This cause comes on for final hearing upon motion for a peremptory writ notwithstanding respondents' return.
Petitioner held a permit from the respondents to operate a taxicab business in the unincorporated community of Sulphur Springs, adjacent to the City of Tampa. In 1947 the Legislature enacted Chapter 24922, a special act to create a taxicab commission for the City of Tampa, with power to supervise and regulate the operation of taxicabs over the public highways of said city and the adjoining suburban territory to a distance of three miles from the city limits. Because of this act the respondents refused to renew petitioner's permit.
We consider the question of whether the statute may be upheld as a police measure. We must recognize as a first premise that the taxicab business was not lacking in supervision or regulation in the affected area inasmuch as the general law placed that duty upon respondents. Can we then say that this attempted manner of regulation bears any relation to the public safety, health, morals or welfare? We think not. These taxicabs did not enter the corporate limits of the city; therefore, the special act is inapplicable to the territory outside the corporate limits of the city when applied as here to an operation exclusively outside the corporate limit. This situation is different from the cases where the outside regulation was essential to preserve order and restrain a nuisance within the confines of the city. This is not a case where the legislation is addressed to a legitimate end. See State ex rel. Sweat v. Turpentine Rosin Factors, Inc., 112 Fla. 428 So. 617; State ex rel. Municipal Bond Investment Co., Inc., v. Knott et al.,
It follows that the return by the Railroad Commission setting up the existence of the statute and urging it as a defense for not renewing the permit, is not sufficient; and that consequently the peremptory writ should be granted. *Page 182
So ordered.
THOMAS, C. J., TERRELL, BUFORD, CHAPMAN, SEBRING and BARNS, JJ., concur.
