From February 6, Florida has stopped offering driver’s license exams in any language except English, said the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DMV). Previously, tests were available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and English. Now, all knowledge and skills tests for all licenses are only in English. Keisha Mulfort, deputy director of communications for the ACLU of Florida, called this a “harmful and unnecessary barrier” that will hurt immigrant communities and others with limited English skills. She said, “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.” The Florida DMV will no longer allow language translation during tests and has removed printed exams in other languages. Mulfort noted that “30 percent of households in Florida speak a non-English language,” meaning millions will face problems. Adriana Rivera from the Florida Immigrant Coalition called the decision “ill-advised” and said it hurts many US citizens, including Puerto Ricans, who mainly speak Spanish. She said, “It’s obvious that they have not thought about all Floridians.” Mulfort warned this creates a “two-tiered system” where some Floridians get easy access to services, while others face “confusion, delay and vulnerability.” Poor public transportation in Florida worsens the issue. Seminole County cut fixed bus routes for app-based rides, and Orlando’s bus service is often late or missed. Rivera added, “You need to drive everywhere here,” but many people can’t because of this new rule. Other states have limits but offer alternatives. South Dakota offers Spanish materials and tests partially in Spanish; Alaska and Wyoming allow translators. Alabama is moving toward English-only tests, and Tennessee’s similar bill failed last year. Rivera said, “People are going to drive no matter what. But this policy criminalizes people for driving to care for their families, and that’s not fair.”