Cop’s perfect response to sovereign citizen

A cop has responded perfectly to a sovereign citizen who insisted he was above the law, refusing to comply with a breath test.

A cop has given a “perfect” response to a sovereign citizen refusing to comply with the law. Picture: YouTube.

A self-described “Living Man” — in other words, a sovereign citizen — has revealed another of his community’s bizarre tactics to evade the law, claiming to an astoundingly patient police officer that an action “is only a crime if there’s a victim”.

The incident is the latest in a growing list of encounters between police and sovereign citizens, who believe they are immune from the rule of law and often clog up the courts by attempting to challenge the authority of the state.

In a video of the exchange shared to a “think for yourself” YouTube page and picked up by social media, a highway patrol officer can be seen holding a breathalyser after pulling the man over for speeding.

“What crime is there? What crime has been committed?” the man behind the camera demands.

“There has been a traffic offence committed, all right? And you are required in Victoria when you’ve committed a traffic offence to give me your name and address and produce your licence,” the officer calmly explains.

Have a similar story? Get in touch — [e-mail]

“What crime is there? … For there to be a crime, there must be a victim,” the sovereign citizen bizarrely insists.

The man tells the officer he is recording their conversation, to which the cop says: “I can see that because you’ve got your phone up.”

Ten minutes into the 17-minute clip, the officer is, incredibly, still continuing with the same routine — patiently explaining the difference between a crime and a traffic offence, and arguing with the man about whether or not they are in Victoria.

“I didn’t say it was a crime. It’s an offence, and it’s an offence in Victoria, and you are in Victoria. Would you agree with that?” the officer asks.

“I don’t understand the question,” the man responds.

“Oh, don’t you? Well, I’m telling you that you’re in Victoria. If you don’t know where you are, I guess that’s an issue too,” the cop says.

“You are driving a motor vehicle in Victoria … You can call it whatever you like, but I’m telling you. You are driving a motor vehicle in Victoria. As such, you must comply with all the rules and legislation of Victoria. Do you understand now?”

The cop painstakingly explains the nature of a traffic offence as he repeatedly asks the sovereign citizen to hand over his licence. Picture: YouTube.

Finally, a second cop joins the exchange and reaches into the car, restraining the man. Picture: YouTube.

Another officer joins the perplexing exchange, and though his colleague remains impressively calm, the second cop finally snaps.

“So, this is your motor vehicle?” he asks.

“This is my private property, yes,” the sovereign citizen says.

“Well, you’re using it on a Victorian highway, so you have to comply with Victorian obligations. Are you going to comply with those obligations, or are you going to be placed under arrest? You choose,” he asks.

When the sovereign citizen mumbles “oh, jeez”, the second cop responds: “Righto, that’s easy.”

He opens the car door and reaches in to restrain the man.

“You’re under arrest for failing to state your name and address,” he says.

The officers said they would be mailing papers to the Living Man’s house, before driving off. Picture: YouTube.

The altercation comes amid a number of viral arrests of sovereign citizens who believe they are above the law — all of whom seem to be following the same script.

In December, a South Australian man filmed himself refusing to provide police with his driver’s licence at a traffic stop, causing police to smash his window and drag him from the car.

Another woman recorded an interaction with NSW police on a country road, where she claimed she did not need a driver’s licence or number plate as she was “going sovereign”.

The latest “Living Man”, however, appeared to abandon his sovereign principles and hand over his licence, before falsely claiming he didn’t need to take a breath test.

“I am a living man and I live here, within myself,” he bizarrely says, pointing to his torso.

Finally, the exasperated officers say they will send paperwork to his address. They drive off, as the man yells: “The corrupt politicians!”

Victoria Police were not able to confirm whether the man was charged over his refusal to comply, but said they were investigating the incident.

“Police intercepted a vehicle on Wimmera Highway, Tooan about 3.40pm on 31 December 2022. A 27-year-old man from South Australia was spoken to in relation to traffic matters. The investigation is ongoing,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said in a statement.

Have a similar story? Get in touch — [e-mail]

Originally published as Cop’s perfect response to sovereign citizen