It's a given that any sort of identification picture, whether it's a passport, license or Ball State University ID, will be terrible. The photographer may take it a couple times if your eyes are half-open, but regardless, the pictures are lousy. My Ball State ID? Terrible hair at a terrible angle. My passport? Terrible hair and strangely squinted eyes. My license? Terrible hair and a low-cut shirt that makes the viewer question whether I was even wearing one.
Yes, my hair styling techniques may be a huge factor in the unflattering pictures, but that will be the least of my worries when my license expires on my 21st birthday. Now, I won't be able to override the ugly cut with my dazzling smile because from here on out, Indiana requires neutral faces in license photos.
Indiana is one of four states that have changed the requirements. Iowa, Nevada, Arkansas and Virginia also joined the ranks of the dismal drivers. Thirty-one states have established a computerized identity recognition system. In order for the facial recognition to work, the same facial expression is needed for each identification picture in order to protect from identity theft.
Some may argue that if the pictures need to be similar, they could all be smiling portraits, right? It's not that simple though: smiling makes it difficult for the computer to match two pictures of the same person as smiles can easily differ. The software measures the permanent features at almost 100 different points on the face, so the any difference in the mouth could throw it off.
It is understandable. When someone smiles, the proportions of the face change. My eyes naturally squint with a smile when they're actually quite big without one. My nose (unfortunately) stretches out a bit, and my mouth takes up nearly half my face when I smile (like I said earlier, dazzling). Not to mention laugh lines are deeper, crows feet appear, dimples show up. So while I may still look like myself when I smile, I do look different than without one as well, as smiles can vary from picture to picture. An impersonal computer can't make the judgment calls that a human can.
But the system does work. Already, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has arrested twenty-one people for identity fraud, one who's had a fake ID for six years, one for three. All 21 of the arrests were made solely in the month of May. In Indiana, one man has been caught trying to obtain his sixth fake ID, a man who has been convicted 13 times since 1981 in Illinois for related crimes.
It is unfortunate, though, for the giddy 16-year-olds who nearly wet their pants in the excitement of getting their license. After passing the tests, who wouldn't want to give their biggest, cheesiest smile to the camera? Instead, they have to pretend like they just failed their math test in order to restrain their happiness.
At the same time, we have to remember, it is just a picture. It's a picture on a piece of plastic that you need to buy a margarita or Camel Lights. When you've been pulled over by the cops, my guess is that you're not going to be worrying about how you look on your license as much as finding proof of insurance or trying to sweet talk the cop into letting you out of a reckless driving ticket. Believe it or not, the law isn't out to get us - their intentions are good; it's not an infringement on any of our rights, it's just a change, and people like to complain about anything they can get their hands on. Identity theft is a serious issue that could nearly destroy someone's life. It's more important to protect your credit than to look like a beauty queen on your license. If 22 people have already been caught within two months, imagine what the result would be in the long run.
I mean, I'd rather have a mug shot for my identification than have no identity at all.
Mia Hanneken is a sophomore magazine and journalism major and writes 'Paradox of a Plaided Sweater' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Mia at mlhanneken@bsu.edu
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