Service Alberta says it boils down to a matter of security.

Communications officer Mike Berezowsky with the government department is reacting to Friday morning's Supreme Court ruling, that upholds the province's photo identification law for driver's licences, after one Hutterite colony fought it.

"We're very pleased with the decision," he says. "It ensures Alberta driver's licences are among the most secure in North America."

The Hutterite Brethren is a Christian sect that believes being photographed violates the second of the 10 Commandments.

Minister Fred Walter with the River Ridge Hutterite Colony near Peace River says his community supported the fight of the Three Hills Colony. He says he's not pleased with the ruling, but adds it's not worth fighting the laws of province and country any further.

 

"Having the picture on there, we don't want to have it there as an ID," says Walter, who notes that he and all members of his colony of driving age, do have a photo on their licence. "It's just so that we abide by the country, and the laws."

Berezowsky says, while this matter was before the courts, the province allowed Hutterites to have one-year non-photo interim licences. He says the province will now decide whether to honour the remaining time on the 103 of them issued, or order ALL Albertans to get photographed for their licences.(bp)