Driver Licensing vs. the Right to Travel

 Driver Licensing vs. the Right to Travel

http://user.icx.net/~drherb/licensing.html

The entirety of what you find below is transcribed exactly from what was sent to me by a

fellow liberty-minded person. It is itself a transcription of a brief, not a direct, per-character

copy of the brief. This is unfortunate, but I'm trying to nail down some of the references,

and especially some of the cases in which this particular brief was used. --Karl Kleinpaste,

March 14, 1995.

The following has been used in at least three states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia)

as a legal brief to support a demand for dismissal of charges of "driving without a license."

It is the argument that was the reason for charges being dropped, or for a "win" in court

against the argument that free people can have their right to travel regulated by their

servants.

The forgotten legal maxim is that free people have a right to travel on the roads which are

provided by their servants for that purpose, using ordinary transportation of the day.

Licensing cannot be required of free people, because taking on the restrictions of a license

requires the surrender of a right. The driver's license can be required of people who use the

highways for trade, commerce, or hire; that is, if they earn their living on the road, and if

they use extraordinary machines on the roads. In other words, if you are not using the

highways for profit, you cannot be required to have a driver's license.

This brief or the right it demonstrates is no substitute for either being safe on the road or

for learning the subject of rights versus regulations thoroughly before attempting to use or

act upon this information.

BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF NOTICE FOR DISMISSAL FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION

NOW, comes the Accused, appearing specially and not generally or voluntarily, but under

threat of arrest if he failed to do so, with this "BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF NOTICE FOR

DISMISSAL FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION," stating as follows:

ARGUMENT

If ever a judge understood the public's right to use the public roads, it was Justice Tolman

of the Supreme Court of the State of Washington. Justice Tolman stated:

"Complete freedom of the highways is so old and well established a blessing that we have

forgotten the days of the Robber Barons and toll roads, and yet, under an act like this,

arbitrarily administered, the highways may be completely monopolized, if, through lack of

interest, the people submit, then they may look to see the most sacred of their liberties

taken from them one by one, by more or less rapid encroachment." Robertson vs.

Department of Public Works, 180 Wash 133, 147.

The words of Justice Tolman ring most prophetically in the ears of Citizens throughout the

country today as the use of the public roads has been monopolized by the very entity which

has been empowered to stand guard over our freedoms, i.e., that of state government.

Page 1 of 21RIGHTS

The "most sacred of liberties" of which Justice Tolman spoke was personal liberty. The

definition of personal liberty is:

"Personal liberty, or the Right to enjoyment of life and liberty, is one of the fundamental or

natural Rights, which has been protected by its inclusion as a guarantee in the various

constitutions, which is not derived from, or dependent on, the U.S. Constitution, which may

not be submitted to a vote and may not depend on the outcome of an election. It is one of

the most sacred and valuable Rights, as sacred as the Right to private property...and is

regarded as inalienable." 16 C.J.S., Constitutional Law, Sect.202, p.987.

This concept is further amplified by the definition of personal liberty:

"Personal liberty largely consists of the Right of locomotion -- to go where and when one

pleases -- only so far restrained as the Rights of others may make it necessary for the

welfare of all other citizens. The Right of the Citizen to travel upon the public highways and

to transport his property thereon, by horsedrawn carriage, wagon, or automobile, is not a

mere privilege which may be permitted or prohibited at will, but the common Right which he

has under his Right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Under this Constitutional

guarantee one may, therefore, under normal conditions, travel at his inclination along the

public highways or in public places, and while conducting himself in an orderly and decent

manner, neither interfering with nor disturbing another's Rights, he will be protected, not

only in his person, but in his safe conduct." [emphasis added] II Am.Jur. (1st) Constitutional

Law, Sect.329, p.1135.

and further...

"Personal liberty -- consists of the power of locomotion, of changing situations, of removing

one's person to whatever place one's inclination may direct, without imprisonment or

restraint unless by due process of law." 1 Blackstone's Commentary 134; Hare,

Constitution__.777; Bovier's Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., Black's Law Dictionary, 5th ed.

Justice Tolman was concerned about the State prohibiting the Citizen from the "most sacred

of his liberties," the Right of movement, the Right of moving one's self from place to place

without threat of imprisonment, the Right to use the public roads in the ordinary course of

life.

When the State allows the formation of a corporation it may control its creation by

establishing guidelines (statutes) for its operation (charters). Corporations who use the

roads in the course of business do not use the roads in the ordinary course of life. There is a

difference between a corporation and an individual. The United States Supreme Court has

stated:

"...We are of the opinion that there is a clear distinction in this particular between an

individual and a corporation, and that the latter has no right to refuse to submit its books

and papers for examination on the suit of the State. The individual may stand upon his

Constitutional Rights as a Citizen. He is entitled to carry on his private business in his own

way. His power to contract is unlimited. He owes no duty to the State or to his neighbors to

divulge his business, or to open his doors to investigation, so far as it may tend to

Page 2 of 21incriminate him. He owes no such duty to the State, since he receives nothing therefrom,

beyond the protection of his life, liberty, and property. His Rights are such as the law of the

land long antecedent to the organization of the state, and can only be taken from him by

due process of law, and in accordance with the Constitution. Among his Rights are the

refusal to incriminate himself, and the immunity of himself and his property from arrest or

seizure except under warrant of law. He owes nothing to the public so long as he does not

trespass upon their rights.

"Upon the other hand, the corporation is a creature of the state. It is presumed to be

incorporated for the benefit of the public. It receives certain special privileges and

franchises, and holds them subject to the laws of the state and the limitations of its charter.

Its rights to act as a corporation are only preserved to it so long as it obeys the laws of its

creation. There is a reserved right in the legislature to investigate its contracts and find out

whether it has exceeded its powers. It would be a strange anomaly to hold that the State,

having chartered a corporation to make use of certain franchises, could not in exercise of its

sovereignty inquire how those franchises had been employed, and whether they had been

abused, and demand the production of corporate books and papers for that purpose."

[emphasis added] Hale vs. Hinkel, 201 US 43, 74-75.

Corporations engaged in mercantile equity fall under the purview of the State's admiralty

jurisdiction, and the public at large must be protected from their activities, as they (the

corporations) are engaged in business for profit.

"...Based upon the fundamental ground that the sovereign state has the plenary control of

the streets and highways in the exercise of its police power (see police power, infra.), may

absolutely prohibit the use of the streets as a place for the prosecution of a private business

for gain. They all recognize the fundamental distinction between the ordinary Right of the

Citizen to use the streets in the usual way and the use of the streets as a place of business

or a main instrumentality of business for private gain. The former is a common Right, the

latter is an extraordinary use. As to the former the legislative power is confined to

regulation, as to the latter it is plenary and extends even to absolute prohibition. Since the

use of the streets by a common carrier in the prosecution of its business as such is not a

right but a mere license of privilege." Hadfield vs. Lundin, 98 Wash 657l, 168, p.516.

It will be necessary to review early cases and legal authority in order to reach a lawfully

correct theory dealing with this Right or "privilege." We will attempt to reach a sound

conclusion as to what is a "Right to use the road" and what is a "privilege to use the road".

Once reaching this determination, we shall then apply those positions to modern case

decision.

"Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or

legislation which would abrogate them." Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 US 436, 491.

and...

"The claim and exercise of a constitutional Right cannot be converted into a crime." Miller

vs. U.S., 230 F. 486, 489.

and...

Page 3 of 21"There can be no sanction or penalty imposed upon one because of this exercise of

constitutional Rights." Snerer vs. Cullen, 481 F. 946.

Streets and highways are established and maintained for the purpose of travel and

transportation by the public. Such travel may be for business or pleasure.

"The use of the highways for the purpose of travel and transportation is not a mere

privilege, but a common and fundamental Right of which the public and the individual

cannot be rightfully deprived." [emphasis added] Chicago Motor Coach vs. Chicago, 169 NE

22; Ligare vs. Chicago, 28 NE 934; Boon vs. Clark, 214 SSW 607; 25 Am.Jur. (1st)

Highways Sect.163.

and...

"The Right of the Citizen to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property

thereon, either by horse drawn carriage or by automobile, is not a mere privilege which a

city can prohibit or permit at will, but a common Right which he has under the right to life,

liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." [emphasis added] Thompson vs. Smith, 154 SE 579.

So we can see that a Citizen has a Right to travel upon the public highways by automobile

and the Citizen cannot be rightfully deprived of his Liberty. So where does the

misconception that the use of the public road is always and only a privilege come from?

"...For while a Citizen has the Right to travel upon the public highways and to transport his

property thereon, that Right does not extend to the use of the highways, either in whole or

in part, as a place for private gain. For the latter purpose no person has a vested right to

use the highways of the state, but is a privilege or a license which the legislature may grant

or withhold at its discretion." State vs. Johnson, 243 P. 1073; Hadfield, supra; Cummins vs.

Homes, 155 P. 171; Packard vs. Banton, 44 S.Ct. 256; and other cases too numerous to

mention.

Here the court held that a Citizen has the Right to travel upon the public highways,

but that he did not have the right to conduct business upon the highways. On this

point of law all authorities are unanimous.

"Heretofore the court has held, and we think correctly, that while a Citizen has the Right to

travel upon the public highways and to transport his property thereon, that Right does not

extend to the use of the highways, either in whole or in part, as a place of business for

private gain." Barney vs. Board of Railroad Commissioners, 17 P.2d 82; Willis vs. Buck, 263

P.l 982.

and...

"The right of the citizen to travel upon the highway and to transport his property thereon, in

the ordinary course of life and business, differs radically and obviously from that of one who

makes the highway his place of business for private gain in the running of a stagecoach or

omnibus." State vs. City of Spokane, 186 P. 864.

What is this Right of the Citizen which differs so "radically and obviously" from one who

uses the highway as a place of business? Who better to enlighten us than Justice Tolman of

Page 4 of 21the Supreme Court of Washington State? In State vs. City of Spokane, supra, the Court also

noted a very "radical and obvious" difference, but went on to explain just what the

difference is:

"The former is the usual and ordinary right of the Citizen, a common right to all, while the

latter is special, unusual, and extraordinary."

and...

"This distinction, elementary and fundamental in character, is recognized by all the

authorities." State vs. City of Spokane, supra.

This position does not hang precariously upon only a few cases, but has been proclaimed by

an impressive array of cases ranging from the state courts to the federal courts.

"the right of the Citizen to travel upon the highway and to transport his property thereon in

the ordinary course of life and business, differs radically and obviously from that of one who

makes the highway his place of business and uses it for private gain in the running of a

stagecoach or omnibus. The former is the usual and ordinary right of the Citizen, a right

common to all, while the latter is special, unusual, and extraordinary." Ex Parte Dickey,

(Dickey vs. Davis), 85 SE 781.

and...

"The right of the Citizen to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property

thereon, in the ordinary course of life and business, is a common right which he has under

the right to enjoy life and liberty, to acquire and possess property, and to pursue happiness

and safety. It includes the right, in so doing, to use the ordinary and usual conveyances of

the day, and under the existing modes of travel, includes the right to drive a horse drawn

carriage or wagon thereon or to operate an automobile thereon, for the usual and ordinary

purpose of life and business." Teche Lines vs. Danforth, Miss., 12 S.2d 784; Thompson vs.

Smith, supra.

There is no dissent among various authorities as to this position. (See Am.Jur. [1st] Const.

Law, 329 and corresponding Am. Jur. [2nd].)

"Personal liberty -- or the right to enjoyment of life and liberty -- is one of the fundamental

or natural rights, which has been protected by its inclusion as a guarantee in the various

constitutions, which is not derived from nor dependent on the U.S. Constitution... It is one

of the most sacred and valuable rights [remember the words of Justice Tolman, supra.] as

sacred as the right to private property...and is regarded as inalienable." 16 C.J.S. Const.

Law, Sect.202, p.987.

As we can see, the distinction between a "Right" to use the public roads and a "privilege" to

use the public roads is drawn upon the line of "using the road as a place of business" and

the various state courts have held so. But what have the U.S. courts held on this point?

"First, it is well established law that the highways of the state are public property, and their

primary and preferred use is for private purposes, and that their use for purposes of gain is

special and extraordinary which, generally at least, the legislature may prohibit or condition

Page 5 of 21as it sees fit." Stephenson vs. Rinford, 287 US 251; Pachard vs Banton, 264 US 140, and

cases cited; Frost and F. Trucking Co. vs. Railroad Commission, 271 US 592; Railroad

commission vs. Inter-City Forwarding Co., 57 SW.2d 290; Parlett Cooperative vs. Tidewater

Lines, 164 A. 313.

So what is a privilege to use the roads? By now it should be apparent even to the "learned"

that an attempt to use the road as a place of business is a privilege. The distinction must be

drawn between...

1. Travelling upon and transporting one's property upon the public roads, which is our

Right; and...

2. Using the public roads as a place of business or a main instrumentality of business, which

is a privilege.

"[The roads]...are constructed and maintained at public expense, and no person therefore,

can insist that he has, or may acquire, a vested right to their use in carrying on a

commercial business." Ex Parte Sterling, 53 SW.2d 294; Barney vs. Railroad

Commissioners, 17 P.2d 82; Stephenson vs. Binford, supra.

"When the public highways are made the place of business the state has a right to regulate

their use in the interest of safety and convenience of the public as well as the preservation

of the highways." Barney vs. Railroad Commissioners, supra.

"[The state's] right to regulate such use is based upon the nature of the business and the

use of the highways in connection therewith." Ibid.

"We know of no inherent right in one to use the highways for commercial purposes. The

highways are primarily for the use of the public, and in the interest of the public, the state

may prohibit or regulate...the use of the highways for gain." Robertson vs. Dept. of Public

Works, supra.

There should be considerable authority on a subject as important a this deprivation of the

liberty of the individual "using the roads in the ordinary course of life and business."

However, it should be noted that extensive research has not turned up one case or

authority acknowledging the state's power to convert the individual's right to travel upon

the public roads into a "privilege."

Therefore, it is concluded that the Citizen does have a "Right" to travel and transport his

property upon the public highways and roads and the exercise of this Right is not a

"privilege."

DEFINITIONS

In order to understand the correct application of the statute in question, we must first

define the terms used in connection with this point of law. As will be shown, many terms

Page 6 of 21used today do not, in their legal context, mean what we assume they mean, thus resulting

in the misapplication of statutes in the instant case.

AUTOMOBILE AND MOTOR VEHICLE

There is a clear distinction between an automobile and a motor vehicle. An automobile has

been defined as:

"The word `automobile' connotes a pleasure vehicle designed for the transportation of

persons on highways." American Mutual Liability Ins. Co., vs. Chaput, 60 A.2d 118, 120; 95

NH 200.

While the distinction is made clear between the two as the courts have stated:

"A motor vehicle or automobile for hire is a motor vehicle, other than an automobile stage,

used for the transportation of persons for which remuneration is received." International

Motor Transit Co. vs. Seattle, 251 P. 120.

The term `motor vehicle' is different and broader than the word `automobile.'" City of

Dayton vs. DeBrosse, 23 NE.2d 647, 650; 62 Ohio App. 232.

The distinction is made very clear in Title 18 USC 31: "Motor vehicle" means every

description or other contrivance propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used for

commercial purposes on the highways in the transportation of passengers, or passengers

and property.

"Used for commercial purposes" means the carriage of persons or property for any fare, fee,

rate, charge or other considerations, or directly or indirectly in connection with any

business, or other undertaking intended for profit.

Clearly, an automobile is private property in use for private purposes, while a motor vehicle

is a machine which may be used upon the highways for trade, commerce, or hire.

TRAVEL

The term "travel" is a significant term and is defined as:

"The term `travel' and `traveler' are usually construed in their broad and general sense...so

as to include all those who rightfully use the highways viatically (when being reimbursed for

expenses) and who have occasion to pass over them for the purpose of business,

convenience, or pleasure." [emphasis added] 25 Am.Jur. (1st) Highways, Sect.427, p.717.

"Traveler -- One who passes from place to place, whether for pleasure, instruction,

business, or health." Locket vs. State, 47 Ala. 45; Bovier's Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., p.

3309.

Page 7 of 21"Travel -- To journey or to pass through or over; as a country district, road, etc. To go from

one place to another, whether on foot, or horseback, or in any conveyance as a train, an

automobile, carriage, ship, or aircraft; Make a journey." Century Dictionary, p.2034.

Therefore, the term "travel" or "traveler" refers to one who uses a conveyance to go from

one place to another, and included all those who use the highways as a matter of Right.

Notice that in all these definitions the phrase "for hire" never occurs. This term "travel" or

"traveler" implies, by definition, one who uses the road as a means to move from one place

to another.

Therefore, one who uses the road in the ordinary course of life and business for the purpose

of travel and transportation is a traveler.

DRIVER

The term "driver" in contradistinction to "traveler,": is defined as:

"Driver -- One employed in conducting a coach, carriage, wagon, or other vehicle..."

Bovier's Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., p. 940.

Notice that this definition includes one who is "employed" in conducting a vehicle. It should

be self-evident that this person could not be "travelling" on a journey, but is using the road

as a place of business.

OPERATOR

Today we assume that a "traveler" is a "driver," and a "driver" is an "operator." However,

this is not the case.

"It will be observed from the language of the ordinance that a distinction is to be drawn

between the terms `operator' and `driver'; the `operator' of the service car being the

person who is licensed to have the car on the streets in the business of carrying passengers

for hire; while the `driver' is the one who actually drives the car. However, in the actual

prosecution of business, it was possible for the same person to be both `operator' and

`driver.'" Newbill vs. Union Indemnity Co., 60 SE.2d 658.

To further clarify the definition of an "operator" the court observed that this was a vehicle

"for hire" and that it was in the business of carrying passengers.

This definition would seem to describe a person who is using the road as a place of

business, or in other words, a person engaged in the "privilege" of using the road for gain.

This definition, then, is a further clarification of the distinction mentioned earlier, and

therefore:

Page 8 of 211. Travelling upon and transporting one's property upon the public roads as a matter of

Right meets the definition of a traveler.

2. Using the road as a place of business as a matter of privilege meets the definition of a

driver or an operator or both.

TRAFFIC

Having defined the terms "automobile," "motor vehicle," "traveler," "driver," and "operator,"

the next term to define is "traffic":

"...Traffic thereon is to some extent destructive, therefore, the prevention of unnecessary

duplication of auto transportation service will lengthen the life of the highways or reduce the

cost of maintenance, the revenue derived by the state...will also tend toward the public

welfare by producing at the expense of those operating for private gain, some small part of

the cost of repairing the wear..." Northern Pacific R.R. Co. vs. Schoenfeldt, 213 P. 26.

Note: In the above, Justice Tolman expounded upon the key of raising revenue by taxing

the "privilege" to use the public roads "at the expense of those operating for gain."

In this case, the word "traffic" is used in conjunction with the unnecessary Auto

Transportation Service, or in other words, "vehicles for hire." The word "traffic" is another

word which is to be strictly construed to the conducting of business.

"Traffic -- Commerce, trade, sale or exchange of merchandise, bills, money, or the like. The

passing of goods and commodities from one person to another for an equivalent in goods or

money..." Bovier's Law Dictionary, 1914 ed., p. 3307.

Here again, notice that this definition refers to one "conducting business." No mention is

made of one who is travelling in his automobile. This definition is of one who is engaged in

the passing of a commodity or goods in exchange for money, i.e.., vehicles for hire.

Furthermore, the word "traffic" and "travel" must have different meanings which the courts

recognize. The difference is recognized in Ex Parte Dickey, supra:

"...in addition to this, cabs, hackney coaches, omnibuses, taxicabs, and hacks, when

unnecessarily numerous, interfere with the ordinary traffic and travel and obstruct them."

The court, by using both terms, signified its recognition of a distinction between the two.

But, what was the distinction? We have already defined both terms, but to clear up any

doubt:

"The word `traffic' is manifestly used here in secondary sense, and has reference to the

business of transportation rather than to its primary meaning of interchange of

commodities." Allen vs. City of Bellingham, 163 P. 18.

Page 9 of 21Here the Supreme Court of the State of Washington has defined the word "traffic" (in either

its primary or secondary sense) in reference to business, and not to mere travel! So it is

clear that the term "traffic" is business related and therefore, it is a "privilege." The net

result being that "traffic" is brought under the (police) power of the legislature. The term

has no application to one who is not using the roads as a place of business.

LICENSE

It seems only proper to define the word "license," as the definition of this word will be

extremely important in understanding the statutes as they are properly applied:

"The permission, by competent authority to do an act which without permission, would be

illegal, a trespass, or a tort." People vs. Henderson, 218 NW.2d 2, 4.

"Leave to do a thing which licensor could prevent." Western Electric Co. vs. Pacent

Reproducer Corp., 42 F.2d 116, 118.

In order for these two definitions to apply in this case, the state would have to take up the

position that the exercise of a Constitutional Right to use the public roads in the ordinary

course of life and business is illegal, a trespass, or a tort, which the state could then

regulate or prevent.

This position, however, would raise magnitudinous Constitutional questions as this position

would be diametrically opposed to fundamental Constitutional Law. (See "Conversion of a

Right to a Crime," infra.)

In the instant case, the proper definition of a "license" is:

"a permit, granted by an appropriate governmental body, generally for consideration, to a

person, firm, or corporation, to pursue some occupation or to carry on some business which

is subject to regulation under the police power." [emphasis added] Rosenblatt vs. California

State Board of Pharmacy, 158 P.2d 199, 203.

This definition would fall more in line with the "privilege" of carrying on business on the

streets.

Most people tend to think that "licensing" is imposed by the state for the purpose of raising

revenue, yet there may well be more subtle reasons contemplated; for when one seeks

permission from someone to do something he invokes the jurisdiction of the "licensor"

which, in this case, is the state. In essence, the licensee may well be seeking to be

regulated by the "licensor."

"A license fee is a charge made primarily for regulation, with the fee to cover costs and

expenses of supervision or regulation." State vs. Jackson, 60 Wisc.2d 700; 211 NW.2d 480,

487.

Page 10 of 21The fee is the price; the regulation or control of the licensee is the real aim of the

legislation.

Are these licenses really used to fund legitimate government, or are they nothing more than

a subtle introduction of police power into every facet of our lives? Have our "enforcement

agencies" been diverted from crime prevention, perhaps through no fault of their own,

instead now busying themselves as they "check" our papers to see that all are properly

endorsed by the state?

How much longer will it be before we are forced to get a license for our lawn mowers, or

before our wives will need a license for her "blender" or "mixer?" They all have motors on

them and the state can always use the revenue.

POLICE POWER

The confusion of the police power with the power of taxation usually arises in cases where

the police power has affixed a penalty to a certain act, or where it requires licenses to be

obtained and a certain sum be paid for certain occupations. The power used in the instant

case cannot, however, be the power of taxation since an attempt to levy a tax upon a Right

would be open to Constitutional objection. (See "taxing power," infra.)

Each law relating to the use of police power must ask three questions:

"1. Is there threatened danger?

2. Does a regulation involve a Constitutional Right?

3. Is this regulation reasonable?" People vs. Smith, 108 Am.St.Rep. 715; Bovier's Law

Dictionary, 1914 ed., under "Police Power."

When applying these three questions to the statute in question, some very important issues

emerge.

First, "is there a threatened danger" in the individual using his automobile on the public

highways, in the ordinary course of life and business?

The answer is No! There is nothing inherently dangerous in the use of an automobile when it

is carefully managed. Their guidance, speed, and noise are subject to a quick and easy

control, under a competent and considerate manager, it is as harmless on the road as a

horse and buggy.

It is the manner of managing the automobile, and that alone, which threatens the safety of

the public. The ability to stop quickly and to respond quickly to guidance would seem to

make the automobile one of the least dangerous conveyances. (See Yale Law Journal,

December, 1905.)

"The automobile is not inherently dangerous." Cohens vs. Meadow, 89 SE 876; Blair vs.

Broadmore, 93 SE 532.

Page 11 of 21To deprive all persons of the Right to use the road in the ordinary course of life and

business, because one might, in the future, become dangerous, would be a deprivation not

only of the Right to travel, but also the Right to due process. (See "Due Process," infra.)

Next, does the regulation involve a Constitutional Right?

This question has already been addressed and answered in this brief, and need not be

reinforced other than to remind this Court that this Citizen does have the Right to travel

upon the public highway by automobile in the ordinary course of life and business. It can

therefore be concluded that this regulation does involve a Constitutional Right.

The third question is the most important in this case. "Is this regulation reasonable?"

The answer is No! It will be shown later in "Regulation," infra., that this licensing statute is

oppressive and could be effectively administered by less oppressive means.

Although the Fourteenth Amendment does not interfere with the proper exercise of the

police power, in accordance with the general principle that the power must be exercised so

as not to invade unreasonably the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, it is

established beyond question that every state power, including the police power, is limited

by the Fourteenth Amendment (and others) and by the inhibitions there imposed.

Moreover, the ultimate test of the propriety of police power regulations must be found in the

Fourteenth Amendment, since it operates to limit the field of the police power to the extent

of preventing the enforcement of statutes in denial of Rights that the Amendment protects.

(See Parks vs. State, 64 NE 682.)

"With regard particularly to the U.S. Constitution, it is elementary that a Right secured or

protected by that document cannot be overthrown or impaired by any state police

authority." Connolly vs. Union Sewer Pipe Co., 184 US 540; Lafarier vs. Grand Trunk R.R.

Co., 24 A. 848; O'Neil vs. Providence Amusement Co., 108 A. 887.

"The police power of the state must be exercised in subordination to the provisions of the

U.S. Constitution." [emphasis added] Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. vs. State Highway

Commission, 294 US 613; Bacahanan vs. Wanley, 245 US 60.

"It is well settled that the Constitutional Rights protected from invasion by the police power,

include Rights safeguarded both by express and implied prohibitions in the Constitutions."

Tiche vs. Osborne, 131 A. 60.

"As a rule, fundamental limitations of regulations under the police power are found in the

spirit of the Constitutions, not in the letter, although they are just as efficient as if

expressed in the clearest language." Mehlos vs. Milwaukee, 146 NW 882.

As it applies in the instant case, the language of the Fifth Amendment is clear:

No person shall be...deprived of Life, Liberty, or Property without due process of law.

Page 12 of 21As has been shown, the courts at all levels have firmly established an absolute Right to

travel.

In the instant case, the state, by applying commercial statutes to all entities, natural and

artificial persons alike, has deprived this free and natural person of the Right of Liberty,

without cause and without due process of law.

DUE PROCESS

"The essential elements of due process of law are...Notice and The Opportunity to defend."

Simon vs. Craft, 182 US 427.

Yet, not one individual has been given notice of the loss of his/her Right, let alone before

signing the license (contract). Nor was the Citizen given any opportunity to defend against

the loss of his/her right to travel, by automobile, on the highways, in the ordinary course of

life and business. This amounts to an arbitrary deprivation of Liberty.

"There should be no arbitrary deprivation of Life or Liberty..." Barbour vs. Connolly, 113 US

27, 31; Yick Wo vs. Hopkins, 118 US 356.

and...

"The right to travel is part of the Liberty of which a citizen cannot deprived without due

process of law under the Fifth Amendment. This Right was emerging as early as the Magna

Carta." Kent vs. Dulles, 357 US 116 (1958).

The focal point of this question of police power and due process must balance upon the

point of making the public highways a safe place for the public to travel. If a man travels in

a manner that creates actual damage, an action would lie (civilly) for recovery of damages.

The state could then also proceed against the individual to deprive him of his Right to use

the public highways, for cause. This process would fulfill the due process requirements of

the Fifth Amendment while at the same time insuring that Rights guaranteed by the U.S.

Constitution and the state constitutions would be protected.

But unless or until harm or damage (a crime) is committed, there is no cause for

interference in the private affairs or actions of a Citizen.

One of the most famous and perhaps the most quoted definitions of due process of law, is

that of Daniel Webster in his Dartmouth College Case (4 Wheat 518), in which he declared

that by due process is meant "a law which hears before it condemns, which proceeds upon

inquiry, and renders judgment only after trial." (See also State vs. Strasburg, 110 P. 1020;

Dennis vs. Moses, 52 P. 333.)

Somewhat similar is the statement that is a rule as old as the law that "no one shall be

personally bound (restricted) until he has had his day in court," by which is meant, until he

Page 13 of 21has been duly cited to appear and has been afforded an opportunity to be heard. Judgment

without such citation and opportunity lacks all the attributes of a judicial determination; it is

judicial usurpation and it is oppressive and can never be upheld where it is fairly

administered. (12 Am.Jur. [1st] Const. Law, Sect.573, p.269.)

Note: This sounds like the process used to deprive one of the "privilege" of operating a

motor vehicle "for hire." It should be kept in mind, however, that we are discussing the

arbitrary deprivation of the Right to use the road that all citizens have "in common."

The futility of the state's position can be most easily observed in the 1959 Washington

Attorney General's opinion on a similar issue:

"The distinction between the Right of the Citizen to use the public highways for private,

rather than commercial purposes is recognized..."

and...

"Under its power to regulate private uses of our highways, our legislature has required that

motor vehicle operators be licensed (I.C. 49-307). Undoubtedly, the primary purpose of this

requirement is to insure, as far as possible, that all motor vehicle operators will be

competent and qualified, thereby reducing the potential hazard or risk of harm, to which

other users of the highways might otherwise be subject. But once having complied with this

regulatory provision, by obtaining the required license, a motorist enjoys the privilege of

travelling freely upon the highways..." Washington A.G.O. 59-60 No. 88, p. 11.

This alarming opinion appears to be saying that every person using an automobile as a

matter of Right, must give up the Right and convert the Right into a privilege. This is

accomplished under the guise of regulation. This statement is indicative of the insensitivity,

even the ignorance, of the government to the limits placed upon governments by and

through the several constitutions.

This legal theory may have been able to stand in 1959; however, as of 1966, in the United

States Supreme Court decision in Miranda, even this weak defense of the state's actions

must fall.

"Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or

legislation which would abrogate them." Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 US 436, 491.

Thus the legislature does not have the power to abrogate the Citizen's Right to travel upon

the public roads, by passing legislation forcing the citizen to waive his Right and convert

that Right into a privilege. Furthermore, we have previously established that this "privilege"

has been defined as applying only to those who are "conducting business in the streets" or

"operating for-hire vehicles."

The legislature has attempted, by legislative fiat, to deprive the Citizen of his Right to use

the roads in the ordinary course of life and business, without affording the Citizen the

safeguard of "due process of law." This has been accomplished under supposed powers of

regulation.

Page 14 of 21REGULATION

"In addition to the requirement that regulations governing the use of the highways must not

be violative of constitutional guarantees, the prime essentials of such regulation are

reasonableness, impartiality, and definiteness or certainty." 25 Am.Jur. (1st) Highways,

Sect.260.

and...

"Moreover, a distinction must be observed between the regulation of an activity which may

be engaged in as a matter of right and one carried on by government sufferance of

permission." Davis vs. Massachusetts, 167 US 43; Pachard vs. Banton, supra.

One can say for certain that these regulations are impartial since they are being applied to

all, even though they are clearly beyond the limits of the legislative powers. However, we

must consider whether such regulations are reasonable and non-violative of constitutional

guarantees.

First, let us consider the reasonableness of this statute requiring all persons to be licensed

(presuming that we are applying this statute to all persons using the public roads). In

determining the reasonableness of the statute we need only ask two questions:

1. Does the statute accomplish its stated goal?

The answer is No!

The attempted explanation for this regulation "to insure the safety of the public by insuring,

as much as possible, that all are competent and qualified."

However, one can keep his license without retesting, from the time he/she is first licensed

until the day he/she dies, without regard to the competency of the person, by merely

renewing said license before it expires. It is therefore possible to completely skirt the goal of

this attempted regulation, thus proving that this regulation does not accomplish its goal.

Furthermore, by testing and licensing, the state gives the appearance of underwriting the

competence of the licensees, and could therefore be held liable for failures, accidents, etc.

caused by licensees.

2. Is the statute reasonable?

Page 15 of 21The answer is No!

This statute cannot be determined to be reasonable since it requires to the Citizen to give

up his or her natural Right to travel unrestricted in order to accept the privilege. The

purported goal of this statute could be met by much less oppressive regulations, i.e.,

competency tests and certificates of competency before using an automobile upon the

public roads. (This is exactly the situation in the aviation sector.)

But isn't this what we have now?

The answer is No! The real purpose of this license is much more insidious. When one signs

the license, he/she gives up his/her Constitutional Right to travel in order to accept and

exercise a privilege. After signing the license, a quasi-contract, the Citizen has to give the

state his/her consent to be prosecuted for constructive crimes and quasi-criminal actions

where there is no harm done and no damaged property.

These prosecutions take place without affording the Citizen of their Constitutional Rights

and guarantees such a the Right to a trial by jury of twelve persons and the Right to

counsel, as well as the normal safeguards such as proof of intent and a corpus dilecti and a

grand jury indictment. These unconstitutional prosecutions take place because the Citizen is

exercising a privilege and has given his/her "implied consent" to legislative enactments

designed to control interstate commerce, a regulatable enterprise under the police power of

the state.

We must now conclude that the Citizen is forced to give up Constitutional guarantees of

"Right" in order to exercise his state "privilege" to travel upon the public highways in the

ordinary course of life and business.

SURRENDER OF RIGHTS

A Citizen cannot be forced to give up his/her Rights in the name of regulation.

"...the only limitations found restricting the right of the state to condition the use of the

public highways as a means of vehicular transportation for compensation are (1) that the

state must not exact of those it permits to use the highways for hauling for gain that they

surrender any of their inherent U.S. Constitutional Rights as a condition precedent to

obtaining permission for such use..." [emphasis added] Riley vs. Laeson, 142 So. 619;

Stephenson vs. Binford, supra.

If one cannot be placed in a position of being forced to surrender Rights in order to exercise

a privilege, how much more must this maxim of law, then, apply when one is simply

exercising (putting into use) a Right?

"To be that statute which would deprive a Citizen of the rights of person or property,

without a regular trial, according to the course and usage of the common law, would not be

the law of the land." Hoke vs. Henderson, 15 NC 15.

Page 16 of 21and...

"We find it intolerable that one Constitutional Right should have to be surrendered in order

to assert another." Simons vs. United States, 390 US 389.

Since the state requires that one give up Rights in order to exercise the privilege of driving,

the regulation cannot stand under the police power, due process, or regulation, but must be

exposed as a statute which is oppressive and one which has been misapplied to deprive the

Citizen of Rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the state constitutions.

TAXING POWER

"Any claim that this statute is a taxing statute would be immediately open to severe

Constitutional objections. If it could be said that the state had the power to tax a Right, this

would enable the state to destroy Rights guaranteed by the constitution through the use of

oppressive taxation. The question herein, is one of the state taxing the Right to travel by

the ordinary modes of the day, and whether this is a legislative object of the state taxation.

The views advanced herein are neither novel nor unsupported by authority. The question of

taxing power of the states has been repeatedly considered by the Supreme Court. The Right

of the state to impede or embarrass the Constitutional operation of the U.S. Government or

the Rights which the Citizen holds under it, has been uniformly denied." McCulloch vs.

Maryland, 4 Wheat 316.

The power to tax is the power to destroy, and if the state is given the power to destroy

Rights through taxation, the framers of the Constitution wrote that document in vain.

"...It may be said that a tax of one dollar for passing through the state cannot sensibly

affect any function of government or deprive a Citizen of any valuable Right. But if a state

can tax...a passenger of one dollar, it can tax him a thousand dollars." Crandall vs. Nevada,

6 Wall 35, 46.

and...

"If the Right of passing through a state by a Citizen of the United States is one guaranteed

by the Constitution, it must be sacred from state taxation." Ibid., p.47.

Therefore, the Right of travel must be kept sacred from all forms of state taxation and if this

argument is used by the state as a defense of the enforcement of this statute, then this

argument also must fail.

Page 17 of 21CONVERSION OF A RIGHT TO A CRIME

As previously demonstrated, the Citizen has the Right to travel and to transport his property

upon the public highways in the ordinary course of life and business. However, if one

exercises this Right to travel (without first giving up the Right and converting that Right into

a privilege) the Citizen is by statute, guilty of a crime. This amounts to converting the

exercise of a Constitutional Right into a crime.

Recall the Miller vs. U.S. and Snerer vs. Cullen quotes from p.5, and,

"The state cannot diminish Rights of the people." Hurtado vs. California, 110 US 516.

and...

"Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or

legislation which would abrogate them." Miranda, supra.

Indeed, the very purpose for creating the state under the limitations of the constitution was

to protect the rights of the people from intrusion, particularly by the forces of government.

So we can see that any attempt by the legislature to make the act of using the public

highways as a matter of Right into a crime, is void upon its face.

Any person who claims his Right to travel upon the highways, and so exercises that Right,

cannot be tried for a crime of doing so. And yet, this Freeman stands before this court today

to answer charges for the "crime" of exercising his Right to Liberty.

As we have already shown, the term "drive" can only apply to those who are employed in

the business of transportation for hire. It has been shown that freedom includes the

Citnzen's Right to use the public highways in the ordinary course of life and business

without license or regulation by the police powers of the state.

CONCLUSION

It is the duty of the court to recognize the substance of things and not the mere form.

"The courts are not bound by mere form, nor are they to be misled by mere pretenses. They

are at liberty -- indeed they are under a solemn duty -- to look at the substance of things,

whenever they enter upon the inquiry whether the legislature has transcended the limits of

its authority. If, therefore, a statute purported to have been enacted to protect...the public

safety, has no real or substantial relation to those objects or is a palpable invasion of Rights

secured by the fundamental law, it is the duty of the courts to so adjudge, and thereby give

effect to the Constitution." Mulger vs. Kansas, 123 US 623, 661.

Page 18 of 21and...

"It is the duty of the courts to be watchful for the Constitutional rights of the citizen and

against any stealthy encroachments thereon." Boyd vs. United States, 116 US 616.

The courts are "duty bound" to recognize and stop the "stealthy encroachments" which have

been made upon the Citizen's Right to travel and to use the roads to transport his property

in the "ordinary course of life and business." (Hadfield, supra.)

Further, the court must recognize that the Right to travel is part of the Liberty of which a

Citizen cannot be deprived without specific cause and without the "due process of law"

guaranteed in the Fifth Amendment. (Kent, supra.)

The history of this "invasion" of the Citizen's Right to use the public highways shows clearly

that the legislature simply found a heretofore untapped source of revenue, got greedy, and

attempted to enforce a statute in an unconstitutional manner upon those free and natural

individuals who have a Right to travel upon the highways. This was not attempted in an

outright action, but in a slow, meticulous, calculated encroachment upon the Citizen's Right

to travel.

This position must be accepted unless the prosecutor can show his authority for the position

that the "use of the road in the ordinary course of life and business" is a privilege.

To rule in any other manner, without clear authority for an adverse ruling, will infringe upon

fundamental and basic concepts of Constitutional law. This position, that a Right cannot be

regulated under any guise, must be accepted without concern for the monetary loss of the

state.

"Disobedience or evasion of a Constitutional Mandate cannot be tolerated, even though such

disobedience may, at least temporarily, promote in some respects the best interests of the

public." Slote vs. Examination, 112 ALR 660.

and...

"Economic necessity cannot justify a disregard of Constitutional guarantee." Riley vs. Carter,

79 ALR 1018; 16 Am.Jur. (2nd), Const. Law, Sect.81.

and...

"Constitutional Rights cannot be denied simply because of hostility to their assertions and

exercise; vindication of conceded Constitutional Rights cannot be made dependent upon any

theory that it is less expensive to deny them than to afford them." Watson vs. Memphis,

375 US 526.

Page 19 of 21Therefore, the Court's decision in the instant case must be made without the issue of cost to

the state being taken into consideration, as that issue is irrelevant. The state cannot lose

money that it never had a right to demand from the "Sovereign People."

Finally, we come to the issue of "public policy." It could be argued that the "licensing

scheme" of all persons is a matter of "public policy." However, if this argument is used, it

too must fail, as:

"No public policy of a state can be allowed to override the positive guarantees of the U.S.

Constitution." 16 Am.Jur. (2nd), Const. Law, Sect.70.

So even "public policy" cannot abrogate this Citizen's Right to travel and to use the public

highways in the ordinary course of life and business.

Therefore, it must be concluded that:

"We have repeatedly held that the legislature may regulate the use of the highways for

carrying on business for private gain and that such regulation is a valid exercise of the

police power." Northern Pacific R.R. Co., supra.

and...

"The act in question is a valid regulation, and as such is binding upon all who use the

highway for the purpose of private gain." Ibid.

Any other construction of this statute would render it unconstitutional as applied to this

Citizen or any Citizen. The Accused therefore moves this court to dismiss the charge against

him, with prejudice.

In addition:

Since no notice is given to people applying for driver's (or other) licenses that they have a

perfect right to use the roads without any permission, and that they surrender valuable

rights by taking on the regulation system of licensure, the state has committed a massive

construction fraud. This occurs when any person is told that they must have a license in

order to use the public roads and highways.

The license, being a legal contract under which the state is empowered with policing powers

is only valid when the licensee takes on the burdens of the contract and bargains away his

or her rights knowingly, intentionally, and voluntarily.

Few know that the driver's license is a contract without which the police are powerless to

regulate the people's actions or activities.

Page 20 of 21Few if any licensees intentionally surrender valuable rights. They are told that they must

have the license. As we have seen, this is not the case.

No one in their right mind voluntarily surrenders complete liberty and accepts in its place a

set of regulations.

"The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." Edmund Burke, 1784.

Page 21 of 21