# Driver's License Pic? No smiling in four states.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 27, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755 "2009-05-27T00:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/21 "2009-05-30T02:18:20Z")
I just renewed my driver’s licence and for the picture, I had to remove my glasses and have a “neutral expression”. No smiling please, in BC, Canada. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/22 "2009-05-30T02:56:52Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Anyone feel safer because they are forced not to smile at the DMV? Actually much less so. If all someone has to do to thwart face recognition is smile, the whole system has come into question for me. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/23 "2009-05-30T03:16:33Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Considering that an ID is supposed to, you know, ID people, a smiling picture is kinda silly, unless you walk around smiling all day like a nutbag. Am I allowed to frown? I do, all day, walk around frowning like a grouch. One thing that bugged me was when I got a license in Ohio one time, and they made me take my glasses off for the photo. Um, look, I’m required to wear glasses to drive, my glasses are on my face from somewhere about 5 seconds after I wake up until somewhere about 5 seconds before I go to sleep, but having my glasses in my picture is going to inhibit a cop from telling that it’s me? What’s next? Telling me I can’t wear my beard? I need to trim my bangs? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/24 "2009-05-30T06:41:20Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > What’s next? Telling me I can’t wear my beard? I need to trim my bangs? Depends. Have they grown down over your eyes so you can’t see to drive? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/25 "2009-05-30T14:15:32Z")
[You can still smile in Florida](http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/05/florida_dmv_still_wants_you_to.php) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/26 "2009-05-30T14:23:19Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > The idea behind it, for those who don’t want to read the article, is that states want to adopt facial recognition technology to prevent somebody from getting multiple drivers licenses under different names. And the ONLY thing they’ll use the technology for, I’m sure. Rest easy and resume your lives, citizens! We’re in control. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755/27 "2009-05-30T14:55:53Z")
You can smile in Nevada. [The Nevada DMV clarified this in today’s newspaper](http://www.lvrj.com/news/46539402.html). > [@LVRJ](#): > > Tom Jacobs, a DMV spokesman in Carson City, said the new equipment has a hard time matching photos with others in its database if people smile in an exaggerated way. But a normal smile is fine, he said. USA Today: that shitty paper they shove under your door at hotels, which you then throw away without even opening. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-license-pic-no-smiling-in-four-states/497755.md?page=1)