this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2026
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Critics say law will disproportionately affect immigrant communities and those who speak limited English

As of 6 February, people in Florida are no longer be able to take driver’s license examinations in any language other than English, the Florida department of highway safety and motor vehicles (DMV) said in a statement.

Before the change, exams for noncommercial driver’s licenses were offered in multiple languages, including Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese, while the commercial learner’s permit and commercial driver’s license knowledge exams were both offered in English and Spanish. Now all driver’s license knowledge and skills testing will be conducted in English.

“Florida’s decision to administer driver’s license services only in English is a harmful and unnecessary barrier that will disproportionately impact immigrant communities and other Floridians with limited English proficiency,” Keisha Mulfort, deputy director of communications for the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. “Access to a driver’s license is not a luxury; it is essential for everyday life, including getting to work, taking children to school, attending medical appointments and safely meeting basic family needs.”

top 19 comments
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[–] TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 days ago

What's next? Spanish speaking people not allowed in stores? They need to stich a sombrero patch on their clothes? We've seen this in 1930/40 nazi Germany.

[–] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 46 points 1 week ago (3 children)

This just results in more unlicensed drivers. And that results in more uninsured drivers. Nice self-own.

[–] nymnympseudonym@piefed.social 27 points 1 week ago

... who will be pulled over for Minor Violations Driving While Brown, and summarily deported

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 6 points 1 week ago

Who can then be thrown in prison, and then leased out as slave labor.

Welcome to America's future business model.

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 week ago

Florida is a no-fault state. Good luck even if they are insured.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Access to a driver’s license is not a luxury; it is essential for everyday life, including getting to work, taking children to school, attending medical appointments and safely meeting basic family needs.

This is an argument for public transit, not cars.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago

FREE public transit.

[–] manniesalado@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If a Yank goes to Panama and wants to rent a car should they need to show proficiency in Español?

[–] Railcar8095@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

AFAIK, you can get the exam in English in Spain. Not sure about the practical diving test.

This was...ohmugodimold years ago, it might have changed

[–] nymnympseudonym@piefed.social 7 points 1 week ago

Usha, could you please explain to your husband how the world's largest democracy handles multiple languages? While you're at it, be sure to mention how many languages are officially supported

[–] hateisreality@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

pretty sure Florida needs more unregulated drivers

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 week ago

I wonder how the Latinos for Trump feel about this. I know the Latinas for Mangione would be against it.

[–] BenderRodriguez@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

And then logistics companies will complain that they have no drivers and then blame Obama or some shit.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 6 points 1 week ago

This is just another example of DiSantis and the Florida MAGAs being assholes because they think it's funny.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

They tried this shit in Oklahoma years ago and it got overturned by the courts.

[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How well would any English first people do when going to Germany and try to drive and navigate. I can see the point as our road signage is 99% English. But allowing the non road signage questions in other languages should be allowed like questions about turn signal use etc.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I drove in Austria and Germany for work a few times. After a day or two, you pick up enough words on signs to understand "Entrance" and "Exit" and "One way", but between the symbols and the English on everything, it is probably much easier for us to drive there than for a non-English speaker to drive here. I bet most immigrants learn "No turn on red" faster than "No Parking Enforced on Alternating Wednesdays and Saturdays except on Holidays from 6:00 PM to 12:45 AM".

In any case, speaking English is not required of citizens. Tests were offered in Spanish because of a need for it. It's not that they cannot learn to read a few signs, it's that the written portion of the test needs to be clearly communicated. The ADA requires that illiterate adults be provided with an audio test or interpreter, because it's more important for people to understand the test than it is for the government to bully immigrants to score political points with bigots.

[–] manniesalado@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago

I've done fine driving all across the world often speaking none of the local lingo.