The head of the Department of Transportation reviewed a film that demonstrated the effectiveness of air bags in automobiles. He then passed a rule that Ford Motor Company must retrofit, without charge to the automobile owner, all of its 1985 models as an experiment on the safety of the air bag. Ford refused to do so. The DOT held a hearing and decided to fine Ford $1 million for violating its regulation. A notification of this decision was mailed to Ford. What constitutional issues does this case raise

Question

Law

Jason Compton

16 August, 12:56

The head of the Department of Transportation reviewed a film that demonstrated the effectiveness of air bags in automobiles. He then passed a rule that Ford Motor Company must retrofit, without charge to the automobile owner, all of its 1985 models as an experiment on the safety of the air bag. Ford refused to do so. The DOT held a hearing and decided to fine Ford $1 million for violating its regulation. A notification of this decision was mailed to Ford. What constitutional issues does this case raise

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Sawyer Brady · Answer 1

It violates due process.

Explanation:

Judging Ford's responsibility without giving him a chance to argue its case violates due process. Demanding to spend its money to add air bags to cars it has already sold also violates due process.

The whole process violates equal protection to single out Ford. Forcing an equal obligation on the entire automobile industry would have been much more acceptable. There is no reasonable motive for making such rules applicable only to Ford.