The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has recently sent notices to tens of thousands of drivers, requiring them to retake and pass the written driver’s license test within 30 days, or risk losing their driving privileges. The DMV explained that this action was taken due to suspicions of cheating among some test takers.
According to the DMV, they have identified “abnormalities in some written test scores,” leading to approximately 11,000 California residents receiving notices to retake the exam.
A DMV spokesperson stated in an email to Epoch Times on the 15th, “Through routine internal monitoring, we reviewed multiple data points and identified patterns suggesting that some test takers may have attempted to circumvent the examination process through various cheating methods.”
The spokesperson also mentioned, “While these test scores have been flagged as potentially problematic, receiving the notice itself does not signify a final determination of cheating during the test.”
One California resident, Jiwon Kim, also unexpectedly received a notice to retake the exam a few weeks ago. Her husband contacted the DMV for clarification but they could not explain why she was included in the retesting list. Kim retook the test but did not achieve the desired outcome.
In an email to Epoch Times, Jiwon Kim said, “During the test, a DMV staff member stood behind me the entire time.” The exam was interrupted due to a system malfunction, and during the waiting period, examinees were not allowed to use their phones for reviewing materials.
She mentioned that she passed the traffic sign test but failed the traffic rule knowledge test, leading to the on-the-spot confiscation of her driver’s license by the DMV staff.
Kim expressed, “I never cheated, and I spent a lot of extra time studying to pass the previous exam. This experience has been devastating for me.”
She stated that she had passed the written test in 2025 and obtained her REAL ID, although she had failed the exam twice before. Kim emphasized, “If I had indeed cheated, I wouldn’t have spent more time studying after failing twice and eventually passing the test.”
At present, Jiwon Kim no longer has a valid driver’s license and must reapply. The process to include her in her company’s commercial vehicle insurance for driving company vehicles is thus delayed.
California State Senator Dave Cortese wrote to DMV Director Steve Gordon on the 10th of this month, stating that “any measures that may affect driver’s license rights should be based on clear, objective, and transparent procedures.”
As the chairman of the State Senate Transportation Committee, Cortese expressed in his letter, “I understand that some aspects of the ongoing investigation may need to be kept confidential, but maintaining transparency in the methods and procedural safeguards employed by the DMV is crucial for upholding public trust.” He also pointed out that DMV’s recent actions have raised concerns among affected California residents.
On June 29, California Governor Newsom announced that the state government would collaborate with the AI company Anthropic to expand the use of AI tools in government agencies. He mentioned that the California DMV is currently utilizing the Claude model to enhance customer service and reduce wait times.
However, the DMV clarified to Epoch Times, “These abnormalities are related to the test takers themselves, not internal technical issues within the DMV, and are not related to AI. Ensuring the integrity of the written test process is crucial for public safety and confirming drivers’ knowledge of California traffic rules.”
The DMV stated that to avoid influencing the investigation, they would not publicly disclose the methods used to investigate suspected cheating cases.
The agency also mentioned that several cases have been referred to local county prosecutors for legal action.