Virginia DMV repeals 'no smile' rule for license photos

RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles announced that patrons will be able to smile again after technical limitations required "neutral expressions" in license photos.

In 2009 DMVs in Virginia, Arkansas, Nevada and Indiana adopted a neutral expression policy, which allowed only a slight grin with no teeth while taking license photos in 2009 to accommodate the use of image verification software. The policy was repealed on Monday as the department doesn't make use of such software and technology has advanced to recognize smiles.

"We heard loud and clear from customers that they prefer posing with smiles," DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb said in a press release.

The department offered customers the opportunity to retake their photo with a smile by taking their driver's license or ID card to a local DMV and paying $20 or $10 respectively.