Reed

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) rejected Donald S. Miller’s application for renewal of his driver’s license because he refused to divulge his social security number. Miller’s refusal was based on religious grounds. As part of his long-standing and deeply held religious convictions, Miller believes that to reveal his social security number would be tantamount to a sin. Without a valid driver’s license from his home state of California, Miller cannot legally drive anywhere in the United States.

In an attempt to force California to issue him a driver’s license, Miller filed the present lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Among other claims, he asserted a claim for violation of his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 . He alleged that California Vehicle Code § 1653.5, which requires the DMV to obtain the social security number of all applicants for new or renewed drivers’ licenses, violates his federal constitutional rights to interstate travel and free exercise of religion. Miller also alleged that the juxtaposition of his interstate travel and free exercise rights presents a hybrid constitutional issue requiring…