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Secretary White Announces Re-Testing
of Almost 500 Drivers
SPRINGFIELD –– Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced the re-testing of almost 500 drivers as a result of the Operation Safe Road investigation.Many of these drivers were students of Chicago area driving schools.
Federal authorities have identified 699 drivers who received their licenses under questionable means. These names were forwarded to the Secretary of State’s Inspector General’s office.
"My Inspector General Jim Burns and his staff have been working with federal authorities in the Operation Safe Road investigation," White said. "My commitment to the people of Illinois is too root out corruption in this office. With Jim Burns’ involvement and level of experience, I believe we can do it."
Of the 699 drivers, 470 are identified for re-testing. The other 229 will not be immediately re-tested because:
- -95 had bogus driver’s license numbers that were not identified in the system
- -103 had already moved out of state and other states are being contacted by the Secretary of State’s inspector general’s office
- -5 had expired permits
- -1 has an expired driver’s license, and will be required to be re-tested
- -13 never had a driver’s license or a permit
- -5 were suspended, revoked, or cancelled and will be reviewed for re-testing when their administrative sanctions end
- -7 names were identified as duplicates
The re-testing of 470 drivers will begin on September 25 at the Chicago West facility, 5301 W. Lexington Ave.
The first group will take their written and vision test on that day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If they pass, they will come back on October 2 to take the driving test.
The second group will come in on October 16 to take the vision and written tests, and if they pass, come back for the driving exam on October 23.
The third group will come in on October 30 for the vision and written tests and if they pass will take the driving test on November 6.
"I want to make sure that our roads are the safest in the country," White said. "Drivers must earn their license and that is why we are conducting the re-testing --to make sure that each driver is qualified to be on our roads."