FMCSA withholds more than $73 million from New York

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is holding back over $73 million from New York. This withholding is in response to the state failing to revoke illegally issued non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

An FMCSA audit of New York’s non-domiciled commercial license issuance procedures noted:

• A 53 percent failure rate for issued licenses that violated federal law, and
• A default system that issued 8-year licenses to drivers regardless of when their legal status expires.

According to the FMCSA, New York has failed to execute corrective actions, including taking back noncompliant non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs.

The $73,502,543 being withheld represents 4 percent of the state’s National Highway Performance Program and Surface Transportation Program Block Grant funds.