T] he state may declare that the use of the highway by the nonresident is the equivalent of the appointment of the registrar as agent on whom process may be served

—the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a Massachusetts statute which permitted service of a nonresident motorist, in an action arising from an accident in Massachusetts, on the Secretary of State.

The necessities of the situation are recognized in the nonresident motorist statutes (eg, Veh. Code, 404) permitting an injured person to obtain effective redress against transient motorists.[4] Jurisdiction in such cases is predicated upon the theory of consent of the nonresident to substituted or constructive service and the appointment of the secretary of state or like officer …

—rejecting due-process challenge to state implied-consent law authorizing personal jurisdiction over nonresidents for claims arising from their use of motor vehicles in the state

—provided in substance that use of the highways was equivalent to the appointment of a State official as agent to accept service of process.

The public interest which attends the use of motor vehicles was recognized in Hess where it was said: "Motor vehicles are dangerous machines; and, even when skillfully and carefully operated, their use is attended by serious dangers to persons and property. In the public interest the State may make and enforce regulations reasonably calculated to promote care on the …

It is sufficient for purposes of due process that the suit was based on a contract which had substantial connection with that State.

Plaintiffs' secondary suggestion, that Defendants consented to jurisdiction solely by virtue of the fact that Congress permits their presence in the United States, relies heavily on pre-International Shoe case law from the nineteenth century that is now obsolete, and in any event, required some transaction of business in the forum that is absent here.

The US Supreme Court had upheld similar laws on a theory that the nonresident gave "implied consent" to the appointment of a resident agent.

Such was his authority in the instant case, in view of the decisions of this Court bearing upon the constitutional authority of the state, acting in the interest of public safety, to enact the statute assailed.