Hamilton County, Tenn., sheriff Austin Garrett, right, talks about improvements at the county jail in which he jailed a journalist on press business Nov. 22, 2023, using pretended authority to administer the motor vehicle law and disregarding limits on the process imposed upon the state in regulating privileges. (Photo HCSO
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Tuesday, July 8, 2025 – A radio reporter who says traffic stops are the most powerful extension of Jim Crow abuse upon the weak and poor is forcing Hamilton County to defend traffic stops before the U.S. court of appeals in the 6th circuit.
The county has 30 days to file an answer to David Tulis’ attack on traffic stops that he says illegally let sheriff Austin Garret use criminal enforcement authority to criminalize technical auto glitches and misdoings under driver licenses when the law requires Department of Safety and Homeland Security to administer grievances under the motor vehicle privilege.
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Tulis sued in U.S. district court over deputy Brandon Bennett’s Nov. 22, 2023, arrest and jailing him for a damaged taillight on 1999 Toyota RAV4. The judicial reform activist and busy pro se litigator insists that he is defending state law’s privilege system, which makes driving and operating a motor vehicle a privilege.
In a nutshell ——————————
Attack on longstanding abuse part focuses on criminal police power vs. regulatory powers
Case is first of its kind, arguing rights under privilege
“All occupational privilege,” he said, “whether plumbing, embalming, hairdressing or scrap metal dealing are handled administratively by the licensing authority, not armed deputies jackbooting it through the hair salon making charges about comb sanitation or jerking the accountant out from behind his desk for a misstep under his license.
Tulis is suing the county, Sheriff Garrett in his official and personal capacity, and deputy Bennett in his personal capacity. District court judge Travis McDonough dismissed the case, convinced by county attorney Sharon Milling that the U.S. Supreme Court allows a deputy to arrest a person for a minor traffic infraction if he has probable cause regardless of state law.
Tulis’ 13,000 word filing with the appeals court in Cincinnati this week says it is illegal to use criminal, peacekeeping, preserver of the peace authority when the motor vehicle laws establish procedures for any grievance the state may have against a licensee.
Radio journalist David Tulis is appealing to the federa 6th circuit his demand to have his Nov. 22, 2023, “traffic stop” arrest be shown as done in bad faith and in defiance of clear law regulating state privileges. (Photo DavidTulis)
“Sheriff Garrett and his deputies love swinging their criminal enforcement powers around and injuring people with criminal prosecution, ruining many innocent drivers and travelers, especially among the poor,” Tulis said. “If he is going to administer the motor vehicle laws, he is going to have to do that through the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. The people of Hamilton County have had enough violence, arrests, jailings and abuse under color of traffic enforcement.”
“My suit has no precedent. Petitioners in other cases all waived the issue of how privilege is administered. I’m arguing that Bennet is personally liable to me because I have a right for the state of Tennessee to exhaust its administrative remedies rather than resorting to cages and criminal prosecution for a blinkered taillight and suchlike.”
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