Harrisburg, Pa. — Two Republican lawmakers are preparing to introduce legislation that would require all new driver’s license applicants in Pa. to pass an English-proficiency exam and take all PennDOT driver tests exclusively in English.
In a co-sponsorship memo circulated yesterday, Reps. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) and Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Union) said their proposal comes in response to a “mass influx of immigrants into the United States,” arguing that some drivers “lack the ability or desire to learn and effectively speak or recognize the English language.”
“This is a major safety concern,” they wrote, pointing to the need for drivers to understand road signs, emergency announcements, detours, speed limits, and interactions with police. “We cannot allow drivers who do not understand the English language to obtain a driver’s license within Pennsylvania; it is simply too dangerous.”
What the bill would do
The legislation would make several sweeping changes to how PennDOT tests and licenses drivers:
Require all written and behind-the-wheel driver tests to be conducted only in English. Currently, the road test is given exclusively in English, but the written exam is available in multiple languages.Create a mandatory English-proficiency examination for all new driver’s license applicants.Require new applicants to pass the English exam before a license can be issued.Mandate that PennDOT publish the driver’s manual only in English.Require the CDL knowledge test to be offered exclusively in English.Prohibit the use of interpreters during any portion of the licensing process.
There would be an exception for American Sign Language (ASL) users: the interpreter ban would not apply to individuals assisting someone who communicates with ASL, and PennDOT would be required to develop alternative testing accommodations for those applicants.
Who would be affected
The English-proficiency requirement would apply only to new applicants, not to current driver’s license holders.
However, the memo notes that legal immigrants who already have a Pennsylvania driver’s license would need to pass the English-proficiency exam when renewing.
The lawmakers said the bill still allows PennDOT to offer accommodations for individuals with disabilities, as long as the exams remain English-only.
Supporters and opposition
Brown and Hamm urged fellow legislators to join as co-sponsors, saying their goal is to “ensure that all Pennsylvania drivers can reliably and responsibly understand the rules of the road.”
The bill has not yet been formally introduced.
