In the 1911 case Collins v. The State of Texas, the U.S Supreme Court addressed a dispute over an ordinance in Dallas that prohibited any person from operating or maintaining a laundry within certain city limits without first obtaining consent from at least two-thirds of property owners within a one-block radius. The plaintiff, Mr. Collins, was convicted for violating this ordinance and appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court on grounds that it violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection and due process under law. The court ruled against Collins, upholding the constitutionality of such ordinances as long as they were not arbitrary or unreasonable restrictions on personal liberty or property rights. It found no evidence suggesting racial discrimination nor did it find any violation of due process since there was no deprivation of life, liberty or property involved in requiring approval from neighboring residents before opening a business. This decision reaffirmed local governments' power to regulate businesses for public health and safety purposes while also emphasizing their obligation to do so fairly and reasonably.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Collins v. The State of Texas argued that the majority's decision was a violation of an individual’s constitutional rights, specifically those protected under the Fourth Amendment. This amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause or a warrant. In this case, it was believed by some justices that law enforcement had overstepped their boundaries when they seized evidence from Mr. Collins' property without his consent or a proper search warrant issued by a court official based on reasonable grounds to believe he committed an offense. They contended that such actions were unconstitutional and infringed upon personal liberties guaranteed to every citizen under U.S law, regardless of any suspicion about illegal activities taking place at one's residence or private property.