Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez today highlighted PERMiO, the office’s new secure online system designed to modernize the application and renewal process for Disabled Person Parking Permits in Miami-Dade County while strengthening efforts to combat fraud and misuse.
During a press conference held Friday morning, Fernandez was joined by members of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Disability Issues (CODI), representatives from County advisory boards and departments, the Office of Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the Office of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, law enforcement agencies, physicians and medical professionals, disability advocates, community organizations, and elected officials. Their participation underscored the importance of improving accessibility, strengthening safeguards against fraud, and protecting the rights of residents with disabilities.
Fernandez announced updated findings from the Tax Collector’s ongoing countywide review of disabled parking permits. To date, the office has reviewed 129,066 parking placard records, with 8,384 failing the final audit and 6,036 permits canceled in the state's system. The office's efforts also helped lead to 11 arrests through Operation Parking Denied, conducted in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
The review uncovered suspicious medical certifications bearing the name of a deceased physician, with signatures that did not match those on official state records. These findings highlighted vulnerabilities in the paper-based application process and the need for stronger verification measures to prevent fraudulent permits from being issued.
“When someone abuses a disabled parking permit, they take that access away from a person who needs it. That is unacceptable. And our office is taking action,” said Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez. “Our goal is to end disabled parking permit fraud and protect access for the people who need it.”
PERMiO was developed entirely in-house by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office team, which identified challenges with the existing process and created a system designed to improve accessibility, efficiency, and accountability. With comparable software solutions on the market potentially costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, developing PERMiO internally allowed the office to achieve significant cost savings for taxpayers while delivering a modern and secure system for residents.
The platform allows Miami-Dade County residents to apply for or renew a Disabled Person Parking Permit online, while authorized medical providers can electronically complete the required medical certification through a secure process. This allows the office to more efficiently verify medical information and reduce reliance on paper documents that may be altered or falsified.
The system also helps reduce unnecessary office visits and paperwork for residents with disabilities. Under current renewal guidance, residents certified as permanently disabled must renew their permits every four years but are not required to obtain a new medical certification at the first renewal. Updated medical certification is required at the following renewal, generally at the eight-year mark.
During the press conference, attendees received a live demonstration of PERMiO and learned how the new system strengthens safeguards while making the application process easier for eligible residents. Fernandez also recognized the work of Tax Collector employees and thanked Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, law enforcement investigators, medical providers, and disability advocates for their continued support.
The office has also received interest from other Florida counties exploring the possibility of adopting PERMiO, demonstrating how a system developed in Miami-Dade could help improve accessibility and accountability beyond the County.
“A disabled parking permit is a lifeline. Our job is to protect it and make sure it reaches the people who need it,” Fernandez concluded.
For more information about the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office and PERMiO, visit www.mdctaxcollector.gov.
