Massachusetts lawmakers urge Healey for CDL reforms after death of State Trooper allegedly at the hands of man with immigration detainer

A group of Massachusetts House lawmakers is calling on Governor Maura Healey to direct the Registry of Motor Vehicles to conduct an immediate review of all commercial driver’s licenses after the death of a police officer.

In a letter sent to Healey, the lawmakers cite the recent death of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., who was fatally struck by a commercial vehicle driven by a Massachusetts resident holding a non-domiciled CDL issued in 2025.

Michael Bon of Brockton faces charges including involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, and reckless driving. He is also the subject of a federal immigration detainer.

The letter also states that since March 16th of this year, new non-domiciled CDLs have been restricted by federal law to individuals who can prove lawful immigration status.

State Representative Steve Xiarhos, who was one of the lawmakers to sign the letter, stated, “as a 40-year law enforcement veteran and a three-term member of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, I know firsthand that accountability and safety must always come first. Every person operating a commercial vehicle on our roads must be properly trained, qualified, and legally eligible to do so. This is not about politics. It’s about protecting the public, supporting law enforcement, and making sure every family traveling our roads has confidence that the system is working. We owe it to Trooper Pahira’s family and every family across Massachusetts to make sure our roads are safe.”

Lawmakers are asking the RMV to complete the review within 30 days and report findings to the Joint Committee on Transportation and the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

The letter also calls on recommendations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to audit and potentially revoke non-compliant CDLs.