Issues with California’s Non-Citizen CDL Process Highlighted After Fatal Crash
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has raised alarms over “serious non-compliance” with California’s non-citizen commercial driver’s license (CDL) regulations after a tragic accident allegedly involving an undocumented truck driver from India.
21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh was found guilty of three counts of grossly negligent vehicular manslaughter, along with one count of DUI manslaughter, by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office in connection with an eight-vehicle collision, as reported by ABC7.
This incident claimed the lives of a Los Angeles County high school basketball coach, Clarence Nelson, and his wife, Lisa. The identity of a third victim has not yet been disclosed. Four additional drivers sustained injuries in the crash.
A disturbing video of the incident was released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), indicating that Singh entered the U.S. through the southern border and was released during the current administration.
Duffy expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, emphasizing that stricter adherence to regulations could have possibly prevented the tragedy. “California broke the law and now three people are dead and two are hospitalized. There will be consequences,” Duffy stated.
A report from the Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed that 25% of non-domicile CDLs examined were improperly issued, contradicting departmental policy brought to light by a recent audit. On June 27, Singh had claimed asylum status, receiving a limited CDL that restricted driving within California.
After informing California of the non-compliance on September 26, the DOT mandated that the state suspend the issuance of non-domicile CDLs until all were reviewed for compliance with federal regulations. Following this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enacted emergency rules imposing stricter standards, which included requiring candidates to possess an employment-based visa and undergo an immigration status check.
These new regulations, as they were designed, should have prevented individuals claiming asylum from obtaining a non-domicile CDL.
After turning 21 in October, the California DMV removed Singh’s driving restrictions and upgraded his privileges, despite the enforcement of tougher standards by the FMCSA.
During that same week, Duffy had pointed out that the Trump administration had intended to penalize California to the tune of $40 million for disregarding English language requirements for truck drivers.
Just days later, Singh, while allegedly under the influence, crashed a semi-truck into stationary vehicles, resulting in three fatalities and four injuries. It was noted that had California followed the more rigorous CDL issuance protocols prior, Singh wouldn’t have been able to operate that truck.
Furthermore, the DOT remarked that Governor Gavin Newsom was warned about the dangers associated with the state’s CDL program, yet he shifted the blame onto the Trump administration. “This is a tragic situation,” a spokesperson said. “The federal government needs to look inward before pointing blame outward.” They also noted that federal authorization for Singh’s employment had been renewed multiple times, allowing for his CDL acquisition under federal guidelines.
