Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation wins car tag case

Wednesday, February 7, 2007  

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday handed the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation of Kansas another victory in its car tag case.

In a unanimous decision, the court said the state interfered with the tribe's sovereign rights to issue license plats. The three-judge panel said the state discriminated against the tribe because it recognizes Oklahoma tribal car tags.

"The nation, like any governmental entity, has a significant interest in regulating motor vehicles traveling on its land," the court wrote.

The decision is the second from the 10th Circuit in favor of the tribe. But an earlier ruling had been set aside following a U.S. Supreme Court case that subjected the tribe to a state fuel distribution tax.

Get the Story:
Appellate ruling puts Potawatomis in driver's seat (The Topeka Capital Journal 2/7)
pwlat

10th Circuit Ruling:
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation v. Wagnon (February 7, 2007)

Relevant Links:
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation - http://www.pbpindiantribe.com

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