An Alberta driver's licence. (CBC)

A Hutterite colony in southern Alberta is continuing its fight against driver's licence photos, asking the Supreme Court of Canada for a rehearing.

In July, the Supreme Court sided with the Alberta government in a 4-3 decision, saying pictures are required for security purposes.

The case involves the Hutterian Brethren of Wilson Colony, east of Lethbridge, Alta. The group had argued that a 2003 regulation enacted by the province requiring photographs on licences breached their charter right to freedom of religion.

The colony took the province to court after one of its members was pulled over and fined for not having a valid licence because it didn't have a picture.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench struck down the regulations, ruling that the photo requirement violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Alberta Court of Appeal upheld that finding in a 2-1 decision, but the Supreme Court of Canada disagreed and sided with the Alberta government, which argued that licences without photos could lead to identity theft.

Now the sect has taken the unusual step of asking the Supreme Court for a rehearing. The Supreme Court says the reasons to grant a rehearing are quite limited and such requests are rarely granted.