Traffic ticket leads to unusual court defense

Northwest Montana News Network

A Whitefish man was found guilty of three misdemeanor traffic violations at city court on July 30 after making a series of unique defense arguments.

Robert B. Young Blair argued that he does not speak English, only American, and that he has an international driver's license that has been recognized by Homeland Security and approved by President Barack Obama through "passive consent."

After 20 minutes of deliberation, a jury convicted Blair, who refers to himself only as rob-blair, of failing to stop at a stop sign and operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license or liability insurance.

Blair was sentenced to pay a total of $480 in fines for the three violations.

The trial stemmed from a Feb. 26 incident at Reservoir Road and East Lakeshore Drive during which, according to testimony, Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial witnessed Blair roll through the stop sign near Pollo Grill. Dial then pulled over Blair on Big Mountain Road, where Blair was unable to produce a driver's license or proof of liability insurance. Dial called for backup and officer Shane Erickson responded.

During the jury selection process of the trial, in which each party had 30 minutes to question the pool of jurors, Blair stated, "I can't question these people, because you don't know you're not people."

He went on to say none of the jurors were his peers and there was no way he would be given a fair trial.

He also argued, during the jury selection process, the traffic citation issued to him was a "fishing bill" and that he does not understand the English language.

"I speak American," Blair said. "Have any of you heard me say 'bloody' or 'bloke'? This English they are talking about is the queen's English."

Once the jury was selected, the trial proceeded with attorney Cliff Hayden, representing the city of Whitefish, calling on Dial as a witness.

Hayden questioned Dial about the documents Blair presented to him during the traffic stop and asked if there was a driver's license included.

Dial said there was not, just a packet of paperwork Blair referred to as his "right to travel," which Dial said was something he had never seen before.

Dial did say Blair had given him a ski pass as identification.

Blair later argued that Homeland Security, the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs have all recognized the packet he presented to Dial at the traffic stop. He stated he had sent the packet to Obama and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and that because neither Obama nor Schweitzer had responded to the documents he mailed, they had approved of the paperwork through "passive consent."

"They approve of this by their silence," Blair stated.

Blair also asserted that he holds liability insurance through a silver bond worth $50,000.

Blair represented himself at the trial and says he is the head of an entity known as "Mountain Mission."

He says he teaches biblical law and often referred to the Bible during the trial.

"This is my law," he said, picking up a Bible and showing it to the jury.

He stated many times during the trial that he was not there to testify, but rather to witness.