Sovereign Citizens Pt 2: "I'm Not Driving, I'm Traveling"
Odd, non-graphic true-crime stories and courtroom curiosities.
The story
These *[WORD UNCLEAR: ASR hears "idiots" (medium.en; large-v3 "idjits") or "digits" (distil); the script said "Courts in Canada and Australia"]* describe the claim this way. A license is for commercial driving, but private traveling is an absolute right. Yeah, courts say no. *[ad-lib "Yeah"; ASR hears "courts say no" / "of course say no"; script had "Courts say no."]*
Now, there's a real right to travel. The Supreme Court says you can cross state lines freely, but a federal appeals court said there's no right to drive, and back in 1915, the Supreme Court upheld state rules for motor vehicles. Am I being detained? Yes, says the Supreme Court. A traffic stop counts, and in some states you are required to give your name. *[script: "And in some stops, states can require you to give your name"; shortened]*
In court, one federal judge said jurisdiction is not a child's game of magic talismans, like gold fringe on a flag. And the Seventh Circuit said sovereign claims should be rejected summarily. A real right to travel? Yes. A right to skip the license? No. Pay the ticket or hire a real lawyer.