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Pa. Cancels 111 Driver's Licenses
AP
| 10/02/01
| TODD SPANGLER
Posted on 10/02/2001 3:39:59 AM PDT by kattracks
PITTSBURGH (AP) - An investigation has led the state Department of Transportation to cancel 111 fraudulent driver's licenses, including those of 18 people believed to have falsely obtained permits to transport hazardous materials.
The department announced the cancelation of the licenses on Monday.
Federal authorities arrested the 18 men and two others in seven states last week after the FBI warned that terrorists may strike next using chemical or biological weapons. None of the 20 men have known connections to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, federal officials have said.
Joan Nissley, a spokeswoman for the state Transportation Department, said the entire licensing operation in Pittsburgh was investigated and one examiner was fired for his part in the alleged scheme. She did not release his name.
Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh, said Monday the federal government is prosecuting everyone who received a fraudulent commercial license.
The state Attorney General's Office refused to release details about the canceled licenses because of the ongoing investigation.
According to federal warrants, the drivers who had the hazardous materials permits did not take required tests and some had suspended licenses at the time they got the permits. The examiner told authorities he received between $50 and $100 for each person he helped.
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On the Net:
State Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.state.pa.us
Copyright © 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
1
posted on
10/02/2001 3:39:59 AM PDT
by
kattracks
To: kattracks
I wondered from the beginning of this investigation why a terrorist would draw attention to himself to apply for a hazmat license. If he figured on transporting materials for evil purposes, he surely would not draw attention to it by licensing himself.
2
posted on
10/02/2001 3:47:48 AM PDT
by
meenie
To: meenie
I wondered the same thing. However, if their plans to transport hazzardous materials were based on a longer time frame than just the making of one bomb, it would be to their advantage to have the licenses. Given how lax state officials have been, they could haul the chemicals repeatedly as needed, especially over state lines where usually there is some sort of cursory check. It also points to maybe a labor shortage. It would take a more highly educated Muslim to get a truck license since he would have to be able to read English fairly well. My husband just got a license recently and there are a lot of safety requirements and procedures that must be followed specifically. (The fake licenses related to carrying hazzardous materials, not the initial truck licenses.)
3
posted on
10/02/2001 4:36:29 AM PDT
by
wjeanw
To: meenie
How could he get a company to turn over a truck & a cargo for him to carry unless he presented them with a license?
4
posted on
10/02/2001 4:57:44 AM PDT
by
Ditter
To: meenie
"Hazardous Materials" is a pretty big categorization. They would need the license to pick up the materials in the first place. Probably, this refers to raw materials that they would then process into a final weapon. Hazardous materials could be as innocuous as deisel fuel and ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
5
posted on
10/02/2001 6:31:19 AM PDT
by
lafroste
To: kattracks
Is the state of Tennessee still passing out drivers licenses to every illegal from any area of the US that walks in?
6
posted on
10/02/2001 9:49:20 AM PDT
by
citizen
To: citizen
YES indeed. One needs only a pulse to obtain a driver's
license in Tennessee, thanks to our Taxatallcosts Governor.
Perhaps the State Legislature will have a change of heart.
7
posted on
10/02/2001 10:01:50 AM PDT
by
cd ..
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