My Personal Experience

I have a story. You're going to want to read this because it's fascinating and it's not atypical. 

I have been using Geico for my automobile insurance for years paying them either annually or bi-annually. In February of 2024, I began paying Geico monthly for my automobile insurance. I received notification in the mail that my monthly payment was accepted and applied to my account. In March, I sent in another monthly payment. 

Unexpectedly, about two weeks later, I received a check from Geico for the monthly amount of my premium. They returned my payment. Then, I received another check for the same amount. They were refunding my last to premium payments. I did not know exactly what was happening. So, I opened the Geico app on my phone and noticed that I was no longer a customer. I had been without insurance for two weeks without any notification from Geico. 

I decided not to pursue, fight, or argue the unexpected cancellation for three reasons. First, I found out that Geico is a company that started out by supporting government personnel, and as I am not so endeared to any government, I decided I no longer wanted them as an insurer. Secondly, since I am in the process of eliminating the DMV's jurisdiction over my conveyances (automobile and motorcycle) and all state government jurisdiction over me, releasing myself from Geico was the prudent step to take. Third, I am in the process of eliminating my need for insurance associated with the aforementioned conveyances by replacing all insurances with a Bond I have recently purchased.

I eventually hooked up with another insurance company until I could convert everything regarding my conveyances to the new methodology I would be employing. Subsequent to the returned checks, I received a letter from the Insurance Services Bureau within the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) threatening to suspend my driver's license and registration, and take my license plates if I did not prove that I had insurance coverage. Of course, I laughed, I literally laughed, because my NYS driver's license expired ten months earlier, in June of 2023, on purpose, (and was replaced by a Foreign National Driver's License) and my automobile registration means absolutely nothing because 1) per US Code (34 USC 12611), it is not mandatory and; 2) I had already planned on returning it to the DMV along with my expired license, my current NYS license plates, and all stickers on my windshield once I have taken a few more steps towards removing myself from their jurisdiction.

Because I did not respond to the first letter, I received another letter, this time a Suspension Order, from the DMV. As stated, the Insurance Services Bureau demanded that I provide proof of insurance immediately...which I did not. Their threat, this time, was to suspend my right to drive  OR  allow me to pay a civil penalty of $184  OR  surrender my registration and license plates. I subsequently wrote a notarized 11 point affidavit back to them requesting that they respond to each of the 11 points in my affidavit before they undertake any action on their suspension order. In the letter back to them, as one of the 11 points, I suggested that they cancel my registration and not just suspend it, since it is a voluntary program which we have been fraudulently informed is a mandatory program. I also stated that I would soon be relinquishing my license plates permanently.

Since they threatened to suspend my right to drive, (notice that the word 'drive' is in bold in the above paragraph), I used their codes to highlight the fact that I am not a Driver when behind the wheel of an automobile. That's right. I am not a driver; I am a traveler. I am not involved in commerce and therefore, not a driver. So, if the DMV was to suspend my right to drive, it would matter not as I have never driven when behind the wheel. Rather, I have traveled!  So, they can suspend my right to drive, but I didn't care.  Not being a 'driver,' I am not subject to the 'rules of the road' although I do obey them. I am not subject to any rules of the road except for 'do no harm to person or property.' Not being involved in commerce excludes me from adhering to or following the rules of the road that are specific to commercial vehicles, commercial traffic, and commercial drivers (operators). If you are having difficulty grasping this concept, read this page Traveler vs Driver.

On April 25, 2024, The Financial Security Bureau of the DMV sent me a letter stating that my above response (noted below in full) was not acceptable. But, it should be noted, that per another US Code, it is required that a government agency respond to an affidavit within 30 days. Otherwise, the unrebutted points made in the affidavit stand as truth, and hence become judgment in commerce when presented in court. He who leaves the field of battle first, by not responding to an affidavit, loses by default.

Check out the letters from the DMV below as well as my response.

And my story continues below.

Memorial Day, May 27, 2024

I was pulled over by a local police officer who informed me that my registration was suspended. I was very conversational and friendly and so too was the officer. I told the officer I was unaware that my registration was suspended. (The DMV had previously informed me that my registration would be suspended for 23 days effective 4/26/2024. In my response, via affidavit, I informed the DMV to revoke my registration as I no longer chose to be part of this program. It should not have been suspended as I gave them a notarized direct order; it should have been cancelled as per my demand). 

The officer asked for my license, registration and insurance. Since I still have my registration card and insurance, I presented these to him along with my foreign driver's license. He looked at the license and couldn't figure it out. I told him that it has been approved by the United Nations, the Hague Convention Treaty, and the Geneva Convention. He adjourned to his vehicle to process all of this information. He came back to my car and asked if the license was purchased on the internet. I told him no that such is not the case and again mentioned the 3 organizations above but also added that this license is recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of State. Recognition of this license by the State Dept impressed him, but not previously having seen a foreign driver's license, he was still skeptical. I informed him that there are 3 people in this area that have this license and there will be more soon.

I also informed him that I will be contacting his Chief to schedule a meeting to inform him of everything that is on this website having to do with the Rules of the Road. He was very much in favor of this approach.  He let me go, with the advice that I proceed to the DMV early the next business day. He stated that he could have my vehicle towed because the registration is suspended, but since I had my daughter, her husband, and their infant in the car with me, he would let me go.

May 28, 2024

On the very next day, I drove to the airport to drop off my daughter and her family after a weekend get-together, and on the way out, while still on airport grounds, I was pulled over once again . As the officer approached, I asked, with a huge smile on my face (because I thought this situation was rather funny!) "Is this about my registration?" He indicated that it was and I informed him that I was pulled over yesterday and let go by the officer because the DMV was closed. I further explained that I had to drop off my daughter before I could go to the DMV. I then asked how he could possibly know about my registration issue with the DMV as my registration sticker indicates that it is current. He said every police vehicle is equipped with an automatic license plate reader. If there is a problem registered in the system, a notification pops up. 

He too was pleasant although a bit more stern. He asked for the usual documents and I handed him my foreign driver's license, registration, and insurance card. He said "what's this?" referring to the license. I explained what it is, but it didn't seem to register. He asked if I had a NYS license and I responded that I have an expired license. He requested it and I gave it to him, but I won't ever do that again as I subsequently found out that doing so places me further under his jurisdiction (although providing the registration card does the same thing). And being under anyone's jurisdiction is the exact reason I am opting out of the NYS DMV system.

He came back to the car and told me that he is going to let me go but that I have to get a new NYS Driver's License as the foreign driver's license is invalid (I told him that it has been approved and verified by the United Nations, the Hague Convention Treaty, the Geneva Convention, and the U.S. State Department. He didn't care). He also told me to go to the DMV right away and take care of the registration issue. I then attempted to give him a packet that I carry in my car in case I am ever pulled over, but he wanted nothing to do with it. I attempted to show him the Registration 'law' that indicates, five times, that it is a voluntary program. But, he insisted that it is not voluntary.  We started politely arguing back and forth, so finally I calmly said "We disagree on this," and he cheerfully said "that's quite alright to disagree. I don't mind that." For some reason, he seemed to cheer up once I started, politely, to argue with him. I cannot figure out why. I finally said: "you really won't take this packet?" He responded: "No." And with that he turned around and left.

I did not proceed to the DMV to resolve the situation in the manner in which they desired. Rather, later that afternoon, I changed my license plates to internet-purchased plates that read 'PR1V4T3.'  I did this because I knew I wouldn't automatically get flagged by the police car cameras and thus pulled over again and again.

June 20, 2024

On this date, the new (diplomatic) tags, insurance card, and registration card arrived.  I replaced the internet-purchased tags with these new tags and placed the new insurance and registration cards in the vehicle. See pics below.

I finalized the affidavit to the NYS DMV demanding they purge, expunge, and delete all physical and electronic records associated with my (ALL CAPS) NAME, my license, my registration, and my plates (and all previous plates I have had).

I am now officially out of the jurisdiction of the NYS DMV, but am pursuing that all previous records be removed.

July 1 & 2, 2024

On July 1, I received my motorcycle tags, registration and insurance cards. 

On July 2, I brought my tags, expired license, and registration card to the DMV with the affidavit to relinquist them. The DMV would not accept the affidavit. They would not even accept my license and registration. They only wanted the tags. 

I received receipts for both sets of tags, one for the motorcycle and one for the car. The receipt for the motorcycle showed no problems BECAUSE I never renewed my registration as of the year 2022! In other words, my registration was expired due to non-renewal. So, the DMV, on their records, shows that everything is aok. 

The receipt for the car indicates that my registration is still suspended due to the lapse in insurance noted above. Their Suspension Order correspondence (above) stated that suspension of my registration would commence on April 26 for 23 days ending on May 19, 2024. However, the receipt received today, July 2, 2024, indicates that my registration is not only still suspended but with a new suspension start date of July 2nd and an expiration date of July 26, 2024. 

So, some questions came to mind, such as...

How can my registration still be listed as suspended when the DMV indicated it would last only 23 days as of April 26?

How can my registration still be listed as suspended when I directed it be cancelled in the affidavit I sent to them on April 15? 

Why would they begin another suspension as of July 2nd for another 23 days on the date I relinquish my tags and hence registration? Does not relinquishment remove me from their system and jurisdiction?

You begin to wonder if anyone in that department has thought through any of their processes. The answer is that they have! They've thought all of this from all angles. The procedures have set the stage to allow them to collect money from the poor idiots who respond to these unlawful and illegal allegations with an open checkbook. Unfortunately, most sheople do, in fact, respond by paying the illegal fines.

So, the affidavit I thought I had finalized on June 20, had to be re-written to inform them that the tags for both my car and motorcycle have been relinquished with the demand that the DMV purge, expunge, and delete all records associated with my ALL CAPS name. The affidavit also indicates that the DMV office refused to accept my registrations cards...which the DMV previously demanded I hand over to them.

Regardless of all the aforementioned, I am now officially without (meaning: outside of) the jurisdiction of the DMV. The next step is to mail the affidavit to the DMV with my registration cards demanding removal of all records associated with my name. 

And finally, the last step I will be taking is to send a letter to the state police, the county sheriff, and the local police to inform them of my status as exempt from their jurisdiction.

Summary

What I have learned is that the personnel in the DMV and the majority of police officers do not know the actual codes and statutes. In the Academy and in subsequent training, the police are taught only policies and procedures (P&P) from the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws (NYS VAT). The police have been taught that the VAT is law when, in fact, it is not law. It is a collection of polices and procedures written by attorneys who have worked for the DMV over the years. At some point in time, it was decided that the collection of policies and procedures would be named 'the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Laws.' By putting the word 'Laws' in the title, the police (and everyone else) believe that these policies are laws. But, they are not. They were never voted on by the state legislature. They were never enacted. They were implemented by a few and unfortunately, accepted by the majority. 

Additionally, police have been taught that what they have learned in the Academy is 100% correct. So, it can be quite a challenge to converse/negotiate with them. Some are open-minded; most are not.

The best approach is to be friendly, kind, and understanding when interacting. But, prior to that you must be knowledgeable and confident.  If you are not, they will out-talk you, but not with facts and case law. They will out talk you with policies and procedures that they believe to be law, all while dangling their authority, their badge, and their gun. In other words, with threat and duress. You have to be smarter by being more knowledgeable. 

Lastly, there are many videos on the internet of people getting pulled over by the police and behaving rudely. Although I now understand why (most cops are dickheads), don't be that person!  Be kind, be understanding, be knowledgeable, and be confident.

There is more and it gets even better!

....to be continued