This happened after a check last year showed problems that New York has not fixed.
There is an argument about giving commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to people who are not
U.S. citizens or do not live in the U.S. This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
took action against New York. Also, a court case in Florida is trying to get CDLs back for 19
people who do not live in Florida.
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said that the government will keep about $73 million from New York
because it did not take away CDLs and learner’s permits that were given out by mistake to
people who do not live in the U.S. In December, DOT said it checked and found that more than
half of the CDLs issued in New York to people who do not live in the U.S. were issued
incorrectly. DOT said the FMCSA checked 200 records and found that 107 were issued in
violation of federal law.
FMCSA found that New York gave CDLs to foreign drivers without proving they were allowed to
be in the U.S. The action announced Thursday was due to these problems.
FMCSA administrator Derek Barrs said that New York continues to refuse to fix these problems
and that the government will not provide funds to a system that does not comply with the law.
FMCSA sent a letter to New York’s governor and motor vehicles commissioner. The letter said
New York disagrees with the government’s findings and does not want to fix the problem. Barrs
said that New York is wrong. He said states must ask for proof that someone is in the U.S., such
as a current work permit or passport. The license should not last longer than the legal
documents. He said these rules are not new. Because of this, Barrs said New York will lose
about $73.5 million, which is 4% of its federal highway and transportation funding.
The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) issued a statement that neither supported nor
blamed the government or New York. TANY said the FMCSA decision is worrying and will affect
more than just the trucking business. TANY said losing this money will hurt projects like roads
and bridges. They also said New York’s laws are okay as they are written. TANY said New York
already follows strict rules for CDLs. These rules include checking work permits, making drivers
complete training, and following safety rules. But TANY also said these rules must be followed
at all times to keep the CDL program fair and safe. TANY said it is ready to help fix the problem
with the government.
The Florida lawsuit was filed this week, with 19 people suing government officials and agencies
over losing their CDLs. The people in the lawsuit live in other countries but drive trucks in
Florida. They had or applied for CDLs in Florida. The lawsuit says new federal and Florida rules
stop people who do not live in the U.S. from getting or renewing CDLs. The lawsuit says these
new rules are very bad for the 19 people because they cannot work or earn money. It says they
lost their rights without being shown to have done anything wrong.
