I am a Miami native, born and raised. My entire life, I’ve known that you only go to the DMV if you absolutely have to, and even then, you need to make sure to get in line the night before your appointment. I haven’t been there in a while, so I’ll admit to having been completely taken off guard when I learned that scalpers were selling DMV appointments for as much as $250. I mean, it’s the sort of behavior I expect from people in that city, but I never imagined that it would be a scam that went on for as long as it did.
In response to the scalpers taking advantage of Florida residents who need to go to the DMV, Miami-Dade County commissioners passed a bill making it a misdemeanor. That means that the next time you see someone trying to sell DMV spots, you can report them to the police. Violators will face fines of up to $500 if caught, double the amount that some of them are charging for the spot in line.
“Finally some order at the DMV.”
County tax collector Dariel Fernandez emphasized the county’s commitment to ensure that all it’s residents are safe by saying, “We know who they are and how they operate. We will not accept any appointment obtained through system abuse.” What’s interesting to me is the lack of acknowledgment of the source of the issue, the waiting periods at the DMV being so long, and appointments being scarce.
For right now, there is a major emphasis on ensuring that people are aware of the proper channels concerning securing an appointment at the DMV. Residents are encouraged to research that they are not purchasing anything from an unauthorized seller. Information on booking an appointment, as well as what sort of documentation is required for your visit, can be found at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ website. For context, if your appointment costs anything, you’re likely being scammed for a spot.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Miami is in the news for unwelcoming behavior. Just recently, a police officer was recorded sitting in her car as she watched a victim get beat up by local cyclists. It is unclear what the officer’s intention was, but from the footage, various individuals were hurt before appropriate action was taken. Hopefully, fewer people in Miami will need to worry about things like this for much longer.
