¶1 On October 21, 2015, Petitioner entered a plea of nolo contendere in Oklahoma City Municipal Court, Case No. 14-354729X, to Speeding (1-10 m.p.h. over posted limit), in violation of Oklahoma City Ordinances §§ 1-6, 32-169, and 32-175. Before entering his plea, Petitioner made it clear to the municipal court and to Respondent ("the City") that he did not contest his guilt, but that he wished to challenge the City's authority to prescribe any penalty for speeding in excess of the penalty prescribed by state law (which, in this case, would be $10.00), and the municipal court's authority to impose same. The parties briefed the issue for the municipal court. On December 2, 2015, the Honorable Donald Kiffin, Municipal Judge, rejected Petitioner's argument and fined him $84.00. Petitioner timely filed a motion to withdraw his plea, reiterating his sole claim that the sentence imposed was not authorized by law. The motion was denied on December 15, 2015, and Petitioner timely gave notice of intent to appeal. Because Petitioner timely raised his claim below, before and after entry of his plea, and because the claim involves the municipal court's legal authority to impose the sentence it did, the claim is cognizable in this certiorari appeal. Maxwell v. State, 2006 OK CR 33, ¶¶ 6-7, 141 P.3d 564, 567; Allen v. City of Oklahoma City, 1998 OK CR 42, ¶ 4, 965 P.2d 387, 388; Gonseth v. State, 1994 OK CR 9, ¶ 14, 871 P.2d 51, 55.

¶2 After thorough consideration of the arguments made by both parties in their briefs, we reject Petitioner's claim and affirm the Municipal Court's order denying the motion to withdraw plea. Resolution of this case requires interpretation of several different statutes. The goal of statutory construction is to ascertain, as closely as possible, the intention of the Legislature. State v. Haworth, 2012 OK CR 12, ¶ 12, 283 P.3d 311, 315. We look to each part of the statute, to other laws on the same or related subjects, to the statute's apparent purpose, and to the natural or absurd consequences of any particular interpretation. Lozoya v. State, 1996 OK CR 55, ¶ 20, 932 P.2d 22, 29. We may also consider the evolution of the statutory language over time. "[I]t is well to consider the previous law and the changes wrought therein by the existing law as indicative of the legislative intent expressed in the present law." In re Blain, 1946 OK 238, ¶ 15, 172 P.2d 795, 799. We presume the Legislature "has not created an absurdity or done a vain or useless act." State v. District Court of Okla. County, 2007 OK CR 3, ¶ 11, 154 P.3d 84, 86.

¶3 A municipality can exercise only such authority as might be conferred upon it by constitutional mandate or legislative grant. Elias v. City of Tulsa, 1961 OK CR 59, ¶ 4, 364 P.2d 678, 680; Okl.Const. art. VII, § 1.¹ Petitioner's sole claim is that the City's penalty scheme for Speeding conflicts with State law, because it permits fines in excess of those specified in Oklahoma's Vehicle Code. See 47 O.S.Supp.2015, § 11-801(G). Petitioner points to language found in both the Vehicle Code and the Municipal Code barring cities from enacting ordinances that conflict with State law. 47 O.S.Supp.2015, § 15-101; 11 O.S.2011, § 22-117(A).²

¶4 We addressed a similar argument in Hall v. State, 2009 OK CR 28, 221 P.3d 130. In Hall, the defendant claimed that an Oklahoma City traffic ordinance regarding vehicle turns impermissibly conflicted with a state law covering the same subject. State law only required a motorist to signal a vehicle turn if other traffic might be affected by the action. The city ordinance went further, requiring motorists in all circumstances to signal continuously for at least 100 feet before turning. We rejected the defendant's argument that the ordinance violated 11 O.S. § 22-117's admonition that city ordinances not be "inconsistent with" state law. We held that the provisions were consistent with each other because both promoted public safety, and safety was "even better served" by the more stringent requirements of the ordinance:

Oklahoma City's ordinance would be inconsistent with or contradict Oklahoma state law if it permitted drivers to never signal. That would defeat a minimum level of public safety the state had set. Here however, the ordinance enhances public safety, while still satisfying the state mandate. Because cities have been delegated part of the State's police power in regard to traffic laws, it cannot be said that any time a city enacts a law that requires more than what state law requires that it has contradicted or acted inconsistently with the state law. If that were true, then a city's power over traffic in its jurisdiction would be a farce, a delegation without any real authority.

Hall, 2009 OK CR 28, ¶ 5, 221 P.3d at 131. Our reasoning in Hall echoed our holding, almost a century ago, in Ex parte Johnson, 20 Okl.Cr. 66, 201 P. 533 (1921), where we stated in Syllabus 4 of the opinion (with emphasis added):

Where the Legislature has made or may by general law make a specific police regulation, that fact of itself will not prevent the lawmaking power of a city from making further regulations on the same subject, not inconsistent with general laws. A municipality may move in the same direction as the Legislature, but not contrary to nor in an opposite direction.

¶5 Following Johnson and Hall, we might conclude that if the City imposes stricter penalties for traffic violations than state law prescribes, it is moving "in the same direction" with regard to public safety, and that the public is even better served by the change. However, in this case, the relevant statutes themselves offer compelling textual support for the City's action. Any perceived "conflict" with state law has been expressly permitted by the Legislature for cities that have a municipal criminal court of record in place.

¶6 Our Legislature has provided comprehensive rules on the formation and operation of cities though the Municipal Code. 11 O.S. § 1-101 et seq. Under this Code, cities of a certain population can establish "criminal courts of record," and the distinction between cities with criminal courts of record, and those without, affects the powers of each.³ Generally speaking, cities with criminal courts of record have greater power to punish infractions. Compare 11 O.S.2011, § 14-111 (placing limits on municipal ordinances in general) with 11 O.S.2011, § 28-102 (relating to penalties that may be imposed by a municipal criminal court of record). Cities without a criminal court of record "may not impose a penalty, including fine or deferral fee in lieu of a fine and costs, which is greater than that established by statute for the same offense." 11 O.S.2011, § 14-111(C). No such limitation is imposed upon cities that have established criminal courts of record. In fact, as the City points out in its brief, § 28-102(C) of the Municipal Code, specifically applicable to municipal courts of record, once contained limiting language similar to that found in § 14-111(C) - but that language was removed by the Legislature in 1998.⁴ Laws 1998, Ch. 234, § 2 (eff. Nov. 1, 1998).

¶7 When construing a statute that has been amended, we may reasonably infer that the alteration was intended either to effect a change in the existing law, or to clarify an interpretation that may have been in question. American Airlines v. Hickman, 2007 OK 59, ¶ 11, 164 P.3d 146, 149. When the Legislature removed limiting language affecting cities with criminal courts of record, but left the same limitation in effect for other cities, we presume it did so for a reason.⁵

¶8 Section 28-102(C) of the Municipal Code now provides, in relevant part:

[T]he maximum punishment that may be levied in any municipal criminal court of record for violations of municipal traffic ordinances not including ordinances relating to driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a fine not exceeding One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00) and costs, an imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

For Petitioner's offense, the maximum punishment allowed by the City's ordinances is $500.00 - substantially lower than the penalty allowed by state law. And the $84.00 fine actually imposed by the Municipal Court is, obviously, substantially lower than that.

¶9 Petitioner makes only passing reference to the textual differences between laws affecting cities with criminal courts of record, and those without. In fact, he goes so far as to claim the distinction is not relevant to whether a city's ordinances conflict with state law.⁶ That claim is simply at odds with the structure and substance of the Municipal Code in general, and with the textual differences between § 14-111 and § 28-102 in particular. The existing text of these provisions, coupled with the changes to § 28-102 over time, convince this Court that the Legislature has intentionally authorized cities with municipal criminal courts of record to impose penalties for traffic offenses within the limits specified in the Municipal Code, regardless of whether they may exceed the penalties established in 47 O.S. § 11-801. Hickman, 2007 OK 59, ¶ 11, 164 P.3d at 149; Blain, 1946 OK 238, ¶ 15, 172 P.2d at 799. See also Vantine v. City of Tulsa, 1973 OK CR 442, ¶¶ 6, 13, 518 P.2d 316, 318, 319.⁷

DECISION

¶10 The City of Oklahoma City Municipal Court's decision to deny Petitioner's Motion to Withdraw Plea of Nolo Contendere is AFFIRMED, and certiorari is DENIED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch.18, App. (2016), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision.

ATTORNEYS AT TRIAL JEFFREY J. BOX JEFFREY J. BOX, P.C. 2621 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT STEVEN R. HUDDLESTON ASSISTANT MUNICIPAL COUNSELOR 700 COUCH DRIVE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 COUNSEL FOR CITY OF OKLA. CITY

ATTORNEYS ON APPEAL JEFFREY J. BOX JEFFREY J. BOX, P.C. 2621 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109 COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER KENNETH D. JORDAN MUNICIPAL COUNSELOR CINDY L. RICHARD DEPUTY MUNICIPAL COUNSELOR STEVEN R. HUDDLESTON ASSISTANT MUNICIPAL COUNSELOR 700 COUCH DRIVE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT