Mark of the Beast?
Forget that nonsense about Social Security numbers being personal and
confidential. A federal appeals court has ruled that the state of
California can deny a driver's license to anyone who refuses to give their
Social Security number to the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Donald S. Miller, an Oakland attorney, has been driving for 23 years. In
1996, when applying to renew his license, he refused to give his Social
Security number, citing religious objections. That's when his trouble
began. In 1992, California passed a law requiring the DMV to gather Social
Security numbers from all applicants, to help authorities collect child
support, taxes, criminal fines, and traffic tickets.
Rejecting Miller's appeal, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously
agreed with a lower court that there is no Constitutional right to drive.
Furthermore, Miller's request for an exception because of his religious
beliefs is no longer relevant. In recent years the U.S. Supreme Court has
reversed three decades of former decisions holding that states must show a
strong "compelling interest" before interfering with religious practices.
Today states may freely pass laws that negatively affect various religious
practices, so long as the laws don't deliberately target religion for
discrimination.
Miller is thus denied the right - oops, sorry, the "privilege" -- to drive,
not just in California but anywhere in the U.S., since all states require a
driver's license issued from the driver's home state.
(Source: Associated Press) (The case is Miller vs. Reed, 97-17006.)
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