In the aftermath of a scandal involving State Police troopers allegedly accepting bribes for passing test scores, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has downgraded the licenses of over two dozen commercial drivers.
The RMV announced on Friday that it had identified 26 individuals who did not pass the test properly, resulting in the downgrade of their licenses to Class D passenger licenses.
Bribery and License Fraud Unearthed
The drivers, whose names were not disclosed, will be required to retake and pass all the necessary permit and skills tests if they wish to obtain commercial licenses again.
The scandal involves two current and two former troopers, among six individuals charged this week for allegedly participating in a scheme to receive bribes during commercial driver’s license tests.
The charges include falsifying records and providing preferential treatment to at least 17 people from May 2019 to January 2023.
The indicted troopers are accused of passing drivers who failed skills tests and using the code word “golden” in text messages to communicate the favorable outcomes. Some messages allegedly contained jokes about the poor performance of certain drivers.
The RMV, while downgrading the licenses of those implicated, stated that it was unaware of any crashes involving these drivers.
The agency is conducting a thorough review of records to identify any other individuals who may have obtained licenses improperly.
Licensing Scandal Sparks Safety Concerns in Massachusetts
“The RMV is committed to ensuring the public’s safety on the roads… The RMV will take appropriate action for additional individuals identified that should not be operating a commercial motor vehicle,” the agency said in a statement.
Those charged in the bribery scheme, including Sgt. Gary Cederquist, Trooper Joel Rogers, and retired troopers Calvin Butner and Perry Mendes, face numerous counts, including conspiracy to falsify records, extortion, and making false statements.
Two additional individuals, Eric Mathison and Scott Camara, were also implicated in the alleged scheme.
The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the licensing process and the potential risks posed by improperly licensed commercial drivers. As the legal proceedings unfold, the Massachusetts RMV continues its efforts to safeguard public safety on the roads.
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