Virginia Is For Frowners
Posted by: Jessica Wakeman
Filed in:
news
2:30PM, Thursday May 28th 2009
People with ugly driver’s license photos, the state of Virginia feels your pain. The Department of Motor Vehicles in Virginia banned smiles—yes, smiles—and ordered all new photo-takers to make a “neutral expression” in their portraits. The DMV would like to develop a facial recognition system to standardize documentation and thwart fraudsters and identity thieves. OK, Big Brother, whatever you say.
Just a cranky DMV clerk barking “No smiling!” isn’t enough, though! The DMV’s software can detect and reject “attempts at exuberance or human warmth,” meaning if you flash some dimples or let your pearly whites crack through your lips, a computer will make you take your picture again.
Even though Virginia is just one of 37 DMV agencies nationwide to use the facial recognition software, Virginian drivers aren’t pleased. Groused one driver, “It makes everyone look like criminals.” [Washington Post]
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
Nice Eyes
wrote on May 28 2009 @ 02:42 pm: [report]
Nevada also joined the group. :/ I smile naturally…how can you stop that?
chloe
wrote on May 28 2009 @ 02:43 pm: [report]
delaware did that like 6 months ago
Kate T
wrote on May 28 2009 @ 02:43 pm: [report]
Oh Virginia. This is crazy. I wonder if they’ll let people smile with their eyes.
FabulousJoi
wrote on May 28 2009 @ 02:56 pm: [report]
As a VA resident, I find this article funny. It’s just a driver’s license, good grief.
dolita
wrote on May 28 2009 @ 03:00 pm: [report]
I live in Ontario and already we aren’t allowed to smile. I look like a serial killer on my license.
sam04
wrote on May 28 2009 @ 04:43 pm: [report]
@dolita: Tell me about it. I had to renew my license last year and I look like a russian man because the new ones are so washed out. At least I could smile for my health card photo!
Karmatir
wrote on May 29 2009 @ 05:13 am: [report]
I live in Iowa and just renewed last month, same thing here. No smiles. They even made me take the picture over!
EastCoastMale
wrote on May 29 2009 @ 06:30 am: [report]
As someone from Virginia I can tell you that people havent been smiling at the DMV as long as I have been going there so I think making it a rule wont change the situation that much. Carrie Prejean will just have to get a FL licenses lol