Special thanks to Greg for today's WTF?!
The Virginia DMV gets Wednesday's award for banning smiles. What next, Virginia? No Santa Claus? Mandatory rectal exams? Prohibition?
Although, banning smiles in the DMV is like banning excitement from a dentist visit.
As Washington Post Staff Writer, Nick Miroff, points out, "Few places in Virginia are as draining to the soul and as numbing to the buttocks as the branch offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles." So, what are the chances you'd actually smile there anyway?
The article does offer an explanation: DMV officials say the smile ban is for a good cause. The agency would like to develop a facial recognition system that could compare customers' photographs over time to prevent fraud and identity theft. "The technology works best when the images are similar," said DMV spokeswoman Pam Goheen. "To prepare for the possibility of future security enhancements, we're asking customers to maintain a neutral expression." At a Manassas DMV branch yesterday, that translated to a simple directive: "Don't smile."
Evidently, VA is still for lovers. Just not for smilers.
Read the article: As if It Needed to, Virginia Bans Smiles at the DMV.
4 comments:
Hey, watch what you say about VA!!! I prefer to think we're on the cutting edge of technology w/this new facial recognition system. If you were at the Manassas DMV you'd frown too whether required or not.
I knew that would get a response from you! ;} What does Ashcroft have to say?
Ashcroft isn't on fb but he does get nosey and check out things from my account sometimes so let's just see how long it will take him. I know, I know, I really need to lock him out of my page as it could get me trouble some day! :-) -----there's your smile from VA.
Update: apparently there's at least one person that's extremely upset about the smile ban---said person crashed into the DMV in Leesburg this morning closing the building for today and possibly tomorrow. Oh no, what will the frowners do!!
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