ANSWER: Is It Still Illegal to Smile in Your Colorado Driver’s License Photo?

I was recently at a restaurant in Fort Collins and I ordered a beer. The server asked for my driver's license to verify my age and she was shocked at my appearance.

Before you ask, no I do not have an out-of-state driver's license. She was shocked at my driver's license because I was smiling. I would say that I was showing off my pearly whites, but my years of coffee addiction have tanned my teeth a bit. Thankfully, Colorado license photos are black and white.

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She asked me, "How did you do that?!".

"What?", I replied.

"Smile!".

Driver's License Policy and Smiling in Colorado

When I took a photo of my new driver's license in 2023, I was excited because I knew about a new policy change in the state of Colorado. In 2022, Colorado decided that it was okay for residents to smile for their identification photo.

So, if you are looking for an excuse to get a new driver's license or new identification, there you go.

Why Was It Not Legal in Colorado

Honestly, your guess is probably as good as mine. We did some digging and could not find the actual reason why it was illegal in Colorado to smile for your identification photo. What we do know is that small facial expressions were okay, but you were not allowed to show your teeth.

It was most likely just one of those strange laws that stuck around for a little bit too long. Kind of like how it is technically illegal to borrow a vacuum in Denver. Or that you are not legally allowed to bring a horse to the second story of your home.