Miami-Dade County canceled 6,036 disabled parking permits after reviewing more than 129,000 records as part of a fraud crackdown linked to at least 12 arrests.

Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez announced the audit findings and introduced PERMiO, a new online permit system, at a news conference Friday, Oct. 9.

The changes affect residents throughout Miami-Dade County, including Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay, who apply for disabled parking permits through the county Tax Collector's Office.

PERMiO allows residents to apply for or renew permits online while authorized medical providers submit required certifications electronically. The system reduces reliance on paper documents that investigators say were forged or altered in fraudulent applications.

"When someone abuses a disabled parking permit, they take that access away from a person who needs it," Fernandez said. "That is unacceptable. And our office is taking action."

Investigators uncover forged medical certifications

Investigators alleged that some applicants paid brokers up to $200 for fraudulent medical certifications, then used the documents to obtain disabled parking placards, WPLG Local 10 reported.

Some applications bore the signature of a physician who retired in 2020 and died in 2025, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz told WPLG in August.

One suspect allegedly submitted an application signed by a deceased physician, while two others faced similar allegations involving forged signatures, NBC Miami reported.

The Tax Collector's Office referred its findings to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Public Corruption Section, the Kendall Gazette reported in September.

The investigation remains ongoing. The allegations against those arrested have not been proven in court.

Audit flags 8,384 records, cancels 6,036 permits

The Tax Collector's Office reviewed 129,066 parking placard records. Of those, 8,384 failed the final audit, and 6,036 permits were canceled in the state's system, according to the office's Oct. 9 announcement.

The office did not explain the difference between the number of records that failed the audit and the number of permits canceled. An audit failure does not necessarily establish fraud.

The crackdown included Operation Parking Denied, a joint investigation involving the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.

The Tax Collector's Oct. 9 announcement cited 11 arrests connected to the operation. However, WSVN reported Aug. 18 that authorities had arrested a 12th suspect.

New system aims to prevent fraudulent applications

The Tax Collector's Office developed PERMiO in-house, avoiding the potential expense of comparable commercial software, which the office said could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Other Florida counties have expressed interest in adopting the system, according to the office.

PERMiO allows residents to submit applications, upload documents and track their progress online. Authorized medical providers can certify applications electronically through a secure verification process.

Residents can manage applications online and complete the permit issuance process at an authorized location, according to the official PERMiO website.

Under Florida law, most long-term disabled parking permits are valid for up to four years. Residents previously certified as permanently disabled generally can complete their first four-year renewal without a new medical certification. Updated certification is required at the following renewal, typically after eight years.

Florida law also provides lifetime permits for certain individuals with permanent dismemberment or amputation who meet statutory requirements.

The Oct. 9 announcement included members of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Disability Issues, representatives from State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle's office, law enforcement officials, physicians and disability advocates.

Residents can learn more about PERMiO or begin an application through the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's website.