CHANTILLY, Va. - While going to the DMV is never any fun, there now are even fewer reasons to smile.

Virginia may be for lovers, but the DMV is not for smilers -- at least not in driver's licenses photos where it's now all about the neutral face expression.

It's rare to find a room full of smiles at the DMV, but a smile on a driver's license picture isn't unusual -- unless you live in Virginia.

In March, the DMV there essentially banned flashing pearly whites in photos when they began issuing the new style of licenses, which the Commonwealth says are more secure.

The new policy caught Lisa Keener-Bartram by surprise. She'd been practicing her smile in advance of her driver's license photo shoot.

"It'll look like a mug shot I assume," she said.

Teenager Connor Ryan should have a lot to smile about -- he just got his learner's permit which ironically boast a neutral facial expression.

"I don't think it's that fair because it makes you look weird in the picture," said Ryan.

"It was hard trying not to smile because there's someone staring right at you, but I'm sure over time we'll get used to it," added Peter Yuhahn, a Fairfax resident.

Before Virginia drivers' smiles turn upside down, the DMV says there's good reason for the new rule. A spokeswoman says "by capturing neutral expression photos today, the agency will be in a position to implement photo comparison sooner rather than later." The DMV believes will help prevent identity theft and fraud.

"I think when you are smiling it changes your face, your expressions," said motorist Karen Sergi.

Another possible upside is that it'll likely prevent pranksters like a group of men who back in 2006 managed to get away with some rather ridiculous driver's license photos.

Virginia is one of four states to adopt what some have called the "No Smile Rule," but the DMV says while a grin OK, a big toothy smile is not.

 Email To Friend