No Smiles in N.J.—at Least Not on Licenses
What's your take? One state resident is refusing to frown, even after walking out of the MVC.
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New Jersey drivers may think that it's on the roadways where no smiles exist when it comes to driving.
In fact, it's on your license that you actually can't show your pearly whites. Or, at least in a manner the state Motor Vehicle Commission deems too extreme.
According to a report on Philly.com, a Sicklerville resident did not take kindly when she found out about the law, opting at first to walk out of the facility she was renewing her license at.
The law has actually been around since January. According to the report, it was put into place because of new face recognition software the state has implemented. The software can recognize licenses with identical faces, but with different names, helping to flag those attempting to commit fraud. But exaggerated expressions—and smiles—can help prevent the software from picking up the similarities.
What's your opinion on the law? Is it over the top to ask New Jersey residents from giving a big grin on their licenses? Or is it necessary to make sure that licenses are as secure as possible?
One more note: the woman who walked out apparently is going back to the MVC, just with a more demure smile.
Rochelle76
10:44 am on Sunday, September 23, 2012
If you smile, your photo won't work with the new photo recognition software and cameras that they are setting up in NYC and other large cities. A big smile distorts the parameters in your face that make you recognizable to a computer. The authorities need to be able to identify everyone at a political protest by just taking a photograph.
This is also the reason they are starting government photo ids for voting (aside from voter suppression). Too many people in the big cities that don't drive that aren't in their massive photo identification database.
It's a brave new world and big brother is watching, so please don't smile and ruin it for them.