Libertarian gov. candidate Adrian Wyllie arrested in 'unconstitutional' Real ID standoff

From a press release:

May 9, 2014, Safety Harbor – In a nearly three year long battle against Real ID, Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor of Florida, has been arrested in Safety Harbor giving him legal standing to fight the constitutionality of the legislation in court.

Wyllie, began his battle in May of 2011 by publicly surrendering his driver’s license in protest of the Real ID Act of 2005 . This federal legislation, implemented by the State of Florida by then Republican Governor Charlie Crist in 2008, made changes to the requirements of obtaining a driver’s license or identification card, including digital image captures of licensees, compliant with facial recognition via the FRnet. It requires certified documents to explain any name change- such as marriage or divorce- regardless of how long the person has been licensed. The fact that women are subject to far more difficult renewals than men and certain people are no longer subject to the birth certificate requirement is a violation of the 14th Amendment. The very fact the State is making you re-prove your identity without cause via these intrusive means is a violation of Florida’s Article 1 Section 23 as well as a violation of our 4th Amendment rights.

Mr. Wyllie’s battle began on the day he relinquished his license and informed several jurisdictions of law enforcement of his act of civil disobedience. He was finally cited for driving without a license in July of 2011 and was seen in court for the $116 traffic violation. At that time, the most senior judge on the 6th district, 3 prosecutors and a courtroom full of media were witness to Mr. Wyllie’s arguments of the unconstitutionality of the Real ID Act as well as Supreme Court precedent on citizens right to travel as well as surrendering a right for a privilege. In the end, Mr. Wyllie was unsuccessful in that small battle but has continued to maintain his civil disobedience to gain legal standing by way of jury.

As Martin Luther King once said “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.” Wyllie, in the tradition of Martin Luther King and other significant Americans who have fought for our civil liberties, was engaging in civil disobedience until the time he could fight the legislation in the proper venue.

Today, after 3 years of driving unlicensed throughout the state of Florida without incident, Adrian Wyllie has been arrested outside the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. He was an invited guest to the 14th Anniversary Luncheon of the Intercultural Advocacy Institute, keynoted by State Senator Jack Latvala. This arrest will give Mr. Wyllie a chance to take his argument to a jury as he fights the criminal charges against him brought on by this unconstitutional law.

Mr. Wyllie’s battle began on the day he relinquished his license and informed several jurisdictions of law enforcement of his act of civil disobedience. He was finally cited for driving without a license in July of 2011 and was seen in court for the $116 traffic violation. At that time, the most senior judge on the 6th district, 3 prosecutors and a courtroom full of media were witness to Mr. Wyllie’s arguments of the unconstitutionality of the Real ID Act as well as Supreme Court precedent on citizens right to travel as well as surrendering a right for a privilege. In the end, Mr. Wyllie was unsuccessful in that small battle but has continued to maintain his civil disobedience to gain legal standing by way of jury.

As Martin Luther King once said “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.” Wyllie, in the tradition of Martin Luther King and other significant Americans who have fought for our civil liberties, was engaging in civil disobedience until the time he could fight the legislation in the proper venue.

Today, after 3 years of driving unlicensed throughout the state of Florida without incident, Adrian Wyllie has been arrested outside the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. He was an invited guest to the 14th Anniversary Luncheon of the Intercultural Advocacy Institute, keynoted by State Senator Jack Latvala. This arrest will give Mr. Wyllie a chance to take his argument to a jury as he fights the criminal charges against him brought on by this unconstitutional law.