Newly-elected Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez has wasted no time in making his mark in an office that has gotten very little attention in the past.
Fernandez, who has gone to multiple municipalities to explore opening satellite offices, will preside over the ribbon-cutting Monday of the new Driver License Service Point at the tax collector’s department in Downtown Miami, 200 NW Second Ave.
The goal, Fernandez has said, is to streamline services and cut down on long lines in a process that seems to have fallen apart in Miami-Dade — the obtaining or renewing of a driver’s license. The office will serve as a one-stop shop for residents who will now be able to renew their license, tag and pay their property taxes at the same location.
The tax collector’s office will dedicate three service windows exclusively for driver license and motor vehicle transactions, with the capacity to serve at least 90 people a day, according to a department statement. Though that seems like just the morning at Coral Reef. Both walk-ins and appointments will be accepted. Customers will be able to conduct most driver license transactions, with the exception of driving tests.
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Meanwhile, Fernandez has secured an agreement with the Florida Highway Patrol to have patrol units at Driver License Offices across the county to maintain order and intervene when people disrupt services or use violence or intimidation. Apparently, there have been some incidents in the past.
“My goal is to ensure that every individual who walks through our doors is treated with respect and that our staff works in a safe, supportive environment,” Fernandez said.
“For the first time in 67 years, the residents of Miami-Dade County were able to elect their tax collector, and I am honored they elected me. I am here to put the needs of people first,” reads a statement from Fernandez, who seems in his interviews to have taken an English immersion class because he is not reaching for words as much as he was during the campaign.
Fernandez won last November with 56% over former State Rep. and Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson.
Earlier this month, Fernandez was in Tallahassee for Florida Tax Collectors Association’s annual Legislative Day, where tax collectors from across the state met with state lawmakers and staff to advocate for policies that prioritize citizen convenience, safety, and access to state services.
“As we prepare for the 2025 Legislative Session in March, it’s crucial that we continue to collaborate with Florida’s legislators and partners to implement solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of our communities,” Fernandez said in a statement. In Tallahassee, he met Senators Joe Gruters, Ana Maria Rodriguez and Bryan Avila, and State Representative Omar Blanco.
On a recent Monday, he visited the driver’s license office at Mall of the Americas, one of the most crowded, and walked among the people in line, hearing first hand about their frustrations over long wait times and difficulty securing appointments online.
New Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez launches new license desk added by Ladra on
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