. King, 217 U.S. 524, 534:
“It is the settled law of this court that one who would strike down a state statute as violative of the Federal Constitution must bring himself by proper averments and showing within the class as to whom the act thus attacked is unconstitutional. He must show that the alleged unconstitutional feature of the law injures him, and so operates as to deprive him of rights protected by the Federal Constitution.”
The same principle applies to an attack based on the State constitution.
There is still another consideration. Due to this being an appeal on points of law, only points decided by the magistrate are before us for review,
Also appended to the State’s brief are copies of the 1928-1929 Waikiki Beach Reclamation Agreements, and a copy of an agreement entitled “Surf Rider-Royal Hawaiian Sector Beach Agreement,” dated May 28, 1965. These likewise were not admitted into evidence so far as appears. They are not a part of the certified record.
However, from section 112-5 itself, as amended by Act 115, S.L. 1965, it appears that there were “terms, conditions and covenants” of the easements which were the subject matter of the statute, and that the legislature had these in view. If the purpose was to provide for compliance with the terms, conditions and covenants of the easements covered by the statute,
When the statute is so construed and it is recognized that the legislative purpose was to provide for compliance with the terms, conditions and covenants of the easements, there is no absence of a proper standard and no unconstitutionality appears. Even under the requirements of A. L. A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, 295 U.S. 495, 535, as explained in Fahey v. Mallonee, 332 U.S. 245, 249, both cited by defendant, there is no unconstitu
Panama Refining Co. v. Ryan, 293 U.S. 388, also cited by defendant, turned on the construction of the statute. While no standard was found by the majority, as stated by Mr. Justice Cardozo, dissenting: “The prevailing opinion concedes that a standard will be as effective if imported into § 9(c) by reasonable implication as if put there in so many words.” (293 U.S. at 435). We have given a reasonable construction to the statute before us, taking into consideration its purpose, background, and provisions as a whole. American Power & Light Co. v. Securities & Exch. Comm’n, 329 U.S. 90, 104; In re Berardi, 23 N.J. 485, 129 A.2d 705, 708; cf., State v. Taylor, 49 Haw. -,-P.2d-.
As to defendant’s reliance on Lanzetta v. New Jersey, 306 U.S. 451, and like cases dealing with the question of whether a penal statute, complete in itself and not de
The title of an act may be resorted to as an aid to construction where the language of tbe act is ambiguous. Smithies v. Conkling, 20 Haw. 600, 605; In re Contested Election, 15 Haw. 323, 331.
In this case tbe title relates to regulations “governing commercial and beach activities at public beaches.”
Adams v. Klein, supra, 38 Haw. 346, 349, construing what is now R.R.H. 1955, § 208-1.
See R.L.H. 1955, § 224-7.
As above stated, these included at least the easements established by the 1928-1929 agreements. We are not. called upon to say whether other areas as well were included.
Defendant argues that the words “any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding” show that the statute was intended to authorize the issuance of regulations “having the effect of repealing laws previously passed by the legislature.” We do not agree. These words, ¿nd the word “also” in the phrase “the director shall also be authorized,” were intended to convey the thought that the director of transportation was being given authority additional to that conferred by the other paragraphs of section 112-5, the section to which this new authority was added, and that such authority was conferred notwithstanding any provision of law which might otherwise have been deemed to vest such authority elsewhere.
A. L. A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, supra, 295 U.S. at 535, quoted in Fahey v. Mallonee, supra, 332 U.S. 245, 249.
Defendant contends that: “Courts have generally required a higher degree of intelligible standards directed to. administrative agencies to carry out the directions of the legislative branch of the government where the right to create a crime is' sought to be delegated,” citing Fahey v. Mallonee, supra, at the point where the court commented on Schechter. But, as seen, this case comes within the class distinguished as valid in Schechter.
Dissenting Opinion
DISSENTING OPINION OF
I respectfully dissent.
Act 115, S.L. 1965,
In 1966, the legislature passed Act 44, S.L. 1966
Act 115, S.L. 1965 reads:
“ ‘Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, and subject to chapter 6C, Revised Laws of Hawaii, 1955, as amended, and to terms, conditions and covenants of easements herein described, the director shall also be authorized with respect to lands along the shores of the State encumbered by a public easement to promulgate rules and regulations governing any and all uses and activities within such easement area.’ ”
"ACT 44.
“A Bill for an Act Amending Chapter 112 of the Revised Laws of Hawaii 1955, as Amended, Relating to Harbors.
"Be it Enacted ~by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii:
“SECTION 1. This Act is hereby declared to be an urgency measure deemed necessary in the public interest within the meaning of section 11 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.
“The following is a statement of facts constituting such urgency:
“On the basis of an improper delegation of power, the District Court recently ruled that Act 115, Session Laws of Hawaii 1965, giving the Director of Transportation the power to promulgate regulations governing the uses and activities wherever the State has a public easement along the shores of the State, was unconstitutional. A review of the enabling statutes upon which the Hawaii Shore Waters Regulations were promulgated indicates that they should be amended in order to avoid similar attacks on the constitutionality of said regulations.
“Though the constitutionality of the Hawaii Shore Waters Regulations has not yet been contested, it is desirable that the enabling statute be amended to provide more specific language to insure against such a contest. The safety and protection of tourists and the users of the waters of the State would thus be assured.
“SECTION 2. Section 122-5 of the Revised Laws of Hawaii 1955, is hereby amended by adding a new paragraph, to read as follows:
“ ‘In addition to the powers vested in the director of transportation by sections 112-1 and 112-8, the director, to promote public safety, health and welfare in or on the shore waters and shores and on beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public, may promulgate, alter, amend and repeal rules and regulations governing the shore waters, shores and beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public.*660 The rules and regulations to be promulgated under this paragraph may include:
“‘(a) Safety measures, requirements and practices in or on the shore waters and shores of the State;
“‘(b) The licensing and registration of persons or organizations engaged in commercial activities in or on the shore waters or shores of the State;
“‘(c) The licensing and registration of equipment utilized for commercial activities in or on the shore waters or shores of the State;
“ ‘(d) The prohibition of the following uses and activities on beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public: (1) commercial activities, (2) the storage, parking and display of any personal property, (3) the placement of any structures or obstructions, and (4) any other uses or activities that may interfere with the public use and enjoyment of said beaches.
“‘(e) Any other matters relating to the safety, health and welfare of the general public.’
“SECTION 3. Part I of chapter 112 is hereby amended by adding a new section, to read as follows :
“ ‘Section 112- . Definitions. For the purpose of this part, if not inconsistent with the context:
“ ‘ “Shore waters and shores” shall mean all ocean waters below mean high water mark and within the jurisdiction of the State.
“ ‘ “Beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public” means any lands which lie along the shores of the State above mean high water mark and which are now, or may hereafter be encumbered by easements in favor of the public for bathing purposes and for foot passage.’
“SECTION 4. Severability. If any portion of this Act or its application to- any persons or circumstance is held to be invalid for any reason, then the legislature hereby declares that the decision of invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Act.
“SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Hawaii v. Charles P. Willburn
- Cited By
- 12 cases
- Status
- Published