City of Sioux Falls v. Smith , 49 S.D. 392 ( 1926 )

GATES, P. J.

Defendant was charged with the violation of section 12 of Ordinance 722 of the City of Sioux Falls, in that he “on said date did' become drunk and intoxicated and was upon the public streets of the city of Sioux Falls in a drunken and disorderly condition, contrary to the provision of said ordinance.” He appealed to the circuit court from the judgment of conviction in the municipal court of Sioux Falls. He was likewise convicted in the circuit court. He now appeals from the judgment only.

Section 12 of said ordinance provides:

“No person shall become drunk or intoxicated in any private house or place to the annoyance of any person nor shall any person allow himself to become drunk or intoxicated within the limits of the city of Sioux Falls, nor to be found drunk or intoxicated in any public place in said city.”

Prior to the adoption of the Rev. Code 1919, cities had express authority to enact ordinances upon the subject of intoxication, viz: “To prevent intoxication, fighting, quarreling, dog fights, cock fights, and all disorderly conduct.” Subdivision 47, § 1229, Rev. Pol. Code 1903; subdivision 47, § 53, ch. 119, Laws 1913. These subsections are cited by the Code Commission as the source of subdivision 35, § 6169, Rev. Code 1919, which reads as follows:

“To provide for keeping and preserving the peace and quietness of the municipality and to prevent disorderly conduct.”

It will be observed that intoxication, without more, is not covered by that subsection. Nowhere in the Rev. Code 1919 can we find express authority in cities to ordain against intoxication merely. Chapter 232, Laws 1923, which became effective July 1, 1923, provides:

“Municipal corporations are hereby empowered to prohibit and suppress the traffic in, and the manufacture, keeping, and use of intoxicating liquors.”

Without pausing to consider the effect of that act upon the subject at hand, the offense charged was alleged to have occurred on May 26, 1923, and before the taking effect of that act. Whether or not after the adoption of Rev. Code 1919 and before the enactment of chapter 232, Laws 1923, the cities of this state could enact ordinances covering mere intoxication we think may also' be put to one side because the latter part of the charge, viz., “was upon the public streets of the city of Sioux Falls in a drunken and disorderly condition,” did state an offense which came within the authority of the city to prohibit under subdivision 3.5, § 6169, supra. Town of Bloomfield v. Trimble, 54 Iowa 399, 6 N. W. 586, 37 Am. Rep. 212; 3 McQuillan, Mun. Corp., p. 2125.

We do not consider the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction because the record does not show that there was a motion for a new trial. The appeal from the judgment alone does not bring up that question for review.

The judgment is affirmed.