Criminals go free, but this guy gets locked up

Everyone gets to vote for the representatives, senators, and president that are responsible for creating and enforcing regulations. One could argue that gerrymandering dilutes or invalidates that vote, but that argument would also invalidate things that conservatives love, so it's really a moot point.

The regulation does not impose an undue burden on diesel owners. If it did, then according to "Letter from Birmingham Jail" the steps are "collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive,
negotiation, self-purification, and direct action". Part of the self-purification is to ask "Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?" and Are you able to endure the ordeals of jail?". If a person isn't willing to endure the ordeals of jail, then they aren't ready to participate in direct action. This person did participate in direct action and suffered the consequences.

My opinion would be different if the individual in question didn't make bank while blatantly violating the regulations. If the regulations were so onerous then the best course of action would be to stand back and let the regulations cripple the economy (ie accepting blows without retaliating). This individual decided that he could make more money flaunting regulations than following them and only after the fact complained about "government overreach". Even then, he accepted a plea deal which protected the gains from his illicit actions. This isn't a 'patriot' who is 'fighting for whats right'. This is a man who saw an opportunity to profit and then tried to make himself look like Robin Hood when he got caught.