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.
He was in North Carolina when the infraction happened, correct?
“I have a feeling we’re not in Washitaw anymore, Toto...”
The key here is the verb tense. Since he was parked at the side of the road talking to the officer, he was not, at that moment in time, operating a motor vehicle.
Learn to parse words.... :)