Which State Just Banned Smiling at the DMV?

Ironically enough, that same state is also said to be "for Lovers." Yes, Virginia has officially banned the time-honored practice of forcing a smile while having your driver's license photo taken. Why? Because our national security is at stake. It seems that smiles get in the way of accurately identifying potential terrorists and other criminals. So, Virginia has decided that its residents' next license photos must feature a "neutral expression."

Ironically, as The Washington Post points out, the new mug-shot restriction will have the effect of making all Virginia drivers look like criminals. Here's how the new law played out this week at one DMV location:

At a Manassas DMV branch yesterday, that translated to a simple directive: "Don't smile."

That's exactly what a DMV attendant told Manassas resident Maria Quispe when she sat down against the white backdrop and attempted to look happy for the photo she woud be carrying around for much of the next eight years.

"Say cheese," said the stepdaughter, Alexandra Lopez.

"No cheese today," the DMV attendant said.

What's your read on this? Has Virginia gone too far? Have we, by curbing our smiles, let the terrorists win? Or does this new edict make perfect sense?


David at Paradigms Lost
David on Twitter