Story perspectives

DMV Under Fire for Renewing License of Dangerous Driver

3/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Placer County prosecutors scrutinize the California DMV for renewing Kostas Linardos' license shortly after charges in a 2022 crash that killed a toddler, despite 16 traffic violations.
Prosecutors sought DMV records and found no documentation of any investigation into Kostas Linardos, raising concerns about accountability in handling dangerous drivers.
From 2022 through 2024, the DMV opened 3,300 investigations into serious crashes despite about 56,000 incidents reported in California.

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Story summary

Placer County prosecutors scrutinize the California DMV for renewing Kostas Linardos' license shortly after charges in a 2022 crash that killed a toddler, despite 16 traffic violations.
Prosecutors sought DMV records and found no documentation of any investigation into Kostas Linardos, raising concerns about accountability in handling dangerous drivers.
From 2022 through 2024, the DMV opened 3,300 investigations into serious crashes despite about 56,000 incidents reported in California.