The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office has initiated the revocation of disability parking permits that were obtained fraudulently. The cancellation comes as a result of an exhaustive audit of applications submitted over the last 24 months, announced Tax Collector Dariel Fernández.
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Audit and Detection of Irregular Permits in Miami
The audit is being conducted in coordination with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) to review all applications for permanent and temporary permits submitted in the last two years.
The goal is to detect potential irregularities or fraud. Fernández labeled the abuse of the system as a widespread problem that has harmed those who genuinely need these permits: seniors, veterans, and residents with legitimate disabilities.
Notification of the permit revocations was made via letters sent to the holders of fraudulent permits. These letters inform them that their authorization has been canceled and is no longer valid. Furthermore, it warns that these individuals could be ineligible to apply for a new permit for a period of up to four years.
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Legal Consequences and Penalties
Continued use of a revoked permit can lead to severe sanctions, including up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and even criminal prosecution in the most serious cases. Fernández emphasized the zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of the permit system.
He stressed that these spaces should not be used as conveniences but as necessary support for those facing real mobility limitations.
“The fraud and abuse have harmed those who need it most, and that ends now,” he stated.
Process and Scope of Control
The audit covers both permanent and temporary permits issued countywide over the last 24 months. Any false, expired, stolen, or illegally used permit will be revoked without exception, and identified violators could face administrative or criminal proceedings as appropriate.
The measure responds to residents’ complaints about the misuse of spaces reserved for people with disabilities, which have been occupied by vehicles with seemingly illegitimate permits. They argue that this has limited access for individuals who truly depend on these authorizations in areas with high parking demand.
