Explanation Sought for Why Nearly 24,000 Non-Compliant CDLs Exist In State Records
The California state house in Sacramento. FMCSA wants California to rectify what it deems are problematic processes and systems tied to the issuance of commercial driver licenses. (Thinkstock)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking the state of California to explain why nearly 24,000 non-compliant non-domiciled commercial driver licenses currently exist in state records.
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs issued the directive in a 12-page “Conditional Determination” letter sent Nov. 13 to Gov. Gavin Newsom and Department of Motor Vehicles Director Steve Gordon that outlined a series of actions the state must take to rectify what FMCSA has determined are problematic processes and systems tied to California’s issuance of commercial licenses.
Also in the letter, Barrs imposed a Dec. 1 deadline for California to detail its plans to revoke 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs found to be non-compliant with federal law. The state announced on Nov. 12 it had notified those drivers their licenses will expire in 60 days.
Non-domiciled CDLs are issued to foreign drivers who are required to maintain legal U.S. residence and work permits.
Barrs in the letter indicated that California may have issued thousands more commercial driver licenses and commercial learner’s permits that fail to adhere to federal law, noting that California has 65,000 records of non-domiciled CDL holders. Among them, Barrs said are:
- 20,000 non-domiciled CDLs issued by California that have expiration dates that exceed the driver’s legal authority to remain in the U.S.
- 3,970 non-domiciled CDLs issued to Mexican citizens. Mexican and Canadian citizens do not require U.S.-issued licenses, as their home countries’ licenses have reciprocity on U.S. roads.
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Original article published by Transport Topics