The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the electronic logging device mandate. The decision was announced on June 12, 2017.
The lawsuit was spearheaded by the Owner Operator Independent Driver’s Association (OOIDA), who were seeking to have their case heard by the highest federal court, after it was shot down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit back in 2016.
Because of the Supreme Court’s decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling to uphold the mandate will remain — forcing drivers to adhere to the mandate by the December 18th deadline.
For years, the OOIDA has fought against a mandate to require the electronic monitoring devices in commercial tractor trailers, arguing that the devices violate constitutional protections and fail to improve highway safety. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 12th decision, the group says it will continue its fight.
In a statement, the OOIDA said it’s “extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court does not see the merit in reviewing our case with so many questions about its constitutionality.”
The American Trucking Association (ATA), however, says they’re pleased with the courts ruling.
“We are pleased to see that the Supreme Court will not interfere with the implementation of this important, and Congressionally mandated, safety rule. We will continue to support FMCSA as they work toward the December deadline for electronic logging devices and urge them to provide certainty to the industry about when and how to comply with this rule by continuing to move toward implementing this regulation on schedule,” they said in a statement.
This is a breaking story and will be updated when more information is available.