Duffy threatens funding freeze for 3 states flouting English requirements for truck drivers



The Department of Transportation is taking action to further clamp down on non-English-speakers with commercial driver's licenses, following President Donald Trump's executive action.

The Obama administration's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a memorandum in 2016 that removed a requirement to place drivers out of service due to a lack of English proficiency.

'States don't get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow.'

Trump reversed that action in April, calling for the enforcement of the law to protect American roads following an increase in fatal accidents involving semi-trucks.

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Tuesday that the agency would pull federal funding for states that fail to comply with English language proficiency requirements.

He accused California, Washington, and New Mexico of failing to place drivers out of service for ELP violations. Duffy warned the three states that they have 30 days to comply or the DOT will withhold all funding from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.

California receives $30 million, Washington receives $10 million, and New Mexico receives $7 million through that program, Duffy stated during a Tuesday press conference.

RELATED: Florida teams up with ICE to crack down on illegal alien truckers after deadly crash

Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The California Highway Patrol told Overdrive in July that it does not plan to place drivers out of service for ELP violations despite the Trump administration's new guidance.

The CHP "has not implemented any enforcement changes in response to recent federal guidance requiring commercial drivers to speak English, as it is not part of California law," a spokesperson told the outlet.

"States don't get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow," Duffy stated. "As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger. Under President Trump's leadership, we are taking aggressive action to close these safety gaps, hold states accountable, and make sure every commercial driver on the road is qualified to operate a 40-ton vehicle."

A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) appeared to blame the Trump administration for the recent fatal crash in Florida involving Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who received his commercial driver's license in California. Earlier this month, Singh's truck crushed a minivan, killing all three passengers, after he allegedly performed an illegal U-turn.

"This is rich. The Trump administration approved the federal work permit for the man who killed 3 people — and now they're scrambling to shift blame after getting caught," Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a Newsom spokesperson, told NBC News. "Sean's nonsense announcement is as big a joke as the Trump administration itself. SAD!"

RELATED: American trucking at a crossroads: Deadly crash involving illegal alien exposes true cost of Biden’s border invasion

California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied those claims.

"False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021," McLaughlin wrote in a post on X. "The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL."

"Thank you for confirming that the federal government issued him a work permit and you FAILED to revoke it!" Newsom's office responded.

The Washington and New Mexico governors' offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

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Good Samaritans subdue brute caught beating on highway patrol officer: 'Not very often that you see something like that'



A hulking brute gained the upper hand in a brawl with a California Highway Patrol officer Friday evening. Once trapped in a headlock, the motorcycle officer appeared short on time and air. He was not, however, short on friends.

Three Good Samaritans rushed into action, sparing the officer from possible doom and making good on the officer's earlier warning.

Everardo Navarro, 42, glimpsed the CHP officer on the receiving end of a beating off California's 5 freeway in Santa Ana, California.

"I just jumped," Navarro told the Los Angeles Times. "I don't think the officer was able to take control of that situation by himself, because the guy was very, very strong."

While the brute, who has been identified as 34-year-old Jaime Balderas Paniagua, may have appeared strong, Navarro's compulsion to act was stronger.

"I think about my kids at that moment," Navarro told KCAL-TV. "And at the same time, I did think the officer may have a family as well."

Navarro rushed across traffic to uphold the law and its highway enforcer. Two additional men swiftly joined Navarro in the effort.

KCAL indicated the officer had originally given the suspect a verbal warning for allegedly bending freeway signs and screaming at passersby. However, as the officer was preparing to ride away, Paniagua allegedly assailed him.

A video of the incident appears to show the suspect strike the officer, the officer respond, then both men grapple on the ground, with the suspect gaining the advantage on the road. At one stage, the suspect appears to get the officer into a headlock.

"When I actually get there, for a split second I didn't know what to do," said Navarro. "I just punched the guy in the ribs."

The Good Samaritan's flurry of punches to the suspect's solar plexus failed to free the officer, so he focused instead on breaking the choke hold.

In the footage of the incident, the other two Good Samaritans can be seen aiding the officer and ensuring the suspect couldn't grab the officer's sidearm.

Together, they successfully subdued the suspect and ensured the officer would live to ride again.

Anselmo Templado, a spokesman for the CHP, told KTLA, "Many of these situations, they end up becoming dangerous at a moment’s notice."

"I think it’s amazing that three Good Samaritans came in and stepped in and helped our officer out,” added Templado. "It’s not very often that you see something like that. Usually, it’s just people recording and standing by, but I just want to thank those three Good Samaritans for helping out our officer. It could’ve ended very badly, but luckily for them no one was seriously injured, and we got the subject under control."

Paniagua faces multiple charges including assault and battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Video captures Good Samaritans rescuing CHP officer under attack in Orange County youtu.be

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Video: California suspect dies after jumping out of stolen police cruiser in the middle of high-speed car chase



A California man was seen on video jumping out of a police cruiser that he allegedly stole. The alleged thief later died from his injuries sustained during the high-speed car chase.

There was a car accident in the Santa Clarita area on Tuesday. A California Highway Patrol officer responded to the collision. During the investigation of the collision, a man allegedly stole the police officer's cruiser.

He fled north on Interstate 5. The stolen police cruiser, a Dodge Charger, reached speeds of nearly 100 MPH while traveling east on Highway 138 near the Antelope Valley.

KABC-TV reported, "At one point, officials say the suspect also brandished a shotgun and assault rifle. The suspect was reported to have mental health issues."

The Los Angeles Times reported, "The man did not gain access to weapons that were inside the cruiser, officials said."

During the police chase, the suspect opened the driver-side door of the cruiser. While driving 45 MPH, the man jumped out of the moving vehicle. Video of the car chase taken by a helicopter shows the suspect having his feet taken out from under him and the back of his head slamming hard on the pavement. The man skidded down the highway as the driverless police cruiser veered off the road and crashed into a power pole.

California Highway Patrol quickly dragged the man off the highway because the damaged power lines were swaying and were threatening to fall on the road.

CHP officers then apprehended the suspect, who was unresponsive. Officers performed lifesaving measures on the man before paramedics arrived at the scene. The man, with major injuries, was transported to Antelope Valley Medical Center, where he was later declared dead.

Officials described the investigation as “complex.”

CHP officer Alec Pereyda said during a Tuesday press conference that it was standard procedure for police cruisers to be left running during a traffic stop, but the doors of the vehicle are required to be locked.

The suspect's name was being withheld until next of kin could be notified of his death.

(WARNING: Graphic video)

Police chase: CHP in pursuit of stolen police cruiser www.youtube.com

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