California Revokes 17K Illegally Issued Driver Licenses

The Transportation Department and the state of California have disagreed over the Golden State’s compliance with federal trucking laws for several months. Duffy continues to reprimand the state for its noncompliance, and California officials have repeatedly argued they are following all regulations.

In late October, the state’s DMV told the Washington Examiner that the Transportation Department previously allowed CDLs “for asylum seekers and refugees.”

In a September letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, Alicia Fowler, the general counsel for the California State Transportation Agency, argued that the state is in full compliance with federal laws.

“California’s laws, regulations, standards, and orders are either identical to or have the same effect as the federal safety requirements—including the English language proficiency requirement,” Fowler wrote.

However, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit this year revealed that 25% of nondomiciled CDLs were issued out of compliance with federal regulations. The audit found “systemic non-compliance” in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Department said it “urges all states to revoke illegally issued CDLs,” and that California was the first state found to be out of compliance.

California is also one of the top CDL-issuing states in the nation, according to the department.