In the wake of 9-11, things are being more strictly enforced than in the past. <A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/01/30/muslim-fla-suit.htm">Muslim woman sues Florida over license photo</A> <i> WINTER PARK, Fla. (AP) — A Muslim woman has sued the state for suspending her driver's license after she refused to remove her face-covering veil for the photograph. Sultaana Freeman, 34, said she was allowed to wear her veil, which only reveals her eyes, for her license photo in Illinois and for a Florida license issued in February. But state officials demanded Freeman pose without her veil in November, following checks of records prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Freeman filed suit earlier this month in Orange County. "I don't show my face to strangers or unrelated males," Freeman said. Florida law states that license applicants be issued "a color photographic or digital imaged driver's license bearing a full-face photograph." Robert Sanchez, a spokesman for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said his agency had to enforce that law. But civil rights lawyer Howard Marks said the law is vague. He pointed to another Florida law stating the "government shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion." </i> <IMG SRC="http://www.timesofindia.com/PGImages/1031961462.jpg"> Mango
This is so freaking lame. This goes back to the immigration thread. When you go to a new country, YOU adapt to THEIR laws. It will be a sad day in US history if she wins. As I was told in Drivers Ed ... Driving is a PRIVLIAGE, not a guarentee. Besides, if she was so strict about her religious activites, she would have no need to drive since she is not allowed to be out with(out the company of) a man.
I am all for being sensitive to people's religious rights and freedoms, however, this is the law in FL. Besides that, part of having a driver's license besides the obvious is to be able to ID the person carrying it. How are you going to ID a pair of eyes? I mean, just take it off for the driver's license picture, and wear it during daily life as always.
What country is she from? I ask because I don't see anywhere in the article that states she's from outside the US. But then I don't follow the news too closely so maybe you've heard she was from elsewhere? LOL. I don't even know where to begin with this, so I'll let the comment speak for itself.
I tend to agree with your statement. Rather rational approach to the situation. ... now I wait until someone may sway my opinion with some other intelligent response
That's from last February. When she tried to get it renewed, they told her she would have to take her veil off. She refused and here we are today.
The main problem as I see it is that a driver licence is used for much more than driving. Almost time you need to show ID a driver's licence is accepted. Now most, if not all, states will issue state ID cards in place of a licence but then the same issue will come up. So while I agree that driving is a privilage and not a right, the ability to have an ID can be pretty essential at times. The other thing that bothers me is how the enforcement of this has apparently changed post 9/11. I don't think there's any good reason for this law to be enforced now but not before 9/11.
