<bt>A McLean man, apparently fearing his driving test at the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Tysons Corner wasn’t going well, attempted to bribe the official administering the road test, according to Fairfax County Police. Rui L. Zhang, 56, was charged on Oct. 15 with bribing a public official.
The charge is a Class 4 felony that carries a term of imprisonment of not less than two and not more than 10 years in prison and a fine of no more than $100,000, according to Public Information Officer Sophia Grinnan. Zhang was immediately transported to the Adult Detention Center and held in lieu of a $2,500 bond.
“He offered him money in lieu of the test,” said Grinnan. Police and DMV officials would not comment on whether Zhang ultimately passed the test or what the impetus could have been for the alleged bribery attempt. The sum offered in the bribery was also not disclosed.
Marcia Meredith, spokeswoman for the DMV said that the 22-year-old DMV instructor completed the test and “with a crime in progress, followed procedures,” by calling police. “We are very proud of this employee for showing high ethics during a trying situation. This is an example of honesty in the workplace,” said Meredith.
“This is definitely an atypical situation for us,” said Meredith.
Officials are not identifying the DMV employee, who lives in Vienna and works at the Tysons Corner building. He has “received accolades from Commissioner D.B. Smit, though,” said Meredith.
Zhang, of the 7900 block of Crownpointe Ridge Court, in McLean, could not be reached for comment.