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May. 28 2009 - 8:26 am | 20 views | 0 recommendations | 7 comments

State DMV Bans Smiling in Photos

Map of Virginia's major cities and roads

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Three cheers for Virginia! The commonwealth has taken decisive action in the war against terror terrible drivers’ license photos. From now on, there will be no more looking at the camera and saying of “cheese.” No more will drivers have to explain away the forced smiles that adorn their license mugshots. Yes, smiling is now, officially verboten.

You think I’m making this up? Check out today’s Washington Post:

As part of the DMV’s effort to develop super-secure driver’s licenses and foolproof identification cards, the agency has issued a smile ban, directing customers to adopt a “neutral expression” in their portraits…

You see, America? The terrorists have already won.


Comments

2 T/S Member Comments Called Out, 7 Total Comments
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  1. collapse expand

    I always scowl when having my picture taken at the DMV, it’s my best look!

  2. collapse expand

    Michael,

    I guess they’ll have to keep all that love to themselves.

  3. collapse expand

    David,

    God, no problem on this end. I wish they would do it in California. I am one of those people that can’t fake a smile to save my life. I have one good picture from the DMV, it is my last expired driver’s license, and I kept it. It’s before I started shaving my head and looked like a thug. I like the thug look, it works for me. My picture on here, I am wearing a stocking cap.

    I wonder about people that may have overdone Botox or plastic surgery and will not be able to even force a neutral expression. What does the DMV do with them? Have a composite drawn?

    Sandy

  4. collapse expand

    Sandy,

    Yes, something of a mixed blessing. Invariably the DL photo is one to forget. This new restriction will certainly put everybody in the same boat, I guess.

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    I've published two novels: The Secrets of the Camera Obscura (Chronicle Books), and The Third Eye (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday). I'm currently working as a journalist for AOL's Sphere. For the past three years I also spouted political opinion for AOL's Political Machine, which I also helped edit. My non-fiction has appeared in places like Men's Vogue, The Wall Street Journal Magazine, USA Today, Newsday, Travel + Leisure, GQ (Spain), and Vanity Fair (Italy). I've dabbled with short stories, publishing in Nerve and a few small journals.

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