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Four states say no to smiling on driver's licenses
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by Amy Judd | May 27, 2009 at 02:32 pm
78 views | 4 Recommendations | 2 comments
Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada and Virginia have all adopted a new policy that people are no longer allowed to smile when having their photo taken for their driver's licenses.
"Neutral facial expressions" are required at departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) in Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada and Virginia. That means you can't smile, or smile very much. Other states may follow.
When the new high-tech software scans a license photo, and it appears to match an existing one, alarms are rung that someone may be trying to assume another's identity, but only if the photo is a serious pose. The facial expression has to be the same in order for the face-recognition software to work.
The dull expressions make the software more accurate, even though it may upset people living in those states.
31 of the states use matching software, but in some states, people can still smile and the software seems to work fine residents say.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 14:36 on May 27th, 2009
I wonder what the tolerable degree of difference is... angle at which one holds one's face for the photo would also affect this.
at 01:50 on May 28th, 2009
Dont think! A would want to flash a big cheesy smile at the cops if they asked to see my driving license for that particular senario I prefer my ms glum mug shot.