There’s a new state law on the books for which Florida lawmakers are already apologizing.

As of January 1 of this year, foreign drivers who don’t have a $25 international driver’s permit translating their license information into English can be arrested for driving without a license.

“I think that they need to figure out how to make the law make sense,” says Richard Goldman, the executive director of the St. Johns County Visitors and Convention Bureau. 

If enforced, Goldman believes the law has the potential to detract from tourism.

He says lawmakers originally had security in mind when they created the law; they wanted law enforcement officers to be able to understand foreigners should they have an interaction with them on the roads.

NBC News reports that many Canadians weren’t aware they were breaking the law when they traveled to Florida in 2013. 

Goldman says Canadians make up the largest group of Florida’s foreign visitors.

 “The reason is could become a problem is that we have so many foreign visitors who rely on their driver’s licenses - duly authorized by their countries - for their ability to drive,” Goldman says.  “And it would be very difficult for a number of them to separate, international licenses issued.”

Still, there are a few reasons this law isn’t expected to be enforced.

First of all, the Florida Highway Patrol has said they won’t.

Second, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said last Thursday that the permit requirement violates the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

Richard Goldman agrees, saying the Geneva Convention prevents states from legislating matters relating to how foreign driver’s licenses are issued or authorized.

Third, some lawmakers are speaking out in favor of changing the law. 

"We will work with the legislature to amend the law this year so it does not burden international visitors to our state, who make up an important part of our tourism industry," said John Tupps, deputy press secretary for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, on Tuesday.

State Rep. Ben Albritton, a Republican who introduced the bill, is already apologizing for it.

"This one I just missed. I want to tell the people in Canada I am sorry," Albritton told the Tampa Bay Times. "If I messed something up, I am man enough to fix it."

On WOKV’s Facebook page, Jim Johnson wrote, “Tourists should have to prove they can drive safely and have the ability to read road signs by written test.  A temporary Driving Permit in English makes sense.”

His comment was read to Goldman, who disagrees:

“I think that most people who are coming to this country and choose to drive a vehicle - rather than be shuttled or take a cab – have enough English to be able to read signs.  That’s true of most people who travel in foreign countries.  Not always true of Americans.”

Goldman isn’t aware if the state has records on it, but he says he doesn’t recall reading about any cases where foreign drivers have gotten into accidents because they couldn’t read a sign.