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4h ago

New Mexico Bodycam Video Prompts Clash Over Trucker’s English Checks in Florida Crash Case

Federal investigators are reviewing his commercial licenses from Washington and California.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters, announcing formal action against three states for failing to enforce federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Harjinder Singh is escorted to an airplane by Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and law enforcement on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Stockton, Calif. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)
Harjinder Singh is escorted onto an airplane by Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and law enforcement on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Stockton, Calif. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)
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Overview

  • New Mexico State Police released July 3 bodycam footage showing Harjinder Singh speaking in limited English during a speeding stop, with the trooper at one point struggling to understand his question.
  • The U.S. Department of Transportation says Singh was not given an English language proficiency assessment during that stop, despite guidance that took effect June 25 calling for checks during routine inspections.
  • DOT officials previously reported Singh failed an English proficiency test after the Florida crash, correctly answering 2 of 12 verbal questions and identifying 1 of 4 traffic signs.
  • New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler disputed federal characterizations of the state’s enforcement, saying the encounter showed no communication problem that would have triggered an assessment under the guidance.
  • Singh faces three counts of vehicular homicide in Florida and was extradited to face charges, as federal authorities examine how he was issued CDLs in Washington in 2023 and in California in 2024.