Maximum Sentence After Driver Gives Infuriating Reason For Driving On Suspended License With No Insurance

CARMEL, NY — A Phillipstown man will spend time behind bars for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, in part for his insistence that the traffic laws themselves were a violation of his rights and sovereignty as a citizen.

Derek Keith Williams was sentenced to 180 days in the Putnam County Jail on Friday after he was found guilty of misdemeanor second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation by a jury in the Town of Philipstown Justice Court on May 2.

On October 4, 2023, Williams was driving on Route 9 in Philipstown, with no license plates on his motor vehicle, when he was stopped by Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Ashley Piqueras.

During the traffic stop, Deputy Piqueras discovered that Williams had no insurance, no registration, no driver's license, and had a total of nine prior suspensions from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Williams told Deputy Piqueras that he was "exercising his right to travel," that he had not "entered into a contract with the DMV," and that as such he was not bound by the vehicle and traffic Law, according to prosecutors.

The case proceeded to a jury trial after which Williams was found guilty of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, operating without a license plate, operating without insurance, operating without a license, and operating without registration.

After the conviction, Williams failed to appear for sentencing.

He subsequently appeared on June 25, at which time the court released him, but ordered him to comply with a pre-sentence investigation to be conducted by Putnam County Probation and to return.

Williams neither complied with the pre-sentence investigation, nor did he appear for sentencing. At that time, the court issued a bench warrant for Williams.

Williams was apprehended by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 1, and brought before the court on the bench warrant. At that time, the court remanded Williams to the Putnam County Jail pending completion of the already ordered pre-sentence investigation.

Upon receipt of the completed pre-sentence investigation, the judge brought Williams back for sentencing on Friday, and sentenced him to the maximum 180 days.

"The Putnam County District Attorney's Office thanks law enforcement, particularly Deputy Ashley Piqueras, for not only her vigilance on patrol in Philipstown that day, but her cooperation with the prosecution of the case," the DA said in a statement. "And the office also thanks the members of the community who served as jurors for listening diligently to the evidence, partaking in deliberations, and producing a just result."