Shaun Kevin Watson faces Noosa Magistrates Court on traffic offences

A naturopath and teacher says he made a mistake when he thought being part of a “land and soil” jurisdiction meant he did not have to pay rego.

Shaun Kevin Watson outside the Noosa Magistrates Court.

A naturopath and teacher who made his own number plates has pleaded guilty to a number of traffic offences in a Noosa court.

Shaun Kevin Watson, 65, of Eumundi was charged with driving an uninsured and unregistered vehicle and for having fake number plates.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist fined Watson $1000 and a conviction was recorded.

Police prosecutor Allison Johnstone said police were performing random breath tests on Caplick Way in Eumundi on September 2, 2022, when they saw the defendant’s vehicle and noticed his homemade number plates.

Sergeant Johnstone said Watson was not able to show police a licence.

Shaun Kevin Watson outside the Noosa Magistrates Court.

“He then provided a business card entitled ‘titles, registry, life claim’ with a particular number,” she said.

“Police observed the vehicle had homemade registration plates with that same number and checks indicated he did have a current licence.”

The police prosecutor said Watson told police that the vehicle was registered to him, and he was travelling and not driving.

Police checks showed the registration had expired, and the vehicle was also uninsured.

Sergeant Johnstone said the defendant claimed the vehicle was registered in the Supreme Court.

Duty lawyer Katie Paterson said Watson was remorseful.

“He instructs he was travelling and that because he’d been communicating with the higher courts to be part of the land and soil jurisdiction and holds a manifest, he thought he was within his rights to travel unregistered but he ultimately accepts he was mistaken,” she said.

She said Watson was unemployed and the naturopath and teacher was living off savings.

The lawyer said the father-of-two had minimal traffic history.

Mr Stjernqvist said Watson’s position may be a way of avoiding registration and insurance.

The defendant said his position was to do with “the land and soil” jurisdiction.

“Well put it this way then, why is it that you can drive around without paying registration and insurance when everybody else has to?” Mr Stjernqvist asked.

Watson replied that it was to do with the “corporate nature” of the government.

Originally published as Shaun Kevin Watson faces Noosa Magistrates Court on traffic offences