No More Smiling: Indiana Cracks Down on Happy Driver's License Photos

Latest news out of Indiana is that the state's Bureau of Motor Vehicles is instituting several new and somewhat interesting requirements for driver's license photos.

In an effort to aid facial recognition software and technology in its attempt to accurately identify residents, people will now be restricted from wearing scarves, hats and glasses, among other accessories.

Furthermore, drivers will need to refrain from smiling.

According to BMV spokesperson Dennis Rosebrough, it has been determined that smiles can inhibit the technology from accurate identifications and that the recognition software functions far better when given more standard images.

While this development may be a step in the right direction in terms of working to effectively leverage the technology at hand, a better approach would to to film a short video of the person, rather than take one single photo to rely upon for all identification purposes. While a single image is what always ends up on your license, there is actually no real reason that should be the only image the DMV can use when conducting a fraud search.

What we've found at 3VR is that comparing a collection of images of a person to other collection is always more accurate than working with a single passport-style photo-- regardless of facial expression, dress or accessories.

Multiple photos or even video would be a far more effective alternative, in our opinion, and what more, would even allow Hoosiers to resume their smiling at the DMV-- everybody wins.