Would You Pay To Pick Your Driver's License Photo In California?

FULLERTON, CA — Have you ever wished you could choose your own driver's license photo? Or would you pay money to submit your own perfect selfie? Your driver's license photo follows you everywhere you go, from the airport security check-in to the neighborhood bar. But what if paying for a great picture on your license could help kids learn how to drive?

On Tuesday, Sen. Josh Newman, a Fullerton Democrat, said he wants to give drivers the chance to choose the photo that goes on their driver’s license — for a price. The newly penned Senate Bill 1407, if passed, would allow drivers to snap more than one photo at the Department of Motor Vehicles, with an additional fee for each photo taken. Fees from those photos would go toward the newly established Driver Education and Training Fund.

“SB 1407 would create a new revenue source for something that is really lacking in public education,” Newman said. “Driver education needs to be a funding priority for the state and this legislation creates a simple mechanism to bring drivers education back to our schools.”

SB 1407 would create The Drivers Education and Training Fund, which would be overseen by the State Treasury, according to Newman. Monies in the fund would be used to develop and provide driver education and training programs that are now only available at some private and public high schools.

"This fund would allow more schools to provide this important service to student drivers," Newman said.

Low- to moderate-income students especially would benefit from having drivers education offered at their school, as private drivers education courses can be costly and sometimes act as a barrier that reduces the likelihood these students will get their licenses.

"In addition to allowing more than one photo to be taken at the DMV, SB 1407 alternatively allows for drivers to get a photo taken off-site and supply that photo to the DMV for placement on their license," Newman said. "The off-site photo will still need to meet guidelines established by the department."

Is this a good idea, long time coming? Patch asked over 100 readers their thoughts in an unscientific social media poll, and the votes were 44-percent "Yes! Definitely," to 56-percent "No, that's silly!"

The younger set (ages 35 and under) seemed to think it a grand idea to be able to select their own driver's license photo. Drivers (ages 36 and older) were more of the mind that paying to select their own driver's license picture was silly or unneeded.

What do you think?

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