Hi.
Thursday I got to practice the fifth amendment and other things I'vebeen thinking on. keep in mind that I have no driver's license and Ihave never registered my car. The plates on the car came with it when Ibought it. The tags on the plates expired last year. Below iswhat happened.
At about 10:20PM on Thursday, September 14, 2000 I was traveling onInterstate 5 heading north and approaching the Interstate bridge that crosses the Columbia river between Oregon and Washington. There is an incline to the bridge and as I neared the top of the inclineI saw on the east (right) shoulder of the freeway a police car. The way it was parked led me to believe that the officer inside was probably using some sort of speed detection device to determine the speed at which cars pass by him.
Well, I was one of those cars that passed by him and he put his car in gear and got behind me in the left most lane and followed me across the bridge. As soon as we were off the bridge he started his red and blue lights flashing. I navigated my car to the right shoulder of the freeway and stopped a little ways before the on ramp from SR 14 enters I5. The officer got out of his car and came to mine. I locked my doors and rolled my window down about an inch and a half.
The officer informed me that he clocked me doing 70 in a 45 mph work zone. I ignored the statement and asked "How may I assist
you?". The officer then said "I need to see your driver's license." I said "If I had such an instrument, could you use it against me?" He did not answer my question, but repeated his demand. I repeated my question. He ignored again and again repeated his demand. I again asked if he could use it against me. I told him that I invoke my right which is protected by the fifth amendment to not incriminate myself. I asked "Am I under arrest?" and he said "No." I asked "Is there any reason for you to believe than I'm engaged in any form of commercial activity requiring a license?" He said "The law requires you to show me your license." I said "Are you licensed to practice law?" He said that he was a police officer. I asked again if he was licensed to practice law and I asked "Don't you know, that only those licensed to practice law can make determinations of law, determining who the law applies to?" He did not answer the question but again insisted that I show him my driver's license. I again asked if he could use it against me if I had such an instrument. I then asked again "Am I under arrest?" and again he said "No." He decided to go to his car for a bit. I sat there waiting for his return.
The officer returned and again asked to see my license. Again I asked if he could use it against me. I asked him to summon his
commanding officer. I asked him for his business card and he said that he did not have one. He said his name was Mike Hanson and his badge number is 975. I then said "I put you on notice that you are in trespass upon numerous of my rights." I then said "I put you on notice that for every minute you hold me here it will cost you ten thousand dollars." I asked him "Is your house paid up because I'm going to own it. I'm going to sue you." Again I asked him if he was licensed to practice law and he would not answer. After a couple rounds of wanting to see my license and me wanting to know if he could use it against me, he left to chat with another officer that had appeared.
Another officer appeared, and we went through the "I need to see your license, will you use it against me routine". His name is
something like Brusseau. He went away.
Another officer came to the window on the other side of my car and pointed to the glove compartment while knocking on the window
and saying something like "I need to see what's in there". I waved him to come around to my window and he came. I asked what he wanted and he said that he needed to search my car. I asked him if he had a warrant. He must not have liked that question because he left.
Another officer came who was with the Vancouver Police, He told me his name, but I did not catch it, I think it started with "Ta". Anyway, he went on to explain how the other officers were just doing their jobs. I asked him if he was there to protect my rights or if he was in collusion with the other officers. He paused for a minute then continued on with the doing their job thing. Then he left.
Another officer, black mustache, came to the other window pointing at my glove compartment. I waved to him to come on around, he left.
There were now two police cars behind me, a Vancouver police car on the on ramp from SR 14 and an unmarked police car behind him.
Four police cars flashing their lights.
During the above, other officers were writing what is commonly known as the VIN number down and an officer started calling me
"Steve something". I asked why they were calling me that name and they said that is who the car is registered to. I told them that you are making presumptions. Again they wanted to see my license and again I asked if it could be used against me if I had such a license. Another officer had a camera and twice the flash went off. Both times I attempted to not be seen in the photograph. They all left for a few minuts.
The original officer came back and told me something like "I will tend to the matter another time, have a good day." I said "OK". The officer turned of the lights on his car, but the others did not turn off their lights. I stayed where I was. About five minutes later, they got into their cars and one by one left. When I was the only one there, I started my car and headed off.
I took the first exit, which was the Mill Plain exit and there was a Vancouver police car parked on the shoulder. I saw it go there when it left from the place of encounter. I passed it and it followed me, but in the lane to my right. I went under the bridge on Mill Plain and into the lane to turn to go south on I5. The Vancouver police car passed me by. I went to SR14 and then home.
The whole thing took about 30 minutes (approx 10:20PM to 10:50PM). There was a lot of activity and I did not get everything that was said and the order may not be exact. Except for placing them on notice and invoking my right, all I did through the whole encounter was ask questions. Even when I informed them of certain facts, I did it in question form like: "Don't you know that only those involved in commercial activity are required to have a license." I did ask one of
the officers that questions. Of course most of my questions went
unanswered. Other questions I asked the first officer were: "Are you in collusion with the dispatcher?", "Is the being recorded?". He did say it was not being recorded.
My first plan it to get the names, badge numbers, and any other
information I can about the officers that were there that night. I plan to write a letter to the commanding officer of Mike Hanson to see if he authorized Mike Hanson to stop me without having any evidence that I was required to have license or for that matter, having any reason to believe that I was engaged in any activity requiring such a license. I need to know if Mike Hanson was acting on orders or was acting in his private capacity (Yes I know that he was acting in his private capacity, but I want it admitted to by those above him or I will
sue them as well). If he was acting under orders, then I will, of
course, have to sue his commanding officer too. And find out if he was giving lawful orders by his commanding officer and continue the process all the way up to the governors office. All of them that admit to authorizing said activity will be sued unless damages are paid me.
One half of what I get in damages over two hundred thousand dollars will be disbursed to those who help in accordance to what I deem was helpful and to the degree it was helpful. Those who want to help me on this case, please let me know what you can do. E-mail me at rfmeyer@effectnet.com If they pay me two-hundred-fifty thousand dollars right off, I will not sue. If have I have to sue, I will be going for several million dollars.
THG comment: after a bit of research I see the argument for licenses not required unless you don't own the car or are using it in a priveledged capacity...but is it worth it? Pay the mafia a few hundred bucks and go about your business...but them making you work 2 or 3 days out of the week to pay them or take 40% of your trading gains is where I draw the line and stand and fight...
This one is tricky issue...and I do not find it cut and dried. Taxes on the other hand...but some citizens will go all the way to prove a point about their rights and how they are being erroded and taken for granted every day...a lot of times they call a tow truck, impound the car inform you if you don't open up they will break in and arrest you...
I file these under the more guts than brains catagory...of course a lot of people say the same about me...
AI
