The Internet is totally losing it over Florida’s mind-boggling new law

The DMV is famously unpleasant, but Florida just found a way to make getting your driver’s license even more complicated.

Beginning Friday, February 6, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced that all driver’s license exams will be available in English only. The change applies to both commercial and non-commercial licenses, and removes tests previously offered in languages ​​such as Spanish and Haitian Creole, as well as the option to use a translator.

@PopCrave / Chouaaib Babaoui via Alamy / Monika Wisniewska via Alamy / Via Twitter: @PopCrave

RELATED: 52 Scary Photos That Show What It’s Like To Live In America Right Now

As you might expect, the new law is sparking a lot of debate online. Proponents’ main argument is that English-only tests will improve road safety because road signs are all in English.

But for many, that rationality isn’t cutting it. One Reddit user pushed back, saying, “Guess what — safety-critical road signs are identified by shape, color and design…not words. It’s easier to interpret them clearly, including by people with disabilities or those who speak a different language.”

Many who oppose the law call it xenophobic and racist, especially given Florida’s diverse demographics. According to the US Census Bureau, 28.7% of the state’s population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, and 30.1% of households report speaking a non-English language at home – mostly Spanish, which is spoken in 22% of households.

“Florida’s decision to end multilingual driver’s license tests creates unnecessary barriers for Spanish-speaking communities,” Florida Rep. Lois Frankel wrote in X.

@RepLoisFrankel / Via Twitter: @RepLoisFrankel

Related: AOC destroys Christy Nome in a brutal interview, and it’s energy people want and need

Many also emphasized how an English-only mandate in a country with no official language feels…

…especially in a state whose literal name comes from Spanish.

Related: My fragile little brain is destroyed after learning these horrible, disturbing, and terrifying things

“Leaving it here,” one X user wrote alongside the screenshot, explaining that “Florida” comes from Spanish. FloridaMeaning “land of flowers.”

@muberrrrrrar / @PaCrave / Chouaib / Toikaika Winika Whouiska Alamy / Via Twitter: @umberrrrr

“Racist for no reason,” one person wrote.

“30% of Florida households do not speak English as a primary language at home. Cruelty is the point,” added another.

People online warned of broader political consequences, pointing to Florida’s voter ID requirements and the law’s potential impact on voting access for many Floridians.

RELATED: “A surprising number of Americans are about to realize the government had the ability to help them all”: 36 of the week’s very, very, very best political tweets

Some believe the change could have the opposite effect, making the roads less safe by encouraging more unlicensed driving.

In short, these three words basically sum up how people are feeling:

@TheGirlUnsure / @PopCrave / Chouaaib Babaoui via Alamy / Monika Wisniewska via Alamy / Via Twitter: @TheGirlUnsure

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Also in the news: “The epidemic of male loneliness is completely self-inflicted”: 24 brutal, brutal, brutal political tweets of the week

Also in the news: 17 cold cases that were (mostly) solved decades later thanks to DNA and people who actually care

Also in the news: “I was born here dumb*ss”: 32 brutal, brutal, brutal political tweets of the week

Read it on BuzzFeed.com