A Minnesota man’s traffic stop in Georgia has led to a legal dispute over the validity of his tribal license plates. The incident raises important questions about how tribal license plates are recognized in states outside of tribal jurisdictions.
Johnathan Carlson, a father from Minnesota, was pulled over by Crisp County deputies in Georgia in March while driving through the state from Florida.
Carlson said the traffic stop initially started as a speeding violation but quickly escalated when deputies questioned the legitimacy of his Red Lake Nation license plates. These plates are issued by a federally recognized tribe in Minnesota.
“I’ve had the normal Red Lake brand of Triple Indian plates on my car before. Never had problems with them,” Carlson explained.
According to Carlson, he has never had issues with his tribal plates in other states. However, during this stop, even after providing proof of registration, he said one deputy ordered him to remove the plates and cited him for speeding and driving with fraudulent plates.
“The whole encounter with them was about my plate. They never once mentioned speed during our whole encounter until I was asked to sign for the citation,” Carlson added. “So after that, I left. I went to the nearest exit. I called 911 because I wanted to know what I was supposed to do without having plates on my vehicle,” he said.
The incident sparked questions about whether tribal license plates are legally recognized in Georgia. To clarify, 13WMAZ reached out to several sources, including the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia and Minnesota law, and the Red Lake Nation.
The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office sent a statement to the Red Lake Nation’s general counsel. Sheriff Billy Hancock wrote, “After a thorough review of the citation in question, including consultation with legal counsel in both Georgia and Minnesota, and discussions with the court holding jurisdiction, our office has determined that the citation was issued under an incorrect code section.
Considering this, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office withdrew the citation. The purpose of this agency has never been to generate revenue. Our mission remains focused on promoting public safety and the welfare of our community.”
The sheriff added that the original speeding stop, where Carlson was traveling at 89 mph in a 70 mph zone, was valid. However, the deputy noticed the vehicle’s tag, and after a VIN check, it showed that a different tag should have been displayed. This created confusion and led to the citation being issued.
Georgia law requires vehicles to display plates issued by the state or another recognized jurisdiction. However, the law does not specifically address whether tribal-issued license plates are valid.
While Georgia officially recognizes three tribes, this recognition is limited to cultural and historical matters and does not extend to vehicle registration.
The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office clarified that without a formal agreement between Georgia and the Red Lake Nation, Carlson’s tribal plates were deemed invalid in the state.
In contrast, Minnesota law has long recognized tribal plates as valid, following a state Supreme Court ruling nearly 50 years ago. However, Georgia does not have any agreements with tribes regarding the recognition of tribal plates.
Carlson expressed satisfaction with the sheriff’s office’s decision to withdraw the citation. However, he hopes this situation leads to broader changes so that other families don’t experience similar problems.
“My main goal is to bring awareness to it, so it doesn’t happen to another family like mine. My kids are pretty traumatized from it, so awareness and education are key,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Red Lake Nation also commented on the incident, saying they believe the resolution was satisfactory for all parties involved and that it served as an important teachable moment.