DMV says suspected cheating is why 11,000 Californians must retake the written test

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Set us as preferred Thousands of California drivers are being required to retake their knowledge tests because the Department of Motor Vehicles suspects them of cheating.Last month, the DMV sent letters to around 11,000 drivers who had passed the written test informing them that abnormalities were detected in their results.They were instructed to retake and pass the exam within 30 days or have their license canceled.

The letters spurred mass confusion and frustration as drivers were not provided with information on what specific issues were found.Some speculated that the letters were due to an internal technical error at the DMV or related to the department’s use of AI.

Many dThis week, the department issued a follow-up statement refuting both of those claims.“These irregularities are test taker related and not the result of an internal DMV technical issue, or involvement of artificial intelligence,” a department spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.The spokesperson said that through “routine internal monitoring,” the department identified patterns in driver knowledge test results indicating that “some individuals may have attempted to circumvent the testing process using various cheating methods.”Although receipt of the letter does not indicate that someone definitively cheated, an unspecified number of cases have been referred to district attorneys for prosecution, the spokesperson said.The DMV did not provide further clarification on what patterns were identified, citing a need to keep its investigative methods confidential and protect the integrity of the process.

Last week, state Sens.Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) and Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) sent letters to the DMV demanding information on why certain tests were flagged and steps the department took to ensure people who lawfully obtained thei...