BUCKEYE, ARIZONA — An Arizona driver is in custody after an AZDPS Highway Patrol trooper stopped her vehicle for displaying a clearly fictitious license plate that read “DOT EXEMPT” and listed no state name — and then discovered she had a suspended license and an active misdemeanor warrant.
The stop occurred on April 1, 2026, in the Buckeye area. The trooper ran the plate and quickly determined it was fake. During the stop, the trooper learned the driver’s Arizona license was suspended and that she had an active misdemeanor warrant through the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers took her into custody and booked her for the warrant along with two additional misdemeanor charges. Based on her lack of statements and documents found inside the vehicle, investigators believe she identified as a sovereign citizen and claimed she was “traveling” rather than driving — a common argument used by sovereign citizens to dispute the applicability of traffic laws.
AZDPS used the stop to remind the public that anyone operating a vehicle on city, state, or federal roads is subject to all applicable laws, including requirements to carry a valid license and operate a properly registered vehicle.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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