The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office has gradually taken over the administration of the Driver’s License Offices, which were previously managed by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Among the new provisions, an appointment system was created for the Real ID process.
Dade County, elected on November 5, 2024, pledged to modernize his agency’s services and reduce bureaucracy, primarily in response to complaints from users about wait times at vehicle licensing and processing offices.
“It’s inconceivable that a person should have to sleep on the streets simply to receive an ID,” he said in an interview with Telemundo. The official explained that after identifying problems with the process, he decided to open several new offices and implement processes that he hopes will reduce the bottleneck.
“It’s a system we’re implementing with technology and artificial intelligence that allows us to know, specifically, how many people we’ll be serving that day, what services they need, and how long each of those services will take,” he said.
Now, residents seeking a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card will be able to scan a QR code upon arriving at the offices, allowing them to get an appointment without waiting in long lines. “You simply arrive early… scan a QR code, and the system will tell you that you must return according to the available appointments.”
House Bill 0961 in the Florida Senate prohibits the unauthorized resale of appointments from the FLHSMV or tax collection offices. “Its passage is a victory for equity and common sense,” Fernández said.
The official also announced that what began in Miami-Dade as a fight against the resale of appointments has become statewide policy. “We stood up to the touts, exposed how they were profiting at the public’s expense, and now, thanks to this new law, the state is backing us.”
House Bill 0961 makes selling or offering to sell a service appointment a first-degree misdemeanor. Such a person could face a “$500 fine and 60 days in jail,” the tax collector warned.
The Midway Crossing center is one of the largest in Florida. A few days ago, the Tax Collector’s team inaugurated the office’s services with new technology, improved software systems, the hiring and training of new staff, and administrative improvements.
“These improvements are not merely technical, but represent a broader strategic vision to meet the evolving needs of our community,” the Tax Collector’s Office announced in a statement.
This new center will operate under county administration and will be a full-service branch providing essential services, including:
Driver’s license renewals
Vehicle registration
Property tax payments
Local business tax services
