Florida Driver’s License Exams Now Required To Be Taken In English
By Clerfania Previlon
The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles has introduced new legislation affecting the immigrant population of Florida. Beginning February 6, the Florida driver’s license exams will be required to be taken in English, with no translator permitted.
Before the mandate went into effect, the non-commercial driver’s exam was offered in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced the policy change on January 30, stating that the rule applies to all driver’s license classifications, including exams administered orally.
To enforce it, the agency updated its statewide testing system to eliminate language translation services.
While DMV offices across Florida have begun implementing the new rule, some traffic schools will continue to offer tests in multiple languages. In the days leading up to the change, traffic schools reported a surge of test-takers trying to complete their exams before the English-only mandate took effect.
Courtesy of South Florida Sun Sentinel
"People knocking down the door to come and take their test because they knew they only had a couple of days to do it," said Joe Rivera, an employee at Golden Gate Traffic School, according to Gulf Coast News. "And, you know, just people really stressed trying to get it done."
Lawmakers maintain that the measure prioritizes safety, but critics argue it is exclusionary.
Hampton student and Florida Native Zayden Buford explained the broader impact: “My area is heavily Latino, and I have friends that I solely speak Spanish with. The metro areas especially have a large Latino and other immigrant population that can’t speak English. Taking their ability to drive away has economic ripples. If they cannot drive, they may not be able to get to work; no work, no money; no money, no housing, food, or other necessities.
The new mandate comes as the Florida Senate advances a proposal, SB 86, that would require law enforcement to take undocumented truck drivers into custody and transfer them to federal immigration officials.
