SPOKANE, Wash. >> A traffic stop for illegal license plates led to a three-hour standoff with sheriff’s deputies Wednesday in the Newman Lake community near Spokane.

Two men were in a truck with “sovereign” plates and the truck was covered with sovereign signs saying they do not recognize law enforcement.

KREM reports deputies, a SWAT team, even Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich tried to talk the men out of the truck but they would not cooperate.

Finally deputies cut seat belts and arrested two men for failure to provide information, obstruction and having an invalid license plate.

Deputy Craig Chamberlin says there are a number of people in the area with sovereign ideology but encounters usually don’t turn into standoffs.