Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay residents who hold disabled parking permits are part of a countywide Miami-Dade audit that has now flagged more than 6,000 applications for failure, and the Tax Collector's office is working with law enforcement to pursue fraud cases that could carry jail time.
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez announced Wednesday, Aug. 12 that his office has reviewed more than 75,000 applications and found 6,190 that failed the final review process. Thousands more remain under review, meaning that number will grow.
"Behind every permit that is improperly obtained or used is a parking space that could be taken away from someone with a legitimate disability," Fernandez said. "We are going to continue protecting this program and the residents who depend on it."
The audit is not over.
It launched around October 2025, according to the Tax Collector's office, and has escalated rapidly. Earlier milestones showed 4,707 permits canceled after roughly 41,000 reviews, according to NBC Miami, then 5,656 canceled at a similar review count, according to Community Newspapers. The office has now nearly doubled its review scope to more than 75,000 applications. It is unclear whether all 6,190 failures have resulted in cancellations or whether some are still pending action.
What the audit targets
The review cross-checks permit records against official databases to flag applications connected to deceased individuals, potentially fraudulent submissions, incomplete forms and other discrepancies. Suspected fraud cases can be referred to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
Fernandez has expanded law enforcement partnerships to include the Doral Police Department and Coral Gables Police Department, in addition to the Sheriff's Office.
What residents should know
No Palmetto Bay- or Cutler Bay-specific numbers have been released, but the Tax Collector's office oversees permit issuance countywide. Residents with legitimate permits do not need to take action, but anyone whose permit was issued based on incomplete or inaccurate information could face review.
The penalties are steep.
Under Florida law, knowingly making a false statement on an application is a first-degree misdemeanor: up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. Using someone else's permit while the owner is not in the vehicle carries up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Loaning a placard to a family member is illegal, even for a quick errand. A second conviction bars the person from applying for a new permit for four years.
The Tax Collector's office has not announced a next deadline or milestone date. The audit remains ongoing, and additional permits may be flagged as reviews continue.
