Body Cam Footage Sparks Controversy Over Truck Driver’s English Proficiency

A recent body cam video has come to light, centering on Haljinder Singh, a truck driver who entered the U.S. illegally and has limited English skills. This footage emerged after he was pulled over for speeding in New Mexico last month, where the issue of his language abilities has since gained significant attention.

The video shows the moment Singh was stopped by a New Mexico officer, allegedly driving at 60 mph in a 45 mph zone on July 3rd. Notably, Singh is accused of jackknifing an 18-wheeler during an illegal U-turn in Florida that resulted in three fatalities.

During the encounter, he apologizes as he receives a ticket, appearing to communicate effectively at first. However, difficulties arise after he signs the paperwork. At this point, officers struggle to grasp what Singh is saying.

“What is that?” one trooper asks, while Singh responds, “Sorry, I don’t think you know what you’re saying.” The conversation continues with Singh trying to clarify the duration a ticket will stay on his record, mentioning, in fragmented English, “Maybe this, this is my ticket, my license, how many years?” Eventually, the officers clarify that the ticket would linger on his license for five to seven years.

Singh’s command of English has faced harsh scrutiny, especially following comments he made about failing to properly evaluate his English proficiency after the deadly Florida crash. He reportedly answered only two out of twelve verbal questions correctly and identified just one of four traffic signs, raising serious concerns about how he is allowed to operate a commercial vehicle.

Interestingly, during his July 3rd stop, Singh wasn’t subjected to the mandated English Proficiency Test, a requirement established just a week prior. According to the law, police are expected to conduct these checks during routine inspections.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy had previously emphasized that drivers who cannot understand English shouldn’t be operating commercial vehicles in the U.S.

Meanwhile, New Mexico’s State Police Chief, Troy Weistler, has countered claims from federal officials suggesting that the state hasn’t enforced these new requirements adequately. He insists that New Mexico has created its compliance framework and trained officers accordingly.

Weistler also noted that New Mexico had communicated with federal regulators about their practices. Regarding Singh’s stop, he maintained that there was no need to administer an English Proficiency Test since there were no communication barriers evident during the encounter.

Singh, who crossed into the U.S. unlawfully in 2018, now faces serious legal repercussions, including three counts of vehicle homicide linked to the crash in Florida. After that incident, he had moved to California, where he was previously issued a valid commercial driver’s license, which, under federal regulations, illegal immigrants are not supposed to obtain.

Amid these developments, the situation continues to invoke discussion and concern about the broader implications of language proficiency for commercial drivers in the U.S.