Transportation Law Commons^™

State Vehicle Electrification Mandates And Federal Preemption, Matthew N. Metz, Janelle London

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

By requiring that new vehicles sold after a certain date be electric, states can lower drivers’ vehicle operating costs, boost local employment, and lower electric rates. But there’s a widespread perception that states can’t take advantage of these opportunities because a state vehicle electrification mandate would be preempted by federal law.

Not so.

While the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) prohibits state regulations “relating to” the control of emissions in motor vehicles, and the Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) prohibits state regulations “related to” fuel economy standards, there is a strong rationale for federal courts to reject preemption …

Public Utilities - Private Carrier Cannot Be Made A Common Carrier By Legislative Fiat

Michigan Law Review

The appellant, a private carrier for hire, was arrested for operation of motor vehicles upon the state highways without having obtained a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the state railroad commission and without having paid the mileage tax required by the state statute. This statute also gave the commission power to fix and approve rates and schedules, and otherwise regulate carriers. It further stated that, if any of its provisions were held to be unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining portions should be unaffected. Laws of Florida, 1929, c. 13700. In view of this latter provision, the state …

Public Utilities-Power Of Interstate Commerce Commision To Give Certificate Of Convenience And Necessity

Michigan Law Review

Certain coal fields in West Virginia are served by the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Norfolk and Western, and the Virginian railroads. The Chesapeake and the Norfolk compete for the westbound coal traffic coming over the Virginian which has no lines in the western part of these fields. The Interstate Commerce Commission authorized the Virginian to build a short connecting line which made possible much cheaper carriage over the Chesapeake, and authorized the Norfolk to construct a similar line in order to compete on equal terms. The Chesapeake sought a reversal on the ground that the Interstate Commerce Commission is not …

Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature

Michigan Law Review

The Dry Dock Company was given franchises by the legislature to operate street railways in New York City, by Laws 1860, c. 512, and Laws 1866, cc. 866, 868, 883. These special laws fixed a five-cent maximum fare. Much later, the Public Service Commission Law (Cons. laws, c. 48) was enacted. Sec. 29 of this provided that, "unless the commission otherwise orders, no change shall be made in any rate * * * which shall have been filed and published by a common carrier * * * except after 30 days' notice to the commission * * * and all …

Book Reviews, Edwin C. Goddard, Edwin D. Dickinson

Michigan Law Review

The plight of the public utilities following the World War has been shouted in a babel of demands for increased rates from one and all. The public has turned a doubting or hostile ear to these demands, and the utilities have overwhelmed the utility commissions with a vast mass of evidence to prove their case. None seem to have been harder hit than the electric railways. Some have ceased to operate, automobiles have already made deep cuts in their revenues, and there are not wanting those who predict that the electric railways, operating on fixed tracks, are already out of …

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attorney and Client--Application for License--Power of Court; Bills and Notes--Accommodation Maker--Evidence Excluded to Change Liability; Carriers--Conclusiveness of Ticket Between Conductor and Passenger; Constitutional Law--Police Power--Equal Protection of Laws--"Public Dancing Academy"; Copyrights--Infringement--Musical Composition; Damages--Breach of Contract; Damages--Excessive; Deeds--Grantee a Deceased Person; Divorce--Enforcement of Order Allowing Alimony Pendente Lite; Equity--Injunction--Right of a Fraternal Order to Prevent Infringement of Its Name; Equity--Specific Performance--Contract Not Enforceable as a Whole; Evidence--Limitation of Number of Witnesses--When Reversible Error; Executors and Administrators--Liability for Funeral Expenses; Gas Companies--Right to Withdraw from Municipality; Husband and Wife--Community or Separate Property--Presumption; Husband and Wife--right to Separate Maintenance--Consideration; Landlord and Tenant--Breach of …

Note And Comment, James H. Brewster, Frank L. Sage, Harry B. Hutchins, Frank L. Sage, Henry M. Bates, Henry M. Bates

Michigan Law Review

A Spurious Law Course; Railroad Taxation in Michigan and Wisconsin; Surgical Operation on Minor Without Consent of Parent; The Power of Municipal Corporations to Grant Exclusive Privileges; Inheritance Taxes and the Right to Transfer and Inherit Property; The Sovereign Power of a State to Prevent Election Frauds; Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court in Election Cases;