More than 11,000 California drivers have been ordered to retake their written driving tests due to suspected cheating, a move that could lead to license suspension for those who do not comply within 30 days. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) confirmed that an ongoing investigation suggests some written knowledge exams may have been compromised.
DMV Director Steve Gordon stated in a letter to State Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Dave Cortese that the notices were not issued randomly and were based on evidence of "irregularities" in the testing process. An internal review found patterns indicating that some applicants may have employed "various cheating methods" to bypass the exam, the agency revealed. The specific methods used to identify the affected drivers have not been disclosed due to potential criminal implications.
Several cases have already been referred for prosecution, with more expected, though the law enforcement agencies involved have not been named. A spokesperson for Attorney General Rob Bonta indicated that the California Department of Justice could not confirm if any referrals had been received.
This situation echoes a similar incident in 2017 when the DMV discovered that 3,600 individuals had obtained licenses without passing the required exams. That investigation resulted in 14 people being indicted on felony charges.
The recent disclosure has drawn criticism from state lawmakers, including Senator Cortese and Assemblymember Mike Gipson, who have expressed concerns about the integrity of the testing process and demanded greater transparency. Questions remain about whether this is the first such irregularity since 2017 and why drivers are being allowed to retake the exam if criminal activity is suspected.