11. Which of the following is the strongest argument with which to challenge the constitutionality of this statute?

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 empowers Congress to «regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.» Commerce is defined as «every species of commercial intercourse. .. which concerns more states than one,» including virtually every form of activity involving or affecting two or more states. Gibbons v. Ogden, 22 U.S. 1 (1824).

By negative implication, the Commerce Clause restricts the regulatory power of the states with respect to commerce (called the «Dormant Commerce Clause»). A state's regulation of local aspects of commerce is invalid if the regulation: (i) discriminates against out-of-state parties to benefit local economic interests; or (ii) is unduly burdensome on commerce.

The Equal Protection Clause imposes a general restraint on the governmental use of classifications, such as race, sex, alienage, and sexual orientation. Rational basis scrutiny should be applied when the regulation is not based on a suspect or quasi-suspect classification. Under rational basis review, a law will be upheld if it is rationally related to a legitimate interest. It is difficult to fail this test, so most governmental action under this standard is upheld unless it is arbitrary or irrational.

The Due Process Clause provides that «no state shall make or enforce any law which shall. .. deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. .. .» This requires that states act with adequate or fair procedures when depriving a person of life, liberty, or property. Examples include: (i) public education when school attendance is required, Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975); (ii) welfare benefits, Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970); and (iii) continued public employment when there is a state statute or ordinance that creates a public employment contract, or there is some clear practice or mutual understanding that an employee can be terminated only for «cause,» Arnett v. Kennedy, 416 U.S. 134 (1974).

The Fourteenth Amendment's Privileges or Immunities Clause protects rights that come from national citizenship. The primary example is the right to travel between the states, though others include the right to vote in national elections and to petition Congress concerning grievances.

A is correct. The argument that the statute imposes an undue burden on foreign commerce is the strongest ground to contest the statute's constitutionality because Congress has the sole power to regulate the trade between the U.S. and foreign governments, and the Dormant Commerce Clause prevents state regulation from being unduly burdensome on congressional commerce powers. This statute directly affects foreign commerce because owners of automobiles manufactured outside of the U.S. will be restricted when they drive in this state. As such, the state's action interferes with Congress's exclusive power to regulate in this area.

B is incorrect. The argument that the statute denies owners of foreign automobiles equal protection would be ineffective because if the drivers of foreign cars challenged the statute as discriminating against them for owning a certain type of car, that would likely fall into the rational basis category of review. Laws are rarely struck down in this category of scrutiny, and the test is arguably satisfied here because the state does have an interest here that this law is rationally related to.

C is incorrect. This statute does not deprive car owners of liberty or property within the meaning of the Due Process Clause. A car owner's ability to park in government buildings or parking lots does not fall in either group.

D is incorrect. The Fourteenth Amendment's Privileges or Immunities Clause protects only rights that come from national citizenship. The right to park a foreign-made car in governmental property is not such a right.