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States adopting "No Smiles" policy for driver's licenses?
Say cheese! Unless you happen to live in Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada or Virginia, that is. In a case that once again reminds us that the truth is often stranger than fiction, these four states have reportedly adopted new legislation that could lead to the end of smiling faces on driver's license photos.
Virginia is the only state that's banned smiles completely, while the other three states still allow "slight smiles." Why so serious? Apparently, a "neutral face expression" makes it easier for the DMV's whiz-bang facial recognition computer software to make positive matches to photos already in its database.
There's reason to believe the new edict will cause a significant reduction in identity fraud cases: photo matching software has reportedly stopped some 6,000 such cases in Illinois alone since it was first adopted in 1999. Don't be surprised to see more states adopt the wipe-that-smile-off-your-face policy in the near future, as 27 other states use similar software and three more are considering it now.
[Source: USA Today via Kicking Tires | Image: eBaum's World]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
13enS 11:04AM (5/27/2009)
But, but, but, mom always said my face would freeze like this!
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jrhmobile 11:04AM (5/27/2009)
How about a buck-toothed sneer? Hell, that's what's what they try to catch for a license picture anyway ...
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AngeloD 11:04AM (5/27/2009)
And meanwhile, out of political correctness, several of those States will still issue a driver's license where the photo is of a Muslim woman(?) with face completely covered in a full burkha.
I feel so much safer now.
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John 11:54AM (5/27/2009)
You are correct. There was at least one law suit filed in Flordia. The woman refused to remove her head covering and in the end won.
In today's PC society, the vocal minority get's their way while the rights of the majority (read: white and Christian) are getting thrown under the bus.
kaslings 12:13PM (5/27/2009)
Thank you, I was going to mention that as well....
Maybe when I get my license renewed, I'll tell them that my religion MAKES me smile every time I get my picture taken.
DKB_SATX 1:20PM (5/27/2009)
@John: While I think that an ID photo of eyes under a burka is ridiculous and defeats the purpose of photo IDs, I wonder which of your white Christian rights has been trampled in the process.
Sam 2:59PM (5/27/2009)
@AngeloD
I bet she was smiling underneath as well.
Ryno917 11:05AM (5/27/2009)
Been doing this in Ontario for years... same with passports and other government issued photo ID.
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Smegley 11:40AM (5/27/2009)
Who the hell smiles when they have to deal with the government anyway?
Judy Zik 12:20PM (5/27/2009)
I always manage to get away with a smirk.
Eric Liberatore 11:08AM (5/27/2009)
I think I know why Virginia chose this policy. Remember these hilarious videos that embarassed the Virginia DMV a couple of years ago?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jOFf_KB3lI
and this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owvO640ODwA
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jrhmobile 11:17AM (5/27/2009)
Primo! I guess this answers my previous comment ...
Tricky dicky 11:08AM (5/27/2009)
+1 ryno.
I just got my new alberta license and they have a no smile policy. I instead winced.
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Aloysius Vampa 11:10AM (5/27/2009)
Their other defense is to not tell you when they're going to take the picture. Then, you end up with a stupid look on your face... it's probably not a smile, though!
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dukeisduke 11:15AM (5/27/2009)
Hmmm... The name on the license says, "McLOVIN", but there's clearly a "g" at the end of the signature. I smell a case of identity theft.
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Stumpy 11:22AM (5/27/2009)
Good Eye. +1
psijas73 11:23AM (5/27/2009)
McLovin Rules!! My favorite character from "Superbad" movie.
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Kiiks 5:29PM (5/27/2009)
Technically I don't have a first name....
Kumar 11:29AM (5/27/2009)
It's a little ridiculous in this day and age that the BMV systems in these states can't store multiple photos of you.
They could simply take at least 2 shots of you, one smiling, on not so much. You put your happy face on your ID, and the BMV keeps both on file for their special recognition programs.
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Mr.Oak 11:40AM (5/27/2009)
Then you would be the first one to cry when they increase your license renewal fee. They gotta store those extra photos somewhere, and that extra transmitting 2x the data. To you its just one photo, to them its millions.