Edited 1.20pmPST to include quotes from Indiana BMV's Deputy Communications Director
Sometimes he was Eric Nicholson. Sometimes he was Vernon Eugene Lyons.
However, according to authorities in Indiana, his real name was George Helms and he assumed at least 10 different names in that state alone.
According to CBS2 Chicago, Helms walked into the Hobart, Ind., license branch to obtain an 11th ID. No one seems really sure why he would want an 11th license.
What Helms appears not to have known is that Indiana has invested in new facial recognition software.
Helms allegedly had all the correct paperwork and then posed for his photograph. However, in the evening after his application was approved, the photograph passed through the new facial recognition system, which spotted an allegedly remarkable similarity with 10 other licenses, according to the report.
In an email, the bureau's Graig Lubsen told CNET that normal procedure is that: "The next morning, our investigators will examine all of the potential facial recognition conflicts and determine if an investigation should proceed."
He added: "In Mr. Helms case, we had already distributed BMV 'Wanted' posters of Helms and a variety of other people to all 140 license branches and the employee recognized Helms from the poster."
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles claims that Helms got four licenses between July 2000 and October 2001. And eight more October 2008 to February 2009, according to the report.
As the investigation has continued, it has spread to Illinois, where authorities believe Helms secured at least 15 other IDs.
He has been charged with seven counts of forgery and is currently in jail.
Do I detect the faintest hint of a smile in your driver's license photo? The smile that says, "Gee, I've been here for three days, it's amazing what popping a little E can do to help you through."
Well, perhaps you might rejoice that you don't live in Arkansas, Indiana, Virginia, or Nevada.
Those states--and perhaps more to come--have decided to enact a no-smiling policy on driver's license photos.
Their intentions are noble. You see, these states have invested in very fine software that compares photos on licenses to other photos already taken. No one wants to have their identity assumed by shifty people. So the software is a valuable method of prevention.
The only problem is that it's not so well versed with smiles. Carnegie Mellon professor of robotics, Takeo Kanade, told USA Today that face-recognition software isn't too good at matching two photos if in one of them the subject is smiling.
According to the story, Arkansas, Indiana, and Nevada do allow the slightest semblance of a grin. Whereas you will be stunned to hear that Virginia only wants to see the expression you show the priest, the bailiff, or the ex-lover whom you see with another.
Not every state enjoys the same software. Some say that they don't care if you show your joy at the DMV. The most endearing of these is the large love-commune known as Pennsylvania.
What a strange thought that people can show more joy in Philadelphia than Vegas.
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