MARVIN WILLIAMS V CITY OF ROCHESTER HILLS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
MARVIN WILLIAMS,
FOR PUBLICATION
December 12, 2000
9:05 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellant,
V
No. 210744
Oakland Circuit Court
LC No. 97-548886-CZ
CITY OF ROCHESTER HILLS,
Defendant-Appellee.
Updated Copy
February 2, 2001
Before: Hoekstra, P.J., and Cavanagh and White, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Plaintiff sought a declaratory judgment that, as a holder of a license to sell goods issued
pursuant to § 1 of the peddler's license act, MCL 35.441; MSA 4.1241, he is exempt from
applying and paying for an additional permit or license from defendant municipality and is
exempt from prosecution by defendant for failure to do so. The circuit court granted defendant
summary disposition. Plaintiff appeals as of right. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
I
Plaintiff is a veteran who owns and resides on property within defendant city and for
years has operated a seasonal roadside stand on his property. Plaintiff holds a license issued
pursuant to the peddler's license act, MCL 35.441 et seq.; MSA 4.1241 et seq., under which he,
as a veteran,1 has the right to sell his own goods within the state of Michigan if the proceeds from
the sale of goods are to be used for his direct personal benefit or gain. Plaintiff filed his
complaint for declaratory judgment on August 1, 1997, alleging that he had sold various goods
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from his property within defendant city and had relied on his veteran's peddler's license as
authority to do so without additional licensing from defendant. Plaintiff alleged that subsection
200-21.07b of the Rochester Hills Zoning Ordinance (hereinafter subsection 21.07b) required all
persons to obtain licenses before selling goods within defendant's boundaries, that defendant had
cited him on several occasions for selling goods without first obtaining a license, and that several
actions were pending against him in the district court as a result. Plaintiff alleged that defendant
refused to acknowledge that MCL 35.441; MSA 4.1241 exempts plaintiff from local regulations.
Defendant's answer included attached copies of various citations defendant had issued
plaintiff in 1996,2 primarily for operating a roadside stand on his property without a permit, and
further stated that one violation pertained to plaintiff 's selling particular goods not permitted to
be sold even with a city permit.
Defendant filed a motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (C)(10)
on January 8, 1998, arguing that plaintiff 's roadside market was in a residential zoning district
and that plaintiff "had sold Christmas trees, wreaths, grave blankets, bows, crosses, a large
volume of various produce, and other items, a large portion of which have been purchased from
other markets in the State of Michigan."
Defendant argued that subsection 21.07b "is a
municipal police zoning regulation enacted for the purpose of preventing the establishment of
permanent commercial operations in non-commercial districts," and requires that a permit be
obtained before selling such items in a residential district.3
Plaintiff 's brief in response to defendant's motion argued that the disputed issues were
whether MCL 35.441; MSA 4.1241 exempted him from having to obtain a license from the local
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municipality to sell his goods. Plaintiff argued that he did not dispute the validity of subsection
21.07b, but, rather, was challenging the application of the ordinance to him.4
The circuit court's opinion and order granting defendant summary disposition stated:
Plaintiff, a veteran, filed this declaratory judgment action alleging an
actual controversy regarding whether The Peddler's License Act, MCL 35.441;
MSA 4.1241, et seq., exempts him from prosecution under Rochester Hills zoning
ordinance section 21.07(b). The Court finds that the statute does not exempt
Plaintiff from prosecution under the ordinance.
First, the statute clearly does not exempt veterans from complying with
municipal police regulations. As stated by the Attorney General in OAG, 19471948, No 391, p 321 at 328: ". . . [V]eterans holding licenses under the state act
must comply with municipal police regulations . . . . "
Further, the Court notes that the ordinance is a regulatory zoning
ordinance. Its purpose is expressly stated: "It is the intent of the City not to allow
the establishment of permanent commercial operations in noncommercial
districts."
Therefore, the Court finds that Plaintiff, even holding a state license, must
comply with the City's municipal regulation. The ordinance requires that he
obtain a permit. To hold otherwise would allow any veteran to open any
commercial business in any zoning district.
Defendant's motion for summary disposition is granted pursuant to MCR
2.116(C)(8) and (10).
A
At the time defendant issued plaintiff citations in 1996 for violating ordinance §
21.07, that ordinance provided in pertinent part:
Uses Not Otherwise Included within a Specific Use District.
Because the uses referred to possess unique characteristics, making it
impractical to include them in a specific use district classification, they may be
permitted by the City Council, unless otherwise specified after review and
recommendation by the Planning Commission . . . and after public hearing
pursuant to Section 23.17, Special and Conditional Land Uses, unless otherwise
specified.
These uses require special consideration since they service an area larger
than the City, contain unusual features, or require sizable land areas, creating
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problems of control with reference to abutting use districts. Uses falling within
this section are as follows:
* * *
b. Roadside stands and markets and Christmas tree sales. It is the intent
of the City not to allow the establishment of permanent commercial operations in
non-commercial districts. However, seasonal roadside stands and markets for the
sale of produce (and flowers when sold with produce), and Christmas tree sales
may be permitted on a temporary basis by obtaining a permit from the Building
Department. The permit shall be subject to the following conditions:
* * *
3. Except as otherwise provided in Section 21.07, paragraph b, 1(b), or
except for roadside produce stands or markets located in B-1, B-2, B-3 or CI
districts, all produce sold at a roadside stand or market shall be grown on the
immediate property or on property in the City of Rochester Hills which is owned
or leased by the applicant for the permit for the roadside stand or market. Proof of
ownership or lease of the property where all produce to be sold under the permit
shall be or was grown shall be provided at the time of application for the permit.
Christmas trees sold in the City may be grown outside of the City. Whenever a
permit is issued for a B-1, B-2, B-3 or CI District and produce sold is not grown
within the City, the permit holder shall register as a business pursuant to Chapter
3-01 of the Code of Ordinances. [Emphasis added.]
Violation of § 21.07 was a misdemeanor.
Subsequent changes to § 21.07. After defendant cited plaintiff for violations in 1996 and
before plaintiff filed his complaint for declaratory judgment, defendant repealed the
criminal/misdemeanor penalty provision of subsection 21.07b, making violation thereof a civil
infraction.5 During oral argument before this Court, both parties noted that during the pendency
of this appeal, defendant's city council amended § 21.07 in two ways pertinent to the instant case:
(1) the requirement that all produce sold at roadside stands be grown on property owned or leased
by the applicant within defendant city was repealed,6 and (2) the ordinance now permits the sale
of wreaths, boughs, grave blankets, and garland with Christmas tree sales.7
Subsection 21.07b as amended now reads:
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b. Roadside stands and markets, and Christmas tree sales. It is the intent
of the City not to allow the establishment of permanent commercial operations in
non-commercial districts. However, seasonal roadside stands and markets for the
sale of produce (and flowers when sold with produce), and Christmas tree sales
(including wreaths, boughs, grave blankets and garland) may be permitted on a
temporary basis by obtaining a permit from the Building Department. The permit
shall be subject to the following conditions . . . .
B
Plaintiff conceded during oral argument before this Court that, other than the requirement
that he apply and obtain a permit, the restrictions set forth in defendant's zoning ordinance,
subsection 21.07b, are properly applied to him.8
During oral argument before this Court, defendant acknowledged that the peddler's
license act, MCL 35.441 et seq.; MSA 4.1241 et seq., as interpreted by the Attorney General,
precludes defendant from requiring plaintiff to pay a fee for a local permit to sell from his
roadside stand. Defendant stated during oral argument that it will therefore not require plaintiff
to pay such a fee. Defendant further noted that because it has already inspected and verified that
plaintiff 's roadside stand meets the requirements of § 21.07, it will not require plaintiff to apply
for a permit. However, defendant still maintains that it has the right to require that plaintiff apply
for and obtain a permit, albeit without paying for it.
II
We review the circuit court's grant of summary disposition de novo.9 Singerman v
Municipal Service Bureau, Inc, 455 Mich 135, 139; 565 NW2d 383 (1997). Although the circuit
court's opinion and order states that it granted summary disposition pursuant to both MCR
2.116(C)(8) and (C)(10), it is clear that the court looked beyond the pleadings, and we therefore
review under the latter standard. A motion brought pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10) tests the
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factual support for a claim.
The circuit court must consider affidavits, pleadings, and
documentary evidence filed or submitted by the parties in the light most favorable to the
nonmovant. Smith v Globe Life Ins Co, 460 Mich 446, 454; 597 NW2d 28 (1999). The moving
party has the initial burden of supporting its position by affidavits or other documentary
evidence; the burden then shifts to the nonmovant to establish that a genuine issue of disputed
fact exists. Id. at 455. The motion is properly granted if the nonmovant fails to present
documentary evidence so establishing. Id.
A
As enacted in 1921, the peddler's license act, 1921 PA 359, approved May 18, 1921,
provided:
AN ACT to provide for issuance of veterans' licenses with out cost to
former soldiers, sailors or marines of the military or naval service of the United
States, to hawk, vend and peddle their own goods, wares and merchandise within
this state.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Section 1. Every honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine of the
military or naval service of the United States, who is a resident of this state, and a
veteran of the War of the Rebellion, or of the Spanish-American War, or of the
World War, or of any other war in which the United States of America has been a
participant, shall have the right to hawk, vend and peddle his own goods, wares
and merchandise within this state, by procuring a license for that purpose to be
issued as herein provided, which shall be valid for a period of one year.
Sec. 2. On the presentation to the clerk of any county, in which any
former soldier, sailor or marine may reside, of a certificate of honorable discharge
from the army or navy of the United States, which discharge shall show that the
person presenting it is a veteran of the War of the Rebellion, or of the SpanishAmerican War, or of the World War, or of any other war in which the United
States of America has been a participant, such county clerk shall issue without
cost to such former soldier, sailor or marine a veteran's license certifying him to
be entitled to the benefits of this act The county clerk shall provide himself with
proper blank forms and books and shall keep a record of all licenses issued under
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the provisions of this act. A veteran's license issued without cost under the
provisions of this act, shall be personal to the licensee and any assignment or
transfer thereof shall be absolutely void.
Sec. 3. Nothing in this act shall be construed as contravening the
provisions of act number one hundred ninety-one of the Public Acts of nineteen
hundred one or act number two hundred ninety-four of the Public Acts of nineteen
hundred thirteen, as amended, known as the "itinerant vendors" and "transient
merchants" acts. [Emphasis added.]
The act was amended in 1947, 1947 PA 11, to include veterans of the coast guard and World
War II.
1989 PA 20, effective May 17, 1989, amended the act to provide:
Sec. 1. Every honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the
United States who served at least 180 days of active duty service in the armed
forces or has a service connected disability as a result of that service and is a
resident of this state has the right to sell his or her own goods within this state if
the proceeds from the sale of the goods are to be used for the direct personal
benefit or gain of that former member, by procuring a license for that purpose
issued as provided in this act, which shall be valid for a period of 1 year.
Sec. 2. (1) Upon the presentation to the clerk of any county, in which any
former member of the armed forces resides, . . . the county clerk shall issue
without cost to the former member a veteran's license certifying him or her to be
entitled to the benefits of this act. The county clerk shall provide proper forms
and books and shall keep a record of all licenses issued under this act. A license
issued under this act is personal to the licensee. An assignment or transfer of the
license is void.
(2) The licensee while engaged in selling goods under this act shall
conspicuously display a sign at the place of sale that contains the following
information in not less than 18-point boldfaced type:
(a) The name of the licensee.
(b) The license number.
(c) A statement in substantially the following form:
"The profit from the sale of this product is for my personal benefit".
(3) At the time of sale of goods under this act, a written statement of not
less than 12-point boldfaced type shall be printed on or attached to the goods in
substantially the following form:
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"The profit from the sale of this product is for my personal benefit".
(4) A person shall not knowingly make a false representation that the
proceeds from goods sold under this act benefit a veterans' organization. . . .
* * *
(5) A person who violates subsection (2), (3), or (4) is responsible for a
civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $1,000.00.
(6) The prosecutor for the county in which a person violated this act shall
bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this act.
Sec. 3. Nothing in this act shall be construed as contravening the
provisions of Act No. 51 of the Public Acts of 1925, being sections 445.371 to
445.378 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. [Emphasis added.]
In 1996 several provisions of the act not at issue here10 were amended in minor fashion,
and subsection 6 was deleted. 1996 PA 187.
III
The question before us is whether defendant may require plaintiff, a veteran holding a
peddler's license pursuant to state statute, to apply for and obtain a local permit to sell goods.
A
"When construing a statute, we begin by recognizing that '[w]here the legislative intent is
clearly expressed, it is entitled to the utmost respect.'" Chandler v Dowell Schlumberger Inc, 456
Mich 395, 398; 572 NW2d 210 (1998), quoting People v Waterman, 137 Mich App 429, 432433; 358 NW2d 602 (1984).
"The cardinal rule of all statutory construction is to identify and give effect
to the intent of the Legislature. The first step in discerning intent is to examine
the language of the statute in question. We read the language according to its
ordinary and generally accepted meaning. Judicial construction is authorized only
where it lends itself to more than one interpretation." [Chandler, supra at 398,
quoting Shallal v Catholic Social Services of Wayne Co, 455 Mich 604, 611; 566
NW2d 571 (1997).]
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The parties agree that no Michigan appellate court has construed the peddler's license act,
but that several Attorney General opinions have. We address them chronologically.
In OAG, 1932-1934, p 227, 228 (March 18, 1933), the Attorney General considered
whether the peddler's license statute abrogated the statutory authority of villages to "license and
regulate hawkers and peddlers," among other things:
Section 3 of [the veteran's peddler's license act] provides that nothing in
this act shall be construed as contravening the provisions of certain acts known as
the "itinerant vendors" and "transient merchants." Section 2 of Act 85 of the
Public Acts of 1923 being section 9705 of the Compiled Laws of 1929 provides:
"Itinerant or traveling vendors or hawkers under the meaning of this act
shall include all persons who carry on the business described in section one (1)
hereof, by passing from house to house or haranguing the people on the public
streets or in public places or by using any art or device for attracting crowds and
therewith recommending their wares and offering them for sale or who travel
from place to place and hire, lease or occupy any room, building or structure for
the exhibition and sale of their wares."
It is evident that the legislature intended to grant a license gratuitously to
honorably discharged veterans to hawk and peddle within the state as long as
they peddle their own goods and commit no acts which will bring them within the
meaning of the statutes governing itinerant vendors or transient merchants,
without any further licensing by local authorities. [Emphasis added.]
In OAG, 1947-1948, No 391, p 327, 327-329 (May 26, 1947), the Attorney General
addressed whether a local unit of government may "'prohibit by ordinance a veteran holding a
hawkers' and peddlers' license under the provisions of Act 359 of 1921, as amended, from
hawking and peddling within the corporate limits or boundaries of said local unit without also
securing a local license so to do'":
Act No. 359, Public Acts of 1921, as last amended by Act No. 11, Public
Acts of 1947 (§ 4.1241 et seq., Mich. Stat. Ann. Cum. Supp.) provides for the
issuance to veterans of free licenses "to hawk, vend and peddle their own goods,
wares and merchandise within this state." Section 1 of the act provides that an
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eligible veteran "shall have the right to hawk, vend and peddle his own goods,
wares and merchandise within the state, by procuring a license for that purpose . .
. ."
Section 2 of the act provides for the issuance of such licenses by the
several county clerks and the nature of the license is in substance a certification
that the licensee is "entitled to the benefits of this act."
By Chapter 21 of the Revised Statutes of 1846, Section 19.41 et seq.,
Michigan Statutes Annotated [sic, MSA 19.541 et seq.; see 1948 CL 446.16 et
seq.; repealed 1952 PA 141], hawking and peddling generally is prohibited
without a state license. . . .
Under the last mentioned provisions the holder of a state license is not
exempted from municipal licensing. City of Alma v Clow, 146 Mich 443 [109
NW 853 (1906)].
Thus, if the act authorizing the issuance of free licenses to veterans was
intended simply to confer upon them an exemption from the fee provisions of the
general act requiring state licenses of hawkers and peddlers, such license would
not preclude municipalities from requiring additional licenses.
If this, however, had been the legislative intention, it would likely have
been accomplished by amendment to the existing act rather than by independent
legislation. In this connection it must be noted that the license issued to a veteran
under Act No. 359, Public Acts of 1929 [sic, 1921] as amended, certifies that the
holder is "entitled to the benefits of this act" (the independent act) and that this act
(the independent act) confers upon him "the right to hawk, vend and peddle . . .
within this state." The phrase "within this state" must be given its common and
ordinary meaning and thus has reference to the geographical limits of the state so
that one peddling within the confines of a particular municipality would be
peddling "within the state" and the legislature has said affirmatively that he shall
have this right.
The authority of municipalities to regulate hawking and peddling is
predicated upon police power delegated to them.
Generally speaking,
municipalities do not enjoy "inherent" police power and there can be no doubt
concerning the authority of the legislature to withdraw a previously delegated
power. It is noted, however, that the provisions of the general act prohibiting
hawking and peddling without a state license contains [sic] no regulatory
provisions. The issuance upon proper application is mandatory and it is evident
that the statute is primarily a revenue measure. On the other hand, the licenses
required by municipalities are required not for the purposes of revenue but for the
purposes of regulation and the revenue received is raised incidentally for the
purposes of regulation and the amount of license fee imposed must have a
necessary and reasonable relation to the regulatory features.
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Consequently, it is our opinion that the legislature intended to provide in
substance that veterans should have the right to hawk, vend and peddle within this
state including hawking and peddling within municipalities without payment of a
fee therefor, but that it was not intended that the regulatory provisions of
municipal ordinances should be made inapplicable to such veterans. The net
result of this is that although veterans holding licenses under the state act must
comply with municipal police regulations, they may not be compelled to pay a fee
for the privilege of exercising the right to hawk and peddle which has been given
by the state. [Emphasis added.]
We therefore agree with the opinion of former Attorney General Merlin
Wiley, found in the Biennial Report of the Attorney General for 1923-24, on page
41,[11] the concluding paragraph of which (page 43) reads:
"It follows, therefore, that a license regularly issued to a veteran under the
terms and conditions of said Act No. 359 of the Public Acts of 1921 entitles him
to hawk, vend and peddle his own goods, wares and merchandise anywhere within
the state of Michigan, including cities and villages within this state, without
further license authority from such cities and villages; provided, however, that the
licensee does not conduct said business in a manner to bring himself within the
definition of an 'itinerant vendor' or 'transient merchant' as defined by the statutes
above referred to; subject, however, to the reasonable police regulations of such
cities and villages regulating and prescribing certain streets or public places
therein where all hawking, vending or peddling is to be limited or suppressed."
[Emphasis added.]
In II OAG, 1958, No 3187, p 209, 210-211 (July 24, 1958), the Attorney General
addressed "'whether a veteran may obtain a peddler's license under Act No. 359 . . . and be
legally engaged in the nursery business as defined by Act No. 189 of the Public Acts of 1931
without having obtained a nursery license under that act.'" The Attorney General stated:
Act 359 P.A. 1921 as amended, providing for the Veterans' Peddlers'
License has been construed by this office at various times. This act dispenses with
the necessity of securing a local license to hawk, vend and peddle goods, wares
and merchandise belonging to a veteran within the confines of this state.
* * *
The legislative intent as expressed in the Veterans' Act was to provide for
an exemption in favor of one who hawks and peddles his own goods. Nowhere in
this act are there any words which indicate that a veteran is exempted by this act
from the requirements of obtaining a special state license and by the way of
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illustration we direct attention to O.A.G. 1933, page 292, dated July 20, which
stated that veterans were not exempt from the requirements of a license to carry
on the business of dealing at wholesale in farm products to be used for human
food as required at that time by Act 202 P.A. 1933.
In the instance under consideration, a buyer or dealer engaged in buying or
selling nursery stock must secure a license. This is required under Act 189 P.A.
1931 as amended, enacted to prevent the introduction and dissemination of insect
pests and plant disease and providing for their repression and control. This act
was passed under the police power for the purpose of control of pests and
diseases. It is not a revenue measure and the fees that are required must be used
for the purpose of paying enforcement costs. Section 9 of this act is the licensing
section, and it provides in part as follows:
". . . All fees collected under this act shall be paid into the general fund of
the state and shall be used in enforcement of this act: Provided, That the
provisions of this section shall not apply to persons engaged in fruit growing who
are not nurserymen but desire to sell or exchange surplus small fruit plants of their
own growing: Provided, further, That the provisions of this section shall not
apply to farmers or other persons who may sell or give away native shade trees,
native shrubs, native vines, native hardy perennials, or native evergreens from
their own premises."
By opinion rendered on July 5, 1923, it was held that the veterans'
exemption applied in favor of persons who sold drugs, nostrums, face powders
and that Act 85, P.A. 1923, requiring vendors or hawkers of such commodities to
be licensed did not apply. In that opinion we stated that the subsequent statute,
Act 85 supra, did not repeal or abrogate the earlier statute, Act 359 supra,
providing for a hawkers and peddlers exemption in favor of veterans. Insofar as
this former expression conflicts with the language herein found, it is overruled.
It is our opinion that the basic purpose of the Veterans' Act, No. 359 P.A.
1921 as amended, was to eliminate the necessity of a veteran complying with the
license provisions of local licensing ordinances relating to hawkers, vendors and
peddlers selling small wares. It is an act of limited application and does not
dispense with the need of a state license for special purposes. Therefore a veteran
who proposes to sell nursery stock must first obtain the license as provided for
under Act 189 P.A. 1931 as amended. [Emphasis added.]
Attorney General opinions are not binding, Frey v Dep't of Management & Budget, 429
Mich 315, 338; 414 NW2d 873 (1987), but can be persuasive authority. Indenbaum v Michigan
Bd of Medicine (After Remand), 213 Mich App 263, 274; 539 NW2d 574 (1995).
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As interpreted by the Attorney General, the peddler's license act gives plaintiff the right to
sell his own goods within the state, including within defendant city's boundaries, without
requiring plaintiff to apply for, secure, or pay for a local permit in order to sell his goods;
however, plaintiff must otherwise comply with § 21.07 of defendant's zoning ordinance.
The Attorney General's construction of the statute, with which we agree, is supported by
Tagmire v Atlantic City, 35 NJ Super 11, 22; 113 A2d 59 (1955), in which the court held that
although municipalities had the power to regulate peddling, under the statute authorizing
honorably discharged veterans to peddle wares within the state, NJ Stat Ann 45:24-9, the
municipalities did not have the right to require licensed veterans to obtain a municipal license
before they could peddle:
Viewing N.J.S.A. 45:24-9 et seq., as a whole and giving full effect to all
its parts, it is clear that the statute expressly and comprehensively sets out the
licensing procedure to be followed in the case of honorably discharged veterans
who desire to hawk, peddle and vend. They acquire their license at the hands of
the county clerk, and from no other official or authority. It cannot be said that a
municipality may, under color of the power to regulate given by the 1950 and
1952 amendments,[12] require veterans to take out a second (municipal) license.
To so interpret the existing law would give municipalities the power to defeat a
statutory policy of long standing—that duly licensed veterans may hawk, peddle
and vend anywhere within the boundaries of the State of New Jersey. It is to be
presumed that the Legislature, from 1904 on, intended to and did preempt and
exhaust this whole field of licensing.
Compare North Bergen Twp v Lord, 131 NJ Super 280; 329 A2d 575 (1974), in which the
appellate court reversed the trial court's finding that the defendant, who sold hotdogs from a cart,
was not guilty of violating a local health ordinance prohibiting sale of foodstuffs without a
permit, noting that it "perceive[d] no logical reason why a health regulation ordinance which by
its terms is applicable to all sellers of foodstuffs within the municipality should not be applied to
itinerant vendors," further noting that the veteran's licensing statute evidenced "no intention on
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the part of the Legislature to preempt the entire field of regulating hawkers, peddlers or vendors,"
and in fact permitted municipal regulation of such activity. Id. at 282. Finally, the court noted
that the trial court erred in finding the defendant was engaged in a mobile operation and
concluded that "[a] veteran's license to hawk, peddle and vend does not authorize the sale of
merchandise from a fixed location." Id. at 283.
We affirm the circuit court's determination that plaintiff is subject to the conditions set
forth in subsection 21.07b of defendant's zoning ordinance regarding operation of his roadstand.
We reverse the circuit court's determination that plaintiff must apply for and obtain a permit from
defendant in order to operate his roadside stand, when selling his own goods for his direct
personal benefit or gain under MCL 35.441; MSA 4.1241.
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Helene N. White
1
The act provides that to qualify for a peddler's license, one must be either an honorably
discharged member of the armed forces who served at least 180 days of active duty or have a
service-connected disability. The record is not clear whether plaintiff meets the criteria of the
former, the latter, or both categories, but defendant does not dispute that plaintiff is properly
licensed under the peddler's license act, MCL 351.441 et seq.; MSA 4.1241 et seq.
2
Plaintiff was cited for violating subsection 21.07b, including: a September 20, 1996, citation
stating that plaintiff "did allow a roadside stand or market without obtaining a permit from the
building department. I.e., seasonal produce roadside stand." The citation stated, "Seasonal
roadside stands and markets for the sale of produce (and flowers when sold with produce), and
Christmas trees may be permitted temporarily by obtaining a permit from the building dept."
Defendant cited plaintiff three times on December 5, 1996. The first was for operating a
roadside stand or market without a permit, specifically, selling Christmas trees; the second was
for the sale of Christmas wreaths, grave blankets, and bows and crosses, which the citation stated
were not permitted to be sold; the third citation, issued in the afternoon, was for selling
Christmas trees without a permit.
Plaintiff was cited for violating a different provision of the ordinance, subsection 21.10e,
on December 4, 1996, for erecting a temporary sign advertising Christmas trees for sale despite
not having a permit to sell them. That ordinance section is not before us.
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3
Defendant noted that the misdemeanor charges against plaintiff for violating the ordinance had
been tried in the district court, that plaintiff had been found guilty in each case, and that the
various district court judges had stayed sentencing pending resolution of this declaratory
judgment action. Defendant argued that plaintiff had failed to state a claim because he may not
maintain an action for declaratory relief when criminal proceedings are pending against him.
Finally, defendant argued that no genuine issue of fact remained because defendant's ordinance is
a regulatory municipal police power ordinance with which holders of veterans' peddler's licenses
must comply, and because no actual controversy existed inasmuch as MCL 35.441; MSA 4.1241
applies only to veterans selling their own goods, whereas plaintiff was purchasing his goods from
other markets and not growing them himself. Defendant attached to its motion copies of its
zoning ordinance, two opinions of the Attorney General, discussed later in this opinion, and an
Oakland Press newspaper article regarding plaintiff 's roadside stand.
4
Plaintiff attached an affidavit stating that he sold only his own goods and argued that the
newspaper article defendant relied on was inadmissible hearsay.
5
Ordinance No. 410 took effect on April 1, 1997, and established a schedule of civil fines,
payable for admissions of responsibility by persons served with municipal infraction violations of
chapter 200, of $70, and $150 for a "first repeat offense."
6
Thus, the question whether plaintiff sells produce not grown on his own property will no longer
arise. See n 7, infra.
7
Ordinance No. 200-116 was adopted by defendant's city council on April 19, 2000, by
resolution stating:
Resolved, an Ordinance to Amend Section 21.07, uses not otherwise
included within a specific use district, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of
Rochester Hills, Oakland County, Michigan, to apply in one-family residential
detached condominium developments the same restrictions on roadside stands and
markets and Christmas tree sales that apply in residential subdivisions, to clarify
what products may be sold in connection with Christmas tree sales, to repeal the
requirement that all produce sold at roadside stands or markets not located
within a residential subdivision or condominium shall be grown on the immediate
property or other property in the City owned or leased by the permit applicant, to
repeal conflicting Ordinances, to prescribe a civil fine for violations is hereby
adopted for Second Reading and shall become effective on Friday, April 28, 2000,
the day following its publication in the Clarion-Eccentric on Thursday, April 27,
2000. [Emphasis added.]
8
"The zoning of land is a reasonable exercise of government police power." Paragon Properties
Co v Novi, 452 Mich 568, 573; 550 NW2d 772 (1996).
9
We do not address plaintiff 's argument that the circuit court failed to afford him an opportunity
to amend his pleading because no such request was made below, plaintiff 's appellate brief did
not set forth the substance of any such amendment, and the issue was not raised during oral
argument.
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10
See MCL 35.442(2), (4)(b), (5); MSA 4.1242(2), (4)(b), (5).
11
OAG, 1923-24, p 41, 41-43, responded to a request for
a construction of Act 359 of the Public Acts of 1921 relative to the issuance of
veterans' licenses to former soldiers . . . and in particular whether said act
supersedes or modifies the statutory authority given to cities and villages to
require licenses to hawk, vend and peddle in such cities and villages.
The Attorney General stated:
It was evidently the intention of the legislature to provide for a gratuitous
license to all honorably discharged soldiers . . . who were residents of the State of
Michigan . . . which would permit such veteran to hawk, vend and peddle his own
goods, wares and merchandise anywhere within this state without requiring said
veteran to procure further license therefor in each or any municipality wherein he
desired to so hawk, vend and peddle; provided however, that he conducted said
business in a manner that would not bring him within the terms of an "itinerant
vendor" as defined in Act 191 of the public [sic] Acts of 1901 . . . or a "transient
merchant" as defined by Act 294 of the Public Acts of 1913, as amended . . . .
It follows, therefore, that a license regularly issued to a veteran under the
terms and conditions of said Act No. 359 . . . entitles him to hawk, vend and
peddle his own goods . . . anywhere within the state of Michigan, including cities
and villages within this state, without further license authority from such cities
and villages; provided, however, that the licensee does not conduct said business
in a manner to bring himself within the definition of an "itinerant vendor" or
"transient merchant" as defined by the statutes above referred to; subject, however,
to the reasonable police regulations of such cities and villages regulating and
prescribing certain streets or public places therein where all hawking, vending or
peddling is to be limited or suppressed." [Emphasis added.]
12
The 1950 amendment provided that "hawking, peddling and vending hereafter may be
regulated by municipal ordinance on public boardwalks and public beaches." The 1952
amendment allowed regulation on streets and highways, as well as public boardwalks and
beaches. 35 NJ Super 19-20.
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