Spaghetti Strainer Helmet Driver's License Photo Approved On Religious Grounds (immortal.org)

PolygamousRanchKid writes with the news (widely reported, here an excerpt from the story as carried by Immortal News) that [i]n the Massachusetts city of Lowell, a woman identifying herself as a follower of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), otherwise known as Pastafarianism, has been approved by the state's Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to wear a spaghetti strainer on top of her head in her state issued driver's ID. The approval to wear the helmet was initially denied. However, citing religious grounds, Lowell resident Lindsay Miller filed an appeal. Following intervention by the American Humanist Association's Appignani Humanist Legal Center, the RMV reversed their decision and allowed her to put on her colander and get her driver's license picture taken. According to the church's website, while there are those who perceive the religion to be satirical in nature, it "doesn't change the fact that by any standard one can come up with" the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is "as legitimate as any other" religion. Asks PolygamousRanchKid: "Now what about my tinfoil hat . . . ?"

Comments

Scientology

[Anonymous Coward]

If a tax evation group makes a billion and a half dollars on the idea that depression is caused by the souls of aliens tormenting the world than some crap like the spaghetti monster is not really surprising.

I would do the same but...

[WSOGMM]

Now she'll have *no chance* at talking herself out of a ticket when a cop pulls her over and looks at her drivers license.

Re:Not sincerely held

[ColdWetDog]

The Church's beliefs only require the colander for official photos. It's not everyday headwear, it's special-occasion headwear.

Now you tell me.

Re:Pastafarian fuckwads

[Anonymous Coward]

Butthurt christian detected!

Re:I'm kinda torn

[thegarbz]

I don't know if making fun of a delusion is worth looking like a dork on your driver's license.

Are you somehow implying that there exists a person in this world who actually looks good on their driver's licence photo?
They mustn't have followed the instructions of stare straight ahead, empty your brain, and try to look like you just murdered your whole family.

All driver's license photos look bad.

[billstewart]

My first one looked like I had a beard - I didn't back then, it's was just really bad lighting at the DMV. (And one of my recent DLs said I needed to be wearing glasses - I don't need them for distance, and didn't use them for the eye test, but I put them back on to read the forms.)

What you really need as a driver's license photo is one that shows you looking like you're extremely tired and someone's shining a flashlight in your face, because that's how a cop will really see you. If that includes wearing a colander on your head, then go for it.