State OK lets driving school reopen

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - A Roswell driving school owner, who was teaching kids without proper state certification in July, is back in business with the state’s blessing.

Brandon Linthicum was videotaped by KRQE News 13 undercover cameras four months ago giving lessons to student drivers soon after receiving a cease-and-desist notice from the state’s Traffic Safety Bureau.

“There were violations obviously, and we’ve had hearings and we’ve resolved it,” New Mexico Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Slimp told News 13.

According to the DOT Linthicum was in the process of trying to renew his certification when the deadline passed.

He was the subject of an administrative hearing, in which traffic safety officials decided to recertify him and his business, the Roswell Driving School.

He was not ordered to pay fines or suffer any sanctions despite the fact he eventually had to shut down.

“I think that’s a pretty severe sanction for anybody that owns a business,” Slimp said.

Linthicum insisted he thought his certification was in the mail when KRQE News 13 followed him in July.

New insurance requirements forced a delay in the renewal process.

“I’m out substantial amounts of money and possibly on the verge of bankruptcy,” Linthicum told News 13. “Unfortunately for me throughout this process I’ve had new competitors enter the market that I think capitalized on our downtime.”

Linthicum has been in the driving school business for 12 years. According to the state, he had been in consistently good standing.

Students who underwent training during the period in question are in the clear, too.

“We believe that by retroactively certifying the school we’ve met all the legal requirements because we do believe that the students received the proper training,” Slimp said.

Linthicum said Monday the certification has arrived in the mail and that he is now back in business.