State v. Mattingly, Unpublished Decision (11-24-1999)
State v. Mattingly, Unpublished Decision (11-24-1999)
Opinion of the Court
Officer Johns approached Mattingly's truck to request her driver's license, registration and insurance information. Mattingly honked the truck's horn so that her husband would come out of the house. Mattingly told Officer Johns he that had no jurisdiction over her, that she was not required to have an Ohio driver's license, and to get off her property.
Mattingly did not produce a valid driver's license from Ohio, or from any other state in the United States. Mattingly did provide Officer Johns what purported to be an "Internationale Driving Permit" ("IDP"). The IDP was issued by the "International Travel Association" and claims the benefit of the Convention on International Road Traffic of 19 September, 1949. After Officer Johns stated the permit was not valid, confusion erupted around the house. Mattingly continued to insist that she did not need a driver's license and to order Officer Johns off her property. She persistently honked her horn to rouse the residents of the house. At some point, a male came out and started advising Officer Johns of what he should be doing. Officer Johns feared for his safety and requested assistance from fellow officers to control the situation. Ultimately, it took four or five officers to arrest Mattingly and transport her to the station.
On April 24, 1998, a hearing was held in Wayne County Municipal Court on the charges of operating a vehicle without a license and obstructing official business. The judge found Mattingly guilty on both charges and imposed a three hundred dollar fine.
[(1)] that all charges be dropped completely and immediately in all of the cases that have transpired to date, dealing with the right to travel upon the highways[; (2)] all documentation including all photos, finger prints, and personal, private property returned[; (3)] to be left alone, to travel upon the roads and highways without being molested as long as I wish and until I trespass [sic] upon the constitutional rights of others who are as I am[; and (4) to be] reimbursed all expenses that she has had to incur in defending these frivolous cases.
This appeal arises out of Mattingly's conviction for driving without a license and for obstructing official business. To the extent that her first demand is an assertion that her conviction for driving without a license is erroneous, it will be reviewed in the interests of justice. See Metal Powder Products, Inc. v. OhioBur. of Emp. Serv. (1990)
Constitutionality
Mattingly claims that a license to drive, which complies with the laws of the State of Ohio, is not a prerequisite to driving in the state. Mattingly argues that driving is a right that the state may not infringe upon or take away.
Therefore, Mattingly has an absolute right to drive, with or without license.
Operating a motor vehicle is not constitutionally guaranteed right. State v. Gustafson (1996),
Jurisdiction
Mattingly also argues that the trial court did not have jurisdiction over either the subject matter or her person.
The offenses, which were misdemeanors, were committed within
Wayne County. Pursuant to R.C.
1901.01 , and1901.02 (A)(1), the Wayne County Municipal Court has jurisdiction of the violation of any misdemeanor committed within Wayne county.The Wayne County Municipal Court had jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case.
Furthermore, because the offense was committed within the state of Ohio, Mattingly was subject to prosecution within Ohio. R.C.
Mattingly admitted to Officer Johns that "she did not [have an Ohio Driver's license] and was not required to have one." Officer Johns testified to that admission. If she is a resident of Ohio, her conviction was proper.
Despite her lack of an Ohio driver's license, Mattingly may avoid conviction by establishing that she is a nonresident and that she is permitted to drive in her state of residence. Officer Johns testified that Mattingly showed him her IDP. Even though Mattingly declined to put on a defense, the court questioned her about the IDP. Mattingly indicated that the IDP was issued by "Robinson of Canada. * * * I was in Canada when I got that. * * * That's where I sent for it at." Mattingly did not assert that Canada, or any of its provinces, was her residence, nor did she assert that the IDP was issued by the Canadian government, any subdivision thereof, or a duly authorized association. See Convention on International Road Traffic, Sept. 19, 1949, ch. V, art. 24(3).
The Convention on International Road Traffic is a multinational agreement, to which the United States is a contracting state. Convention on International Road Traffic, Sept. 19, 1949, fn. 1. Contracting states agree to permit "any driver admitted to its territory who fulfills the conditions which are set out in annex 8 and who holds a driving permit issued to him * * * to drive on its roads without further examination [the type of motor vehicle] for which the permit has been issued." Id. at ch. V, art. 24(1). The contracting state may, however, require any party relying on the authority of the convention, to "carry an international driving permit conforming to the [specifications] in annex 10[.]" Id. at ch. V, art. 24(2).
It is clear that the international driving permit referred to does not replace a valid operator's license from one's residence. The general rule is that a valid driver's license in any contracting state will be honored by any other contracting state. This is not always practical, however. Some countries do not require physical permits to drive. In addition, the wide variety among licenses makes the task of distinguishing between a valid foreign license and an invalid one nearly impossible. Unlike national driver's licenses, the IDP is universally identifiable because each country issues it in conformance with the specifications contained in the multi-national contract. Convention on International Road Traffic, Sept. 19, 1949, annex 10. This uniform document provides a means of verifying that the driver bearing the document is, in fact, permitted to drive in her country of residence.
The trial court determined that Mattingly's IDP was not valid. After reviewing it, and comparing it to the specifications in annex 10, we agree. See Convention on International Road Traffic, Sept. 19, 1949, annex 10. Assuming Mattingly's residence is one of the Canadian provinces, she did not provide acceptable evidence in the form of a Canadian driver's license, or an IDP authorized by the Canadian government, that she was "permitted to drive upon the highways of [her] own state[.]" R.C.
Judgment affirmed.
The Court finds that there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Wayne County Municipal Court, County of Wayne, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E).
Costs taxed to Appellant.
Exceptions.
WILLIAM R. BAIRD FOR THE COURT WHITMORE, J.
BATCHELDER, J. CONCUR
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.