Freedom of Religious Expression Should Not Usurp Public Protections

A Sikh man in 2005 was issued a $110 ticket in Toronto for not wearing a helmet while riding his motorcycle. He appealed on the grounds that his religion forbids him from covering his turban and hence to require that he wear a helmet is a violation of his constitutional rights. The court disagreed.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/310015

In 2003, a Florida woman was denied a drivers license because she would not uncover her face for her photo. She argued, unsuccessfully, that it was a violation of her constitutional rights to require that she do so.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/06/06/florida.license.veil

You've got to be kidding me, right?

Driving a car and motorcycle are not rights - they are privileges. You must abide by the rules if you wish to do so. I find the latter case the most distressing. A drivers license serves no value if it cannot identify the individual to whom it has been issued. Her picture would look like anyone else's who decides to wear a hijab in their photo if they allowed her to take it with her face covered. Is she really thinking about anyone other than herself here? I respect her for sticking by her beliefs, but sometimes in order to live a 'pious' life one must do so at the expense of certain luxuries and must make sacrifices. Driving is one of those.

The case of the man with the turban is probably less divisive, but in my opinion the rules still apply the same. It is a requirement of law that everyone on a motorcycle wear a helmet for their own protection, and that of others. How does it affect others? Well, if this man gets into an accident and suffers head injuries, our state-funded health care system - taxpayers like us - would have to pay for this man's care due to his own negligence. Now, I realize that this money is trivial when calculated per person but that's not the point. The point is it's really not in anyone's best interests for him to ride without a helmet. You cant have your cake and eat it too.

These laws are put into place to protect people and society as a whole. They weren't meant to be oppressive or culturally-insensitive when they were legislated. They're based on common sense thinking and are for the good of the people. To me, your right to religious freedom does not usurp society's right to protect itself.