A Brooklyn woman has taken legal action against New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming staff at a central Brooklyn office violated her religious rights by demanding she remove her wig during a driver’s license photo appointment last November.
Sara Fellig, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman, says the incident left her emotionally distressed and fearful following the alleged disregard for state exemptions allowing religious head coverings in official identification photos.
According to court documents, Fellig arrived at the DMV office with her young daughter for a scheduled appointment. As a married Orthodox Jewish woman, she wore a partial wig and head covering. When Fellig approached the photo counter, a DMV employee instructed her to remove the covering. Fellig objected, explaining that her face was visible and that New York regulations permit religious exemptions for such items. Her mother, who accompanied her, elaborated on the religious significance of the covering under Jewish law.
The employee remained firm, telling Fellig she could not wear “your hat,” and other staff members reinforced the directive.
Faced with pressure from the crowded office—which held nearly 100 people—and mindful of recent antisemitic incidents she had experienced, Fellig decided against contacting her rabbi for guidance. She cited concerns about the current climate against Jewish communities, referencing the Gaza conflict.
Ultimately, she complied with the demand and took the photo, though she later reported experiencing guilt and emotional distress.
In her lawsuit, Fellig seeks monetary damages, cancellation of her current license photo, and issuance of a new one at no cost. She argues that the image’s continued existence causes ongoing harm each time it is viewed.
Her attorney, Emma Freeman, noted that New York’s DMV rules are appropriate but contended they were not applied in Fellig’s case.
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