Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
No matter how much you turn, pose, and work a camera, your driver's license photo might be a wreck.
"I went to the DMV to have my photo taken last go-around," says Josh Newman, "and I said to the woman, 'I think I might have blinked.' She looked at me and said, 'You did.' I said, 'Well can I retake that?' And she said, 'Nope!'"
He says his own wife makes fun of his picture.
But Newman is also a state senator from Fullerton, and he wants to give everyone a second shot.
He proposed a new bill SB 1407 where, for a to-be-determined fee, people could retake their driver's license photo and pick the best one.
Alternatively, someone could have their picture taken elsewhere and bring the best shot to the DMV, similar to getting a passport.
There are enough self-conscious people in the state who'd like his idea, he says, "Especially in the age of Instagram and the selfie."
Newman's bill would direct the money raised towards more drivers' education classes and training in schools.
The proposed bill has to move through some committees before it can be considered by the full state legislature.
Of course even if it passes, there might be some people who just were never made for the camera.