Systemic Religious Favoritism and Nonreligious Discrimination at the BMV
For most young adults, there comes a time when they get their driver's license, and their world and freedom suddenly become vastly larger. This is a glimpse into that experience from the perspective of a nonreligious 16-year-old member of Northern Indiana Atheists.
“After months of practicing driving during the day and night, and working on parallel parking, it came time to take my driver's test. I passed my test on the very first try. I was excited and could not wait to get my license. After the driver's test, and as we were finishing the paperwork, the BMV employee told me that until I turned 18, I would have driving restrictions. Those restrictions included not being able to drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless it was for work, school, or church.”
That's right: If someone under 18 is going to or returning from a church event, they can drive whenever they want. That’s not only religious favoritism, but outright nonreligious discrimination by a government institution. This might sound like some 1950s obscure law that’s still on the book because it’s been overlooked for years, but on the BMV website, this is literally the only driving restriction for people under 18 driving alone.
Contact the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and ask them to stop their religious favoritism and outright nonreligious discrimination by removing the special “religious event” variance to driving restrictions they grant only to religious drivers. You can call 888-692-6841, use their online contact form, or message them on Facebook.
Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income, or Limited English Proficiency (LEP) has the right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be in writing and submitted within 180 days following the date of the alleged occurrence. You may file a Title VI complaint by filling out and submitting the External Complaint of Discrimination found here.
Northern Indiana Atheists is a nonprofit established to fight state/church violations on a local level and defend the rights of atheists and other marginalized communities across Northern Indiana.
Membership is open to atheists and our allies who share our vision for a government that represents all citizens equally and our passion for serving our community. Your membership and donations amplify our voice and makes our impact even stronger. Become a member today at NorthernIndianaAtheists.com.