92 Neb. 523 | Neb. | 1912
•. Appellant was arrested and convicted of the violation of a city • ordinance providing that “it shall he unlawful for any person operating a motorcycle to carry another person on said machine in front of the operator.” This provision is embraced within a general ordinance regulating the use of motor vehicles in the city of Lincoln. Having failed to pay the fine and costs adjudged against him, he was committed to jail. He applied to the district court for release upon a writ of habeas corpus, on the ground that the ordinance was unreasonable and void, and from a denial of the writ he has appealed.
Summarily stated, his contention is that the ordinance arbitrarily invades personal rights; that a motorcycle is a type of motor vehicle which is no more dangerous to operate with a passenger in front than an ordinary electric automobile, which is usually a glass-inclosed cab in which passengers may occupy a seat directly in front of
The principles controlling the question presented are so well settled in this state as scarcely to require repetition : “Courts will not ordinarily inquire into the motive of a city council in its exercise of a discretionary power conferred upon it by the legislature.” Enders v. Friday, 78 Neb. 510. In Peterson v. State, 79 Neb. 132, it is said: “It is a genera] rule that the determination of the question wliether or not an ordinance is reasonably necessary for the protection of life and property within the city is committed in the 'first instance to the municipal authorities thereof by the legislature. When they have acted and passed an ordinance, it is presumptively valid, and, before a court will be justified in holding their action invalid, tire unreasonableness or want of necessity of such measure for the public safety and for the protection of life and property should be clearly made to appear. It should be manifest that the discretion imposed on the municipal authorities has been abused by the exercise of the power conferred, by acting in an arbitrary manner.” See, also, In re Anderson, 69 Neb. 686. We think there
The ordinance is general with respect to all persons who operate motorcycles, and since it treats all members of that class alike, and the classification is founded upon a reasonable basis, it was within the power of the city council to adopt the same.
We find no error in the judgment of the district court, and it is, therefore,
Affirmed.