Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Takes Action Against Temporary Tag Fraud

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued the following statement regarding a recent law enforcement investigation involving Marco X Auto Sales LLC:

“Our office was made aware last week of an arrest conducted by the Opa-locka Police Department involving Marco X Auto Sales LLC after investigators identified multiple vehicles displaying the same temporary tag number. According to the information provided by law enforcement, that tag number was not properly assigned to any of the vehicles observed.

Officers also recovered multiple temporary tags bearing identical numbers, along with additional tags that were not assigned to any vehicle. The facts described by law enforcement point to a serious abuse of dealer-issued access and a deliberate misuse of the temporary tag system.

I want to thank the Opa-locka Police Department for their work on this case and for taking action to stop conduct that threatens the integrity of the system and the safety of our community.

Let me be clear. My office will not tolerate fraud in the motor vehicle system. When dealer access is abused, it undermines public trust, creates opportunities for evasion and criminal activity, and puts the public at risk. That is exactly why we are focused on rooting out abuse, strengthening oversight, and working with our state and law enforcement partners to ensure bad actors are identified and held accountable.

As soon as we were made aware of this matter, we began coordinating with our partners at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to review the dealership’s access and privileges within the system and to pursue suspension, revocation, or any other appropriate accountability measures if the facts support that action. We are also providing assistance to law enforcement and state authorities as the investigation and any related enforcement actions move forward.

This investigation is another reminder that the temporary tag system must be protected with vigilance and strong enforcement. Our office is committed to doing exactly that. We will continue working aggressively to safeguard the integrity of the motor vehicle system and to ensure that anyone who misuses dealer credentials or attempts to exploit the system is dealt with swiftly and appropriately.”