New Texas law changes international CDL conditions
Starting September 1, the Lone Star state law will go into effect to help fight illegal truck driving.
Specifically, individuals holding a valid Mexican or Canadian commercial driver’s license will require a US government-issued work visa to work in Texas.
The new law is needed to address the ongoing problem of Mexican CDLs being fraudulently issued without the required examinations. Fake driver’s documents pose a serious threat to public and national security, not only in Texas, but throughout the United States.
The B-1 visa is among the documents that meet the required requirements. An exception is made for Mexican CDL holders operating commercial vehicles in the state’s border districts.
Senator Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) said that prosecutors across Texas lack a clear mechanism to rule on offenses relating to forgery of government documents because these offenses involve possession of fictitious Mexican CDLs or other foreign documents.
The new law classifies a license, certificate, permit, seal, title deed, letter of patent or similar document issued by an appropriate foreign government as a government document for the purpose of investigating crimes of perjury or other falsification.
The law will allow Texas prosecutors to prosecute on the basis of government documents from another country that may be forged.
Starting September 1, a 90-day grace period will begin in which no sentences will be passed. During this time, state police will be able to issue warnings and remove drivers from work.
