To curb overloaded interstate trucks on its highways the state of Illinois decided on drastic measures: habitual offenders would be barred from the state for one year. But when Hayes Freight Lines of Mattoon, Ill. was barred after 157 overweight violations, Hayes fought the suspension, carried the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week the court cleared Hayes, thereby delivered a crippling blow to the authority of states to police their highways.
Said the court: "No [interstate carrier's] certificate is to be revoked, suspended or changed until after a hearing and a finding [by the Interstate Commerce Commission]....