# Just Busted! Smile? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890 "2011-11-23T17:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/1 "2011-11-23T17:48:52Z")
We have a local Just Busted Magazine that come out weekly with all the awesome people that commit crimes…(allegedly) Do other cities have these rags? Many of the people are smiling for their mug shots. I guess I can understand if they are way high or something…but what about the one’s that are not? Does the guy taking the picture say…“Say Cheese” and they just do?:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/2 "2011-11-23T17:53:23Z")
People have always been accustomed to smiling for photographs; it’s a reflex action. Personally, I have never smiled for my driver’s license or my passport photo. In fact, in Canada now, a smiling photo is unacceptable for passports. ---
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/3 "2011-11-23T17:58:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > People have always been accustomed to smiling for photographs; it’s a reflex action. > > Personally, I have never smiled for my driver’s license or my passport photo. In fact, in Canada now, a smiling photo is unacceptable for passports. I get the reflex action thing…but my very LAST reflex after being arrested and in the process of being booked would be to freaking smile! It is kinda ike laughing at a car crash to me…ffs. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/4 "2011-11-23T19:16:28Z")
We have that magazine here in GA, but I can’t remember what it’s called. When I was arrested awhile back, they specifically said not to smile for the mugshot. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/5 "2011-11-23T19:26:08Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > Many of the people are smiling for their mug shots. I guess I can understand if they are way high or something.. My favourite [recent example of this category](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064585/Michelle-Watson-gives-2-thumbs-mugshot-shes-charged-assault.html). ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/6 "2011-11-23T21:56:46Z")
I figured this thread was going to be about [John Edwards](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/15/john-edwards-mug-shot-photo_n_877540.html). Alternatively, there’s always the [freak of nature](http://www.mugshots.com/Celebrity/Michael-Jackson.html) category. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/7 "2011-11-24T16:53:52Z")
The one in Memphis got in trouble for recycling photos. You’d think they’d have enough in this city but several people complained on their FB that years-old photos were being used if they were particularly _amusing_. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-busted-smile/603890/8 "2011-11-24T19:06:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > In fact, in Canada now, a smiling photo is unacceptable for passports. It’s unacceptable for US passports, too. They’ll reject it and make you send in a non-smiling photo. I’m pretty sure I’ve been instructed not to smile for my driver’s license, too.