As a person knowledgable in computer technology, databases in particular, I can say with certainty that IF someone used the same photo as their driver's license, Law Enforcement would be able to match it to the photo on the drivers license on file IF LE had a reason to do such a thing (for example: they figured out the other license was fake - name not matching number, or whatever). If the photo is significantly different from any that they have "on file" for any reason, but still looks like a standard drivers license photo, they are extremely unlikely to be able to programatically (with a computer) match it to a photo they do have on file.
So suppose the picture includes a new haircut/haircolor, a person of a different age from any photos on public records, glasses (of course one would need to wear those neutral lens glasses and make sure the license says "corrective vision") if the person doesn't wear them, or no glasses if the person does wear them, or some stubble on the face (as if having not shaved for 2 days) if the person is not bearded, I would think that this is adequate to fool facial recognition software doing a mass search of public record databases.
However, don't discount the possibility that Law Enforcement may have a particular reason to cross-check the license on file with the chem company against one's records. In this situation (for example, they've found a meth lab and some precursor chemicals and are trying to determine their origin), the person in question would be, as they say, FUCKED.
See: (The last one is VERY interesting - read them all if your freedom depends on it)
http://archive.aclu.org/issues/privacy/facial_recognition_faq.html (http://archive.aclu.org/issues/privacy/facial_recognition_faq.html)
http://www.imagistechnologies.com/Products/InForce/InForce_Introduction.htm (http://www.imagistechnologies.com/Products/InForce/InForce_Introduction.htm)
http://www.biometritech.com/features/roundup051502.htm (http://www.biometritech.com/features/roundup051502.htm)
http://people.howstuffworks.com/facial-recognition2.htm (http://people.howstuffworks.com/facial-recognition2.htm)
http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily_News_Archives/December2002/nd1209023.htm (http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily_News_Archives/December2002/nd1209023.htm)
(Colorado specific - but interesting)
http://www.dodcounterdrug.com (http://www.dodcounterdrug.com)
http://www.frvt.org (http://www.frvt.org)
DoD Releases Report on Facial Recognition at Chokepoints
Excellent info merbst... thanks! It always fascinated me how 7+ billion people can have the same components that make up a face... yet look different from everyone else. Talking about ID and all that... if anyone has ID with an encrypted barcode they can find out what it says here http://www.turbulence.org/Works/swipe/barcode.html (http://www.turbulence.org/Works/swipe/barcode.html)
It works for most states. They also have links to companies where you can search to see what info on yourself is out there. Most of them are reasonably priced. One is even $5.