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.”
This is an argument for public transit, not cars.
If we’re talking about the way it should be maybe.
But the reality is that in many/most places in the US you need a car, period. Or you’ll be reliant on someone who does.
And most of Florida, even the major cities, are extremely car dependent and sprawling. It’ll take decades to fix when they finally decide they need to.