A Brooklyn woman has filed a lawsuit against the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming she was forced to remove her religious head covering for a driver's license photo in violation of her faith. Sara Fellig, a haredi Jewish mother, says she was wearing a sheitel and hat in accordance with her religious practice when she attended a scheduled appointment.

According to the complaint, a staff member insisted she remove the head covering despite her explanation that it was worn for religious reasons. State regulations allow exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs as long as the face remains visible, and the lawsuit states that her face was not obscured. A second employee allegedly did not intervene.

Fellig describes the experience as deeply distressing, noting she was caring for young children at the time and felt uncomfortable challenging the directive in a crowded office. She ultimately complied and completed the photo without her head covering, and is now seeking legal remedy over the incident.