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An audit investigation in Edmonton caught a city employee handing out fraudulent training certificates to reduce the car insurance rates of his ‘clients.’
According to the audit report, a driving instructor at Edmonton Transit Service gave out 99 professional driver improvement course (PDIC) certificates during a three-year period between January 2015 and April 2018. The report found that none of individuals who obtained the certificates ever took the driver training courses, and one of the certificates was even given to a co-owner of a local limousine rental company.
Drivers in Alberta are allowed to accumulate a maximum of 15 demerit points before their license is suspended. Obtaining a PDIC certificate allows drivers to reduce their demerits by three points, preventing suspension and also lowering their insurance premiums.
“There could potentially be a risk to public safety if wrongfully issued certificates have been used to prevent the suspension of a driver’s licence,” the report said.
“In these cases, an individual is able to continue driving without proper training.”
The audit findings were also handed over to the Edmonton Police Service to determine whether a criminal investigation will be pursued. Meanwhile, the employee in question is no longer working for the city – although it is unclear whether the employee resigned or was let go.
