Self-proclaimed Terra Nullius citizen Rodney Lanzon fined over multiple charges

A self-proclaimed ‘Terra Nullius’ citizen with a “misguided view” that courts held no power over him has been shut down by a magistrate in front of his own band of supporters.

Lanzon was supported in court by at least a dozen supporters and family members. Picture: FILE

A packed court north of Brisbane has seen a Terra Nullius citizen slapped with a hefty fine for his refusal to obtain a drivers licence and register his car, based on his “misguided” sovereign beliefs.

Rodney Lanzon, 53, appeared via videolink in Caboolture Magistrates Court on April 30 charged with three counts of driving without a licence, driving without a licence SPER suspended, contravene direction or requirement police officer, two counts of drive uninsured vehicle and two counts of fail to appear in accordance with an undertaking.

He was also charged with two counts of vehicles used on roads must be registered, things that purport to be, but are not. Registration certificates, number plates or permits and using, or permitting use of, vehicle for which registration certificate, number plate or permit materially altered.

Lanzon was supported in court by at least a dozen supporters and family members.

Before Lanzon’s matter was heard, Magistrate Kurt Fowler and court security had to remind members of the gallery that recording in the courtroom was illegal, following a disruption yesterday which forced Lanzon’s matter to be adjourned to today.

“My recollection was that I read some charges to you yesterday and you did not enter a plea,” Mr Fowler said.

“We then started to discuss the matters and you then indicated that you would plead guilty to the charges.

“Then at that stage we lost the best part of 10 minutes because there was a disruption and unfortunately I wasn’t able to hear your matter yesterday.

“Looking at what happened yesterday, it’s quite possible that you’ve been held in custody for an extra period of time because there was a disruption in the courtroom.

“I’m going to try and get through your matter today but I can’t guarantee what occurs in the courtroom.”

The court heard Lanzon was intercepted on the road several times between November 25, 2022 and April 27 2024, where checks each time revealed Lanzon was not the holder of a drivers licence and the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Shannon Fox told the court when police asked Lanzon for his drivers licence on those occasions, Lanzon stated each time he did not need one and that he was exempt from needing to register and insure his vehicle.

Ms Fox told the court that on April 27, 2024, police stopped next to Lanzon on Coach Rd, Burpengary East, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle.

The court heard Lanzon handed police an identification card that identified him as a sovereign citizen, when he was asked for his licence.

The court also heard Lanzon failed to appear at the Beaudesert Magistrates Court on two occasions.

“Police questioned Mr Lanzon why he didn’t appear in the Beaudesert Magistrate Court, he said the court held no jurisdiction over him,” Ms Fox said.

The court heard Lanzon had a one page criminal history showing he appeared in Gladstone court in 2015.

Representing himself, Lanzon told the court that each offence he committed was not through belligerence.

“I’ve done everything in my power to make it known what I was doing,” Lanzon said.

“I have sworn witness testimonies in the form of affidavits that have been sent to all the appropriate respondents.

“They’ve never responded back, never replied, they’ve all been denied.

“Everything I’ve done through the whole time, I’ve tried to do with honour.

“I’ve been non-combatant, I’ve done everything possible to make it known what I was and what I was about, as a Terra Nullius state national.”

Mr Fowler convicted and fined Lanzon, who pleaded guilty to the charges, a total of $2,250 and disqualified Lanzon from holding or obtaining a drivers licence for two months.

“What exacerbates this offending is the fact that you are pulled over, charged and you continue to drive, having disregard for the laws that govern all people who choose to reside in Queensland,” Mr Fowler said.

“I note what you said to police, about you believing your status, it is unfortunate that you have some form of misguided view of your status.

“The courts have been very clear in recent times when we have people who believe they are not subject to the law that applies to all individuals equally.

“On any version Mr Lanzon, your views appear to have allowed you to be held in custody in a watchouse facility for a period of time.”

Originally published as Self-proclaimed Terra Nullius citizen Rodney Lanzon fined over multiple charges