Thompson v. Petaluma Police Dept. CA1/4 , 179 Cal. Rptr. 3d 456 ( 2014 )

Filed 10/10/14 Thompson v. Petaluma Police Dept. CA1/4
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FOUR
BOBBY THOMPSON,
Plaintiff and Appellant,
A137981
v.
PETALUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT, (Sonoma County
Super. Ct. No. SCV-252045)
Defendant and Respondent.
Bobby Thompson appeals from a judgment of dismissal after the trial court
sustained a demurrer to his complaint against the Petaluma Police Department and the
City of Petaluma (the City)1 without leave to amend. He contends that Vehicle Code
section 14602.6 (section 14602.6) violates state and federal procedural due process and
that the City’s enforcement of the statute violates its terms. We remand the matter with
directions to allow Thompson leave to amend his complaint.
I. FACTS
On July 24, 2012, Thompson filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief
alleging that he operates a business and pays property taxes in the City of Petaluma. He
brings this action to enjoin the Petaluma Police Department from using taxpayer funds to
order 30-day impoundment of vehicles pursuant to section 14602.6 when the driver has
operated the vehicle without a valid driver’s license but with the consent of the owner of
the vehicle. He alleges that section 14602.6’s notice provisions are insufficient to
1
The Petaluma Police Department was erroneously named as a defendant; the City
of Petaluma is the proper defendant.
1
provide the registered owner of an impounded vehicle with the factual grounds for the
traffic stop or impound of the vehicle, the statutory basis for the driver’s license
suspension or revocation, and the grounds for releasing the vehicle from impound. He
thus seeks a declaration that section 14602.6 violates due process due to the inadequacy
of its notice provisions and its failure to require a written statement of decision
summarizing the grounds for the hearing officer’s decision to impound a vehicle for 30-
days, and injunctive relief requiring the notices and written statement of decision.
The City demurred to the complaint, contending that Thompson lacked standing as
a taxpayer under Code of Civil Procedure section 526a (section 526a) to bring his
complaint. It also asserted that Thompson had failed to state a claim because he had not
identified any way in which the City had violated the impoundment provisions of the
Vehicle Code nor had he pled any violation of his individual rights. Finally, the City
argued that inasmuch as the courts have upheld the constitutionality of section 14602.6,
Thompson could seek redress from the Legislature.
The trial court granted the demurrer finding that Thompson lacked standing
because a taxpayer has no standing under section 526a in a matter that involves the City’s
exercise of executive discretion. The court further ruled that Thompson lacked standing
to challenge the City’s “improvident or inefficient use of funds.” The trial court also
rejected Thompson’s claims that the City’s use of police officers to enforce section
14602.6 results in illegal government action or waste of taxpayer funds and that the
City’s procedures in implementing the statute violate procedural due process.
II. DISCUSSION
1. Standard of review.
In reviewing a judgment dismissing a complaint after the granting of a demurrer
without leave to amend, we must assume the truth of the complaint’s properly pled or
implied factual allegations. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) We may
affirm on any basis stated in the demurrer, regardless of the ground on which the trial
court based its ruling. (Carman v. Alvord (1982) 31 Cal.3d 318, 324.) We review the
court’s refusal to allow leave to amend under the abuse of discretion standard. (Zelig v.
2
County of Los Angeles (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1112, 1126.) Where, as here, the court has
sustained the demurrer without leave to amend, we must decide whether there is a
reasonable possibility that the plaintiff can cure the defect with an amendment. (Ibid.)
“The plaintiff has the burden of proving that an amendment would cure the defect.”
(Schifando v. City of Los Angeles (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1074, 1081.)
2. Thompson has standing under section 526a.
Section 526a provides in pertinent part as follows: “An action to obtain a
judgment, restraining and preventing any illegal expenditure of, waste of, or injury to, the
estate, funds, or other property of a county, town, city or city and county of the state, may
be maintained against any officer thereof, or any agent, or other person, acting in its
behalf, either by a citizen resident therein, or by a corporation, who is assessed for and is
liable to pay, or, within one year before the commencement of the action, has paid, a tax
therein. . . .”
The purpose of section 526a “ ‘is to permit a large body of persons to challenge
wasteful government action that otherwise would go unchallenged because of the
standing requirement.’ ” (Humane Society of the United States v. State Bd. of
Equalization (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 349, 355 (Humane Society).) The courts have
construed the statute liberally to achieve its remedial purpose. (Blair v. Pitchess (1971) 5
Cal.3d 258, 267–268.) Thompson, as a nonresident who pays property taxes in Petaluma,
has the capacity to sue under section 526a. (Irwin v. City of Manhattan Beach (1966) 65
Cal.2d 13, 19 [nonresident taxpayer of a city has capacity to maintain a section 526a
action].
To invoke taxpayer standing, however, the challenged governmental conduct must
be illegal (Humane Society, supra, 152 Cal.App.4th at p. 361) or must constitute waste,
“ ‘a useless expenditure . . . of public funds’ that is incapable of achieving the ostensible
goal.” (Chiatello v. City and County of San Francisco (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 472, 482
(Chiatello).) “ ‘[T]he term “waste” as used in section 526a means something more than
an alleged mistake by public officials in matters involving the exercise of judgment or
wide discretion. . . .’ ” (Sundance v. Municipal Court (1986) 42 Cal.3d 1101, 1138–1139
3
(Sundance).) Courts should not interfere with a local government’s legislative judgment
on the ground that its funds could be spent more efficiently. (Id. at p. 1139.)
3. Thompson’s complaint fails to state a cause of action.
Thompson’s complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief alleging that the
City’s enforcement of section 14602.6 violates due process by using paid police officers
and expending taxpayer funds to implement its policies and practices.
Section 14602.6 provides for the 30-day impoundment of a vehicle driven by an
unlicensed driver or by one whose driver’s license has been suspended or revoked. In
relevant part, section 14602.6 states: “Whenever a peace officer determines that a person
was driving a vehicle while his or her driving privilege was suspended or revoked,
driving a vehicle while his or her driving privilege is restricted . . . and the vehicle is not
equipped with a functioning, certified interlock device, or driving a vehicle without ever
having been issued a driver’s license, the peace officer may either immediately arrest that
person and cause the removal and seizure of that vehicle or, if the vehicle is involved in a
traffic collision, cause the removal and seizure of the vehicle without the necessity of
arresting the person . . . . A vehicle so impounded shall be impounded for 30 days.” The
Legislature enacted section 14602.6 to protect “Californians from the harm of unlicensed
drivers, who are involved in a disproportionate number of traffic incidents and the
avoidance of the associated destruction and damage to lives and property.” (Smith v.
Santa Rosa Police Dept. (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 546, 559–560 and fn. 11.)
Thompson acknowledges in his complaint that the City provides a notice, a CHP-
180 form2 which is mailed to the registered and legal owner of the impounded vehicle.
According to Thompson’s complaint, the CHP-180 form informs the vehicle owner that
2
The trial court denied Thompson’s request for judicial notice of the form, finding
that it was not within the matters that may be judicially noticed in accordance with
Evidence Code sections 450 to 452. As this case comes to us on an appeal from a
demurrer, however, we accept as true Thompson’s allegations as to the facts he has pled
concerning the CHP-180 form. (See Maxton v. Western States Metals (2012) 203
Cal.App.4th 81, 87.)
4
the vehicle has been impounded pursuant to section 14602.6, and advises that a hearing
can be requested by contacting the police department within 10 days of the impound.
The courts have rejected Thompson’s claim that the statutory impound scheme
violates due process and have concluded that the statute does not violate state and federal
constitutional principles of equal protection, or freedom from unreasonable seizures.
(Alviso v. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Dept. (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 198, 202 (Alviso); see
also Samples v. Brown (2007) 146 Cal.App.4th 787, 804 (Samples) [section 14602.6 not
unconstitutionally vague]; Salazar v. Maywood (9th Cir. 2011) 414 Fed. Appx. 73, 74–75
(Salazar) [statute’s notice provisions satisfy due process].) As explained by the Alviso
court, “the hearing procedure . . . adequately reconciles the competing interests of the
parties: the private interest in avoiding the cost and disruption entailed by impoundment
of one’s automobile; the relatively low risk of erroneous deprivation given the
straightforward nature of most of the determinant factors; and the governmental interest
in efficiently and effectively keeping the most dangerous drivers off the road.
Accordingly, the impound scheme does not violate due process.” (Alviso, supra, 186
Cal.App.4th at p. 214.)
Thompson’s claim that the City is required to provide specific notices in addition
to the 48-hour notice required by the statute (see § 14602.6, subd. (b); Veh. Code,
§ 22852, subd. (b))3 also fails to state a cause of action. (Salazar, supra, at p. 75; see also
Miranda v. City of Cornelius (9th Cir. 2005) 429 F.3d 858, 868 [notice to owners of a
vehicle within 48 hours of an impoundment explaining right to request a hearing ensures
that any erroneous deprivation of an owner’s vehicle will be slight and satisfies due
process concerns].) Thus, contrary to Thompson’s claim, due process does not require
that the City set forth the entire language of section 14602.6 in its notice, give the factual
3
Subdivision (b) of section 14602.6 provides that an owner of an impounded
vehicle is entitled to a hearing to determine the validity of the impoundment in
accordance with section 22852. Vehicle Code section 22852, subdivision (b), requires
that a notice of the storage shall be mailed or delivered to the owner of the vehicle within
48 hours of the impoundment.
5
basis for the impound, or provide the evidence that the City plans to use at the hearing.
The CHP-180 form’s reference to section 14602.6 and to the car owner’s right to an
administrative hearing coupled with the impounding agency’s statutory burden of proving
the ground for impoundment (Veh. Code, §§ 22852; 22650, subd. (a)) are sufficient to
comply with due process. (Alviso, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at pp. 209–214; Smith v. Santa
Rosa Police Dept., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p. 569; Miranda v. City of Cornelius, supra,429 F.3d at p. 868.) While Thompson would have the City provide more extensive
procedures, he does not allege that the ones the City currently provides are inconsistent
with section 14602.6 and the implementing regulations, which the courts have held
comport with due process. (Alviso, supra, 186 Cal.App.4th at pp. 209–214.)4
Thompson’s challenge to the City’s use of police resources to enforce section
14602.6 also fails. To constitute waste, the public spending must be completely
unnecessary or provide no public benefit. (Chiatello, supra, 189 Cal.App.4th at p. 482.)
“Waste does not encompass the great majority of governmental outlays of money or the
time of salaried governmental employees, nor does it apply to the vast majority of
discretionary decisions made by state and local units of government . . . .” (Id. at
pp. 482–483.) “ ‘[T]he term “waste” as used in section 526a means something more than
an alleged mistake by public officials in matters involving the exercise of judgment or
wide discretion . . . . [T]he courts should not take judicial cognizance of disputes which
are primarily political in nature, nor should they attempt to enjoin every expenditure
which does not meet with a taxpayer’s approval.’ ” (Sundance, supra, 42 Cal.3d at
4
The complaint alleges that the City does not routinely present their proof at the
impoundment hearing. While we are concerned about the conduct of agencies who
circumvent the safeguards built into the process, “[i]ndividuals who believe this statute
has been improperly or illegally applied to them may seek redress in the courts. . . . [I]t is
‘constitutionally sufficient if Congress clearly delineates the general policy, the public
agency which is to apply it, and the boundaries of this delegated authority. Private rights
are protected by access to the courts to test the application of the policy in the light of
these legislative declarations.’ [citations].” Samples, supra, 146 Cal.App.4th at p. 807.
6
pp. 1138–1139.) Courts should not interfere with a local government’s legislative
judgment on the ground that its funds could be spent more efficiently. (Id. at p. 1139.)
California courts have upheld the constitutionality of section 14602.6 (see Alviso,
supra, 186 Cal.App.4th 198, 202, and cases cited ante), and Thompson’s allegation that
the City uses taxpayer funds to pay its police officers to implement section 14602.6 does
not establish waste. (Chiantelli, supra, 189 Cal.App.4th at pp. 482–483.) The latter is a
matter involving the exercise of discretion with which the courts will not interfere.
(Sundance, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 1138–1139.)
Here, the Legislature has determined that a 30-day impoundment procedure is
necessary to protect the public from unlicensed drivers or those persons driving with
suspended or revoked licenses. The procedure complies with due process given its notice
and hearing requirements. And, the use of the City’s police officers to enforce the
statutory scheme is not the type of expenditure that evidences waste. “This court should
not interfere with the [City’s] legislative judgment on the ground that the [City’s] funds
could be spent more efficiently.” (Sundance, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 1139.)
Hence, the allegations in Thompson’s complaint are insufficient to state a cause of
action. He fails to allege waste, illegal expenditures, or the use of taxpayer funds to
implement an unconstitutional statute. Thus, we uphold the trial court’s ruling sustaining
the demurrer on the basis that Thompson’s complaint failed to state a cause of action.
(Carman v. Alvord, supra, 31 Cal.3d at p. 324.)
4. Thompson is entitled to seek leave to amend his complaint.
Thompson contends that we should remand this matter to the trial court to permit
him to amend his complaint to state three new causes of action for which he has taxpayer
standing. We conclude that remand is merited.5
5
The City argues that Thompson abandoned any claim of error pertaining to the
trial court’s denial of leave to amend the complaint. As Thompson explains, he requested
leave to amend in his memorandum in opposition to the City’s demurrer, and he
requested leave to amend to add two claims during the hearing on the City’s demurrer.
He, however, chose not to request leave to amend at the hearing based on the court’s
tentative ruling that he lacked standing, informing the court that he would appeal the
7
Preliminarily, we note that Thompson failed to brief this issue is his opening
brief.6 While he mentioned in a footnote in his opening brief that if he were granted
leave to amend, he would amend the complaint to add three new claims, he did not brief
the issue. He did not set forth a legal argument with citation of authorities until he raised
the issue in his reply brief. (See 9 Witkin, Cal. Procedure, supra, Appeal, § 701, p. 769
[“every brief should contain a legal argument with citation of authorities on the points
made. If none is furnished on a particular point, the court may treat it as waived . . . .”].)
We consider the issue here because the City addressed the issue in its brief, and thus had
an opportunity to respond to it.
Thompson argues that he can amend his complaint to allege the following three
claims that the City violates section 14602.6 by impounding vehicles driven by: (1)
individuals who have not been arrested and whose vehicle has not been involved in an
accident; (2) individuals who lack a current California license but have previously been
issued a valid driver’s license in another jurisdiction; and (3) individuals without a valid
driver’s license.
Contrary to the City’s argument, these proposed amendments do not implicate
constitutional concerns and do not conflict with the allegations of the complaint.
Thompson did not allege in his complaint that the City enforces section 14602.6, as the
City asserts. Rather, Thompson alleged that the City’s procedures violated due process.
issue of standing rather than litigate another demurrer. This argument did not constitute a
waiver of the issue on appeal. Our reading of the record reveals that Thompson had
additional claims he wished to pursue but believed the court would abide by its tentative
ruling on standing, thus foreclosing any new claims. On this record, Thompson did not
waive the issue. (Cf. Las Lomas Land Co., LLC v. City of Los Angeles (2009) 177
Cal.App.4th 837, 861 [plaintiff forfeited claim of error based on denial of leave to amend
where the trial court offered to grant plaintiff the opportunity to amend the pleading but
plaintiff expressly declined the court’s offer].) “The failure to request leave to amend in
the trial court ordinarily does not prevent a plaintiff from making [the] request for the
first time on appeal.” (Ibid., see also Code Civ. Proc., § 472c, subd. (a).)
6
It is well settled that points raised for the first time in a reply brief will not be
considered unless good cause is shown. (9 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (5th ed. 2008) Appeal,
§ 723, pp. 790–791.)
8
And, his proposed amendments allege that the City impounds vehicles under
circumstances not permitted by section 14602.6.
The Attorney General and the Ninth Circuit have recognized that a violation of
section 14602.6 occurs when officers impound a vehicle when the driver has not been
arrested and the vehicle has not been involved in an accident. (See 95 Ops. Cal.Atty.Gen.
1, 2 (2012) [provision confers discretionary authority on an officer to arrest and impound
or to impound in the event of a traffic collision]; United States v. Cervantes (9th Cir.
2012) 678 F.3d 798, 806 [section 14602.6, subd. (a)(1) did not authorize impoundment of
vehicle where driver was arrested and taken into custody after vehicle was impounded].)
Thompson’s allegations that the City impounds the vehicles of those drivers who
are “driving a vehicle without ever having been issued a driver’s license” also have
arguable merit. (§ 14602.6, subd. (a)(1).) He asserts that the statutory language includes
those drivers who have been issued a driver’s license by a foreign jurisdiction, and that
the vehicles of those drivers so licensed should not be subject to impoundment under the
statute. Thompson’s claims potentially state a claim. (See Mateos-Sandoval v. County of
Sonoma, July 24, 2013, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104549 [allegations were sufficient to
state a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim where county interpreted the “without ever having been
issued a driver’s license” language of section 14602.6 to mean California licenses thus
permitting the 30-day impoundment of vehicles driven by individuals licensed by
jurisdictions outside of California].)
Finally, Thompson’s allegations that the City violates section 14602.6, subd. (a)(1)
by impounding vehicles when the only offense is driving without a valid driver’s license
also potentially states a claim. As Thompson argues, the statutory language may conflict
with Vehicle Code section 12801.5, subdivision (e), which provides, “Notwithstanding
Section 40300 [authorizing peace officers to make arrests without a warrant for Vehicle
Code offenses committed in their presence] or any other law, a peace officer may not
detain or arrest a person solely on the belief that the person is an unlicensed driver, unless
the officer has reasonable cause to believe the person driving is under 16 years of age.”
9
In sum, assuming Thompson can allege facts showing the City’s actions are in
violation of the law, there is a reasonable possibility that the defects in Thompson’s
complaint can be cured by amendment. (Blank v. Kirwin, supra, 39 Cal.3d at p. 318.)
We therefore remand the matter to the trial court.
III. DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded to the trial court with
directions to enter an order sustaining the demurrer to the complaint with leave to amend.
_________________________
Rivera, J.
We concur:
_________________________
Ruvolo, P.J.
_________________________
Humes, J.
10