18-year License

Today I got my 18-year-old full license today. It came in the mail in a plain white envelope, but I knew immediately what it was. It definitely looked governmental, though I'm not exactly sure why. Somehow I just knew that it was from the government. This one is plastic and will replace the paper one I got at the DOT the other day.

There are a few things that I don't understand about this license. First, one of the good things, why are my eyes finally listed as green? What took them so long? I'm glad it's finally like this, but still. It took four year for them to get it right, even though I listed my eyes as green on every application-thing I've turned in to the DOT.

Second thing I don't understand: why is my signature suddenly not just a copy, like the rest of the card, but looks as though it's be put on with puffy paint? Is this something that's a part of getting a full license or the new system? And if it is, why did they feel that the signature had to stick out from the rest of the license? Is there something particularly special about it? Not that I know of...

Third thing: Why do I now have three pictures? Even on the paper one I only had two; the plastic one has three. Why the random change? I assume there must be some specific reason for needing three of the exact same picture on the same card....

Fouth and last: What's with the new rules on not smiling and no glasses? I don't know about any other nearly-legally-blind people, but I'm never planning on going driving without my glasses and I hate contacts. As for the not smiling, now every license that I see, instead of having a merely unflattering picture, has a mug shot. Everyone driving now looks like a criminal. I suppose that makes it easier to identify a criminal, but I take that as an insult. I am not a criminal.

Even with all this stuff, I still think it's worth it to have my 18 year license, especially since it's a full license and my 16 year one expired. (I was three days away from having to take the driving test all over again)