Posted on 04/20/2010 10:24:06 AM PDT by wbill
GREENSBORO — A man is suing the city for $7 million, claiming a police officer trespassed and violated his rights by writing him a traffic ticket in March.
In a civil lawsuit filed Friday in federal court, Tornello Fontaine Pierce El-Bey, 43 — who says he is a member of the Washitaw Empire — accuses the police department and Officer B.J. Nida of causing him financial distress and violating his rights.
He also accuses the city of copyright infringement for using his name on the ticket.
As a member of the Washitaw de Dugdahmoundyah Muur’s Indigenous People, El-Bey claims he is protected by the U.S. and state constitutions and the United Nations’ Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People.
According to the Washitaw Empire’s Web site, the Louisiana-based group considers itself to be the world’s oldest sovereign and independent nation.
The traffic stop happened about 11 a.m. March 9 on Summit Avenue. Nida pulled over a Volvo with tags that expired in December 2008, according to court records.
In the lawsuit, El-Bey says he told Nida he was not a U.S. citizen and gave the officer a diplomat/right to travel identification card when asked for his license. El-Bey says he tried to explain to the officer “that I am not operating/driving a vehicle nor am I in commerce doing business nor am I a U.S. citizen.”
Nida, according to the suit, replied: “Yes, you are sir, and take it up in court.” El-Bey was ticketed for driving without an operator’s license and having an expired registration tag.
El-Bey claims the officer went beyond his duties and hindered El-Bey’s liberties, causing him to be late for a meeting and caused him “great finance distress.”
El-Bey didn’t return a telephone call Monday. City Attorney Terry Wood said he hadn’t been served with the lawsuit and declined to comment.
The Washitaw Empire is led by a long bloodline of “empresses,” and according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, has 200 hard-core members and thousands of other followers.
A law center report says the group has been the subject of several criminal investigations of money laundering, offshore banking fraud, sales of illegal license plates and other practices derived from anti-government ideology.
sorry, i am at a loss for words also....other than he will probably win and collect the 7 mil...
I love it. :) Actually it is stupid but it causes cops to ban tickets I am all for it. lol. Ok that is a bit much but I am sick of police thinking they are Gods. I have not received a ticket for over 15 years but the three I received really pissed me off.....STILL!!!
Gotta try that...
knock on wood, haven’t had a ticket since i was 16 in the states...for speeding...(broken speedometer)....
the actual last ticket was on guam at 11pm on a dark deserted road heading for the base...i went thru a yellow and low and behold i had to motorcycle cops come out of nowwhere....when he said he was giving me a ticket for running a red light i told him no sir the light was yellow and he said nope it was red....
i went to pay the ticket and asked about fighting it and the lady told me i was just better off paying it as the judge would more than likely find me guilty and impose a heftier fine on me.....
sounds like the Volusia County traffic kangaroo court...
"You ain't frum round heah, are yew?"
I have a good idea what a "wise latina" would say...
1. "I am not operating/driving a vehicle..."
Oh really? Even if you were conducting its progress with telepathy, that's still 'driving a vehicle' by the legal definitions of the laws of the United States and the state of North Carolina - which you're... uh, 'visiting'.
2. "...nor am I in commerce doing business..."
Not doing business, but you were late for a meeting. I'm gonna bet $1 (a currency you no doubt won't recognize) that it was a business meeting of some ilk.
Nice try, dude. Pay up. One thing the government does actually do reasonably well is to maintain a decent highway system. Either provide your part or else you'll be hosted in the finest county system we can find.
oh i am familar with them also.....live in holly hill....you...??
Anti-government thoughts! Destroy him! - Transform America.
Officer Nida, B.J. Ping
“...Tornello Fontaine Pierce El-Bey, — who says he is a member of the Washitaw Empire...”
Greetings Earthlings! The great and benevolent Empire has sent me on this mission of Peace to rid your planet of the scourge of traffic tickets!
in the county, but address is Daytona...
great, now the cops will have to write out MORE tickets to cover this lawsuit
Military Liason Major Woody advised the attorney not to comment until the transcriptionist, Private Parts, was present.
Here you are sir, 4 magic beans and a mess of Polk Salad.
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