California, Washington and New Mexico could lose millions of dollars of federal funding if they continue failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash<\/a> involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on Aug. 12 found what Duffy called significant failures in the way all three states are enforcing rules that took effect in June<\/a> after one of President Donald Trump\u2019s executive orders. He said the department was also already reviewing how states were enforcing the rules before the crash.<\/p>\n Truckers are supposed to be disqualified if they can\u2019t demonstrate English proficiency and Duffy said the driver involved in the crash that killed three should not have ever been given a commercial driver\u2019s license because of his immigration status. But the crash has become increasingly political with the governors of California and Florida criticizing each other and Duffy highlighting the Trump administration\u2019s immigration concerns in interviews.<\/p>\n But Duffy said Tuesday that it is a safety issue \u2014 not a political one \u2014 because truckers need to understand road signs and be able to communicate with law enforcement about what they are hauling if they are pulled over or what happened if there is an accident.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is about keeping people safe on the road. Your families, your kids, your spouses, your loved ones, your friends. We all use the roadway, and we need to make sure that those who are driving big rigs \u2014 semis \u2014 can understand the road signs, that they\u2019ve been well trained,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n Duffy says these states aren\u2019t enforcing the rules<\/p>\n The Transportation Department said California has conducted roughly 34,000 inspections that found at least one violation since the new language standards took effect requiring truck drivers be able to recognize and read road signs and communicate with authorities in English. But only one inspection involved an English language rules violation that resulted in a driver being taken out of service. And 23 drivers with violations in other states were allowed to continue driving after inspections in California.<\/p>\n He cited similar statistics for the other states with Washington finding more than 6,000 violations of safety rules during inspections, but only pulling four drivers out of service for English language violations. New Mexico has not placed any drivers out of service since the rules took effect.<\/p>\n Duffy said the states will lose money from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program if they don\u2019t comply with the rules within 30 days. Duffy said California could lose $33 million, Washington could lose $10.5 million and New Mexico could lose $7 million. The states did not immediately respond to the proposed sanctions that were announced before officials start their day on the West Coast.<\/p>\n Florida crash killed three people<\/p>\n Three people were killed when truck driver Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn<\/a> on a highway, according to Florida\u2019s Highway Patrol. He is being held without bond<\/a> after being charged with three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations.<\/p>\n A nearby minivan slammed into Singh\u2019s trailer as he made the turn on a highway about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach. Singh and his passenger were not injured.<\/p>\n Diamond R. Litty, the elected public defender in St. Lucie County, said her office was provisionally assigned to Singh\u2019s case during his initial appearance Saturday morning. A review of his finances will determine whether Litty\u2019s office remains on the case.<\/p>\n Litty said her office will focus on the criminal charges against Singh, who is presumed innocent, but they will also work with an immigration attorney to determine how Singh\u2019s status affects the case. After more than three decades at her position, Litty said she can\u2019t recall a case that garnered more attention than this one.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, Mr. Singh has been caught in the crosshairs of politics,\u201d Litty said.<\/p>\n But the head of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association trade group that represents small-business truck drivers praised Duffy\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n \u201cBasic English skills are critical for safely operating a commercial motor vehicle \u2014 reading road signs, following emergency instructions, and communicating with law enforcement are not optional. The fatal crash in Florida this month tragically illustrates what\u2019s at stake,\u201d the group\u2019s president, Todd Spencer, said.<\/p>\n Federal officials say truck driver was in U.S. illegally<\/p>\n