Nicole Raz
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) For all those Virginians who compare their driver’s license photo to a mug shot: Good news, from now on you’re allowed to smile when you get your license photo taken.
People have been told to look “neutral” when getting their photo taken since 2009.
“We had asked folks then to not show teeth,” says Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Spokesperson Brandy Brubaker. “They could smile slightly, but they couldn’t have one of the really friendly grins that people like to have on their driver’s license photos.”
The 2009 policy was implemented in preparation for the potential future use of image verification software.
“Since then the technology has advanced so that if someday we want to use that type of technology we are able to do it with smiles on the photos,” she said.
The cost of a replacement driver’s license is $20; a replacement ID card is $10.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Virginia DMV)
