Sovereign citizens frequently use the phrase “traveling in a commercial capacity” to justify ignoring traffic laws and police interaction. Here’s a breakdown of their argument and why it holds no legal weight:
- False Distinction to Avoid Laws: They claim this phrase excludes them from traffic laws because those laws only apply to vehicles used for commercial purposes [1, 2]. This distinction has no legal basis in reality.
- Misunderstanding Public vs. Private Use: Public roads are designed for everyone’s use, and following traffic laws ensures safety for all drivers [2]. Sovereign citizens often misunderstand this concept.
- Semantic Confusion Tactic: The phrase is a tactic to confuse law enforcement. They aim to create a semantic difference between “commercial” travel and regular “driving,” hoping officers won’t enforce traffic laws [3]. Courts see through this and focus on the actual activity of operating a vehicle on a public road.
- Justification for Non-Compliance: Sovereign citizens might use this phrase as an excuse for not having a driver’s license, vehicle registration, or insurance, arguing it’s not “commercial” travel [2]. However, these requirements apply to all vehicles on public roads.
Key Points to Remember:
- Traffic laws apply to everyone using public roads, regardless of their self-proclaimed “capacity” for travel.
- Using this phrase holds no legal weight and can lead to citations or arrests for non-compliance with traffic laws [1].
Citations:
- [1] UNC School of Government: A Quick Guide To Sovereign Citizens https://www.sog.unc.edu/publications/bulletins/quick-guide-sovereign-citizens
- [2] 9 things to prepare for when encountering sovereign citizens https://www.sog.unc.edu/publications/bulletins/quick-guide-sovereign-citizens
- [3] Police1: 5 responses to a sovereign citizen at a traffic https://www.police1.com/patrol-issues/articles/5-responses-to-a-sovereign-citizen-at-a-traffic-stop-FZ4ruThuMxTHVgEO/
