Brooklyn driving school loses license after bus accident

A New York driving school has had its operating license suspended after an undercover investigation reportedly found that the owners were using fraudulent methods to help students pass licensing tests. The owners of the school are also facing criminal fraud charges in connection with the alleged offenses.

The N & Y Professional Service Line School was recently linked to a fatal bus accident in which a low-fare bus traveling from North Carolina to New York crashed in Virginia, killing four people and injuring dozens more. The driver of the bus, who received his commercial driver’s license from N & Y, later admitted that he had fallen asleep just before the crash. He is now facing manslaughter charges.

Following the accident, New York officials began to investigate the driving school. In January, an undercover agent who was fluent in Mandarin reportedly went to the school and asked them to help him obtain a commercial license to drive a bus. The owners of the school said that they would help him pass the written test in exchange for $1,800.

The owners drove the agent to the Department of Motor Vehicles, placed a hidden camera inside his right jacket sleeve, and told him to point it at the multiple choice test. Then, they alerted the agent to the appropriate answer via a pager. The agent passed the test.

Now, the owners are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with the operation of the school. In addition, nearly 200 people who got their commercial licenses from the school must immediately retake their certification tests or face the suspension of their licenses.

Source: KRLA, “NY school linked to Va. bus crash loses license,” Mar. 5, 2012