Driver Who Rejects Vehicle Laws Gets 6 Months in Jail
A Sylmar man who contended that he was a “sovereign citizen” with the right to drive without any governmental controls was sentenced Friday to six months in jail for driving without a license.
San Fernando Municipal Judge L. Jeffrey Wiatt imposed the maximum term for David Sanders, who was found guilty in a non-jury trial of driving without a license and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Wiatt imposed the maximum penalty after Sanders refused to accept probation on the grounds that he was a “sovereign citizen,” not a “person,” and therefore was not subject to the California Vehicle Code, Deputy City Atty. Norman Wegener said.
Wiatt ordered Sanders, 37, to begin serving the jail term immediately, and set bail at $15,000 after the defendant said he intended to appeal.
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