Penalty Will Increase for Cheating on DMV Test

Oregon increases punishment for residents considered "cheaters" at the DMV.

Everyone's favorite place, the DMV lobby

(SALEM, Ore.) - The penalty for cheating on the DMV knowledge test will get tougher starting Sept. 4th. Under a pilot policy, applicants who DMV determines are cheating will not be eligible to retake any knowledge test for 90 days. “Our policy had been to give applicants caught cheating a failing score, which allowed them to retake the test the next business day,” said Stephanie Miles, DMV field services manager. “But we need a stronger deterrent than the one-day wait and having to pay the test fee again.”

Test takers will be reminded to turn off their cell phones and put them away before taking a knowledge test. Ditto for music players, books, study guides or notes of any kind.

The DMV considers using any of these items as cheating, even if they don’t contain sound files, text messages or other information that could help an applicant answer questions in the driver knowledge test.

After one-year pilot period, the DMV will evaluate the 90-day wait’s effectiveness at deterring people from trying to cheat.

“Ideally, we’ll see fewer cheating attempts in the first place, and far fewer second attempts,” Miles said. “It’s important that people study the Oregon Driver Manual, not simply to pass the test, but so that they know traffic safety rules and become safer drivers.”

Even applicants who do not intend to cheat will be reminded about items and activities that DMV considers as evidence of cheating. DMV staff, publications, and signs will tell test takers:

• to turn off their cell phones
• to put away any electronic devices, backpacks, bags, manuals, books or other materials
• that no talking is allowed in the testing area
• and that no friends or family members are allowed in the testing area.

The DMV considers a test taker to be cheating if:

• the applicant has notes, study guides, copies of the DMV test, or any other kind of cheat sheets written on paper or another surface in his or her possession or in a personal backpack or bag, or on his or her clothing or skin, and is clearly referring to them to help him or her answer test items
• the applicant has electronic audio or communication devices with the capability for sound, email, text messages, web access via browser, etc., such as audio players, cell phones or wireless devices.
• the applicant is talking to another person who is not a DMV employee – such as a friend, family member or another test taker – for the purpose of obtaining answers on the test.

Applicants who are caught cheating are entitled to appeal the 90-day waiting period if it creates a hardship due to employment or medical reasons, for example. DMV will review only appeals where the applicant can provide additional written evidence that he or she was not cheating.

Customers applying for an instruction permit and new Oregon residents applying for an Oregon driver license must pass the driver knowledge test at DMV. To prepare for the test, applicants must read the Oregon Driver Manual thoroughly.

Oregon Driver Manual is available free at DMV field offices and on OregonDMV.com. The Web site also has sample knowledge test questions.