Introduction to the DMV Appointment Crisis
Making your next appointment at the DMV may have just gotten a little bit easier. Miami-Dade commissioners passed legislation on Tuesday to try to stop scalpers from obtaining Department of Motor Vehicle appointments, and NBC6 took to the DMV early Wednesday to see the long line for themselves.
The Long Lines at the DMV
At the office on NW 37th Avenue and NW 7th Street by Magic City Casino, one woman said she’d been in line since Tuesday evening. When our news crews tried to book an appointment themselves, the first appointment available isn’t until the end of May.
The Cause of the Long Lines
The cause? County leaders say it’s scalpers, who book all the appointments for free and then sell them for anywhere between $25 and $250. The county’s tax collector, Dariel Fernandez, who is in charge of the DMV, said last month that the county had uncovered a network of scalpers that have been hoarding appointments by using fake accounts and bots.
Cracking Down on Scalpers
But officials are now cracking down on the illegal practice behind the large wait times and long lines at DMV offices in recent years. Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera said Tuesday that the ordinance was unanimously approved to target the illegal resale of the appointments with fines of up to $500 for each violation.
The New Ordinance
The ordinance prohibits any person, entity, or platform from listing, selling, or promoting the sale of public service appointments without express written consent from the Miami-Dade County Office of the Tax Collector. "This legislation is about protecting working families and restoring trust in our public institutions," Cabrera said in a statement. "No one should have to pay a third party just to access basic government services. I’m proud to have partnered with Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez to put an end to this abusive practice."
Protecting the Community
"We will no longer tolerate fraud in our community. These predatory practices are unfair, unethical, and disproportionately harm our most vulnerable residents," Fernandez said in a statement. “Thanks to Commissioner Cabrera’s leadership and the unanimous support of the Board of County Commissioners, we now have the legal tools to go after bad actors who have taken advantage of our residents for far too long."
Conclusion
The new ordinance is a significant step towards protecting the community from scalpers and ensuring that DMV appointments are accessible to all. By cracking down on the illegal resale of appointments, officials hope to reduce wait times and make the process more efficient for everyone.
FAQs
Q: What is the new ordinance about?
A: The new ordinance prohibits the resale of DMV appointments without express written consent from the Miami-Dade County Office of the Tax Collector.
Q: What are the fines for violating the ordinance?
A: The fines for violating the ordinance can be up to $500 for each violation.
Q: Why are officials cracking down on scalpers?
A: Officials are cracking down on scalpers because they are hoarding appointments and selling them for a profit, making it difficult for others to access basic government services.
Q: How will the new ordinance affect the community?
A: The new ordinance will help protect the community from predatory practices and ensure that DMV appointments are accessible to all.
