Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Commends Florida Legislature on Passage of HB 0961 to Combat Appointment Scalping

Miami Dade County, FL — April 30, 2025. Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued the following statement in response to the Florida Senate’s unanimous passage of House Bill 0961, which prohibits the unauthorized sale of service appointments with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) or tax collector offices:

“The unanimous passage of HB 0961 is a victory for fairness and common sense. What began here in Miami-Dade as a local fight against appointment scalping has now become statewide policy. We took on the scalpers, exposed how they were profiting off the public, and now—thanks to this new law—the state has our back. I’m proud of the work we did alongside former Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, and grateful to the Legislature for sending a clear message: our public systems are not for sale. Every resident deserves a fair shot at services—no middlemen, no markups.” 

Under my administration, our office uncovered a troubling network of individuals and businesses—particularly driving schools—who were exploiting the appointment scheduling system by overbooking free DHSMV-related services and reselling those appointments to residents for a profit. This unethical practice created severe access issues for honest residents who simply needed to renew a license, obtain an ID card, or complete other essential services.

The passage of HB 0961 affirms the work we began locally in Miami-Dade, where I approached our County Commission to pass a local ordinance imposing a $500 penalty on individuals who booked services fraudulently. The Commission responded unanimously, and now, the state has followed suit with even stronger protection.

“This new state law sends a clear message: our public systems are not for sale. The community deserves fair and equitable access to essential services, free from manipulation and exploitation. I thank the Florida Legislature for their leadership and support in ensuring this protection is now enshrined in state law. The work continues, but today, we celebrate a major victory for transparency, fairness, and the people of Florida.”

HB 0961 now makes it a first-degree misdemeanor for any person to sell or offer to sell a service appointment with a DHSMV office or a tax collector’s office, unless specifically authorized in writing. This legislative milestone underscores Miami-Dade County’s leadership in setting accountability standards that benefit residents statewide