Latest news with #FloridaDepartmentofHighwaySafetyandMotorVehicles
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Drivers could be banned from the road from August 1 if they fail to meet new legal requirements
A new law for young drivers is being introduced in Florida on August 1. The Sunshine State will enforce new requirements for anyone over the age of 15 in driver's ed. The new law requires learners to complete a 50-hour driver education and traffic safety course, approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles). This law is added to the current requirement of passing a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course - a mandatory program for first-time drivers in Florida. Developed by the Florida Department of Education, the Statute is designed to educate drivers on traffic laws and reinforce safe driving and decision-making behaviors. The goal of this new policy is to reduce the amount of preventable crashes and fatalities among teen drivers. The law, which was set to take effect this month, will now be enforced starting on August 1 in order for there to be a smooth rollout. The new rule was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis back in May after it unanimously passed in the state's House and Senate. Drivers who do not follow this policy after its enforcement may face a ticket and/or fine Florida residents must adhere to several terms to snag a learner's permit, which is necessary for a driver's license. Hopeful drivers must be 15 to enroll in courses, and anyone under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form. They must provide proof of TLSAE course completion, a program that usually takes four hours to finish. Once they pass a vision and hearing test conducted in a service center, the applicant must pass a Class E knowledge exam. After meeting the permit requirements, the driver must hold their permit for at least one year or reach the age of 18. The drivers can take their driver's test once the requirements are met in an insured vehicle that passes inspection. Licensed 16-year-old drivers will only be allowed to drive between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm, which will change to 5:00 am and 1:00 am once they turn 17. Once they turn 18, restrictions will be lifted, and Florida residents will typically have the freedom to drive as they please. Not wearing seat belts is the reason behind one-third of fatalities and serious injuries from car crashes with teenage drivers in Florida The state of Florida has had high numbers in fatalities from crashes involving teenage drivers. Over one million crashes involved teenage drivers back in 2020, including 4,405 fatalities and 319,335 serious injuries. Those numbers were significantly higher in 2022, and studies showed that riding without a seatbelt results in one-third of fatalities and serious injuries. Seatbelt usage has been a high concern for drivers and passengers of all ages, resulting in new and proposed state laws. A new law in Virginia that took effect earlier this month requires all adults to wear seatbelts on highways. Drivers who do not follow this rule will face a $25 fine. As of now, New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't have an adult seatbelt mandate.
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
‘Historic day for Kendall': New office aims to end lines for driver's licenses and IDs
A new office opened Monday in Kendall with the promise of delivering faster, more efficient service to residents seeking driver's licenses, state-issued IDs compliant with REAL ID requirements, and other essential transactions. The new location offers both walk-in service and the option to schedule appointments online, according to Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernández, who announced the opening on social media. Fernández called it a 'historic day for Kendall' expressing gratitude to his team for their dedication and to state officials for supporting the transition. DMV office changes hands As of this week, the Kendall office previously run by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is now part of the network managed by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector. This important transition brings faster service, shorter lines, and a better experience for everyone,' Fernández said. Residents can now make appointments online or walk in by visiting The office remains at its longtime location: 11735 SW 147th Ave., Miami, FL 33196. With this shift, the Kendall branch joins other offices operated by the Tax Collector, including locations in Florida City, Midway Crossings, Miami Central, and Downtown Miami. 'At this new location, we'll be providing services like Florida driver licenses, vehicle registrations, property tax payments, and more,' Fernández added. Read more: New relief for international travelers to the U.S. amid Trump-era restrictions A necessary transition? The Tax Collector's office has pledged to improve accessibility and streamline the appointment process in response to widespread complaints about DMV services, including long wait times and reports of illegally resold appointments. As part of its broader plan, the Tax Collector's office announced it will gradually assume control of all nine DMV offices in Miami-Dade over the coming months. The revamped offices will allow residents to handle most driver's license-related procedures, with the exception of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) and driving tests, which will remain under state jurisdiction.
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Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Is there an age limit for drivers? What Florida law says about teens and seniors
Does Florida have an age limit for driving? The question comes up time to time, especially after crashes involving teens and senior citizens. Here's what to know about rules related to age: Younger drivers in Florida Learner's permit: The state issues learner permits to drivers if they are at least 15 years old. A parental consent form is required for anyone under 18. To get a learner's permit, a future driver must pass a traffic law exam and vision and hearing tests, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. A learner's license requires a licensed driver 21 or older to be the vehicle and also restricts driving to daylight hours for the first three months. Driver's license: The minimum age for a full driver's license is 16. To get a license at that age, a driver is required to have had a learner's permit for a year and pass a driving test, according to the Florida agency. There are some driving time restrictions in place until a licensed driver turns 18. The laws 'allow teen drivers to safely gain driving experience under lower-risk conditions before obtaining full driving privileges,' according to the state Depasrtment of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Older drivers in Florida Age limits: The state doesn't have an upper age limit for driving. But in 2004, Florida mandated that drivers 80 or older needed to pass a vision test and file a vision examination report when renewing a license. You pass and your license can be renewed, unless a doctor notes otherwise. What does the law say about seniors driving? ▪ According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a Florida Class E driver's license — a standard driver's license for non-commercial vehicles — must be renewed every eight years for those who are 79 years old and younger. But at age 80, driver's licenses must be renewed every six years. ▪ Drivers 80 or older and who aren't eligible to renew their driver's license online must pass a vision test, the state says. The test can be taken at a Florida driver's license service center. There is no extra charge. ▪ Drivers can also ask their Florida-licensed medical doctor, osteopathic physician or an optometrist to administer a vision test. Once a customer passes the vision test, the driver or a doctor must submit a Mature Driver Vision Test form that is available from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If the vision test reveals medical conditions that result in a referral to an eye specialist, such as a Florida-licensed ophthalmologist or an optometrist, a driver must submit a completed Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Report of Eye Exam form. On that form a physician can sign off on patients being safe to drive if they pass the visual test. But eye examiners can also sign the form recommending that a license be denied and can state why. The medical professional can also OK the patient to drive but only under certain specifications such as daytime only or only after passing a driving test or with special equipment on the car. How to request an unsafe driver investigation in Florida Sometimes the problem may go beyond visual and you may have to have a talk with your family member, friend or doctor. Sometimes you may have to reach out to the state. AARP communications manager Dave Bruns says his organization was concerned about the issue as the organization noted that there were 825,000 drivers 80 or older and 112,000 drivers 90 or older registered in Florida. 'But we also think it's unfair to say that it's age alone that is an indicator of why you should be or not be behind a wheel,' he said. 'It's not so much age. It's really about health conditions.' Florida had the largest number of older drivers involved in fatal crashes at 767 compared to other states, according to a 2021 U.S. Department of Transportation report. In 2020, about 7,500 adults 70 and older nationwide were killed in traffic crashes, and almost 200,000 were treated in the ER for crash injuries, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These figures translated to 20 older adults killed and almost 540 injured in crashes daily. Sometimes age-related impairments are a factor and the driver may not be willing to give up their independence or recognize the time may have come. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 'will accept information from any doctor, person, or agency representative who knows of a physical or mental condition that may affect an individual's ability to drive safely,' according to Nolo, a nationwide firm that answers legal questions. These reports can be filed to the state by completing the department's Medical Referral form. Reports are kept confidential, but you must include a name, address and telephone number. Department investigators may interview family members, neighbors or the driver's doctor, and may also require medical tests or written or road retests.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pinellas man blames error on state report for uptick in car insurance rates
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Steven Foley was stunned when he shopped for cheaper car insurance, only to discover why his rates were going up drastically. He found that an accident from August 2023 is showing up on his Motor Vehicle Report, known as an MVR, as an 'at fault' accident. In reality, he said the accident was declared at 'not at fault' by both the insurance company he had at the time and the Florida traffic crash report, filled out by law enforcement at the scene. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In fact, records show the driver who hit Foley was cited for careless driving and driving without a valid driver's license. 'I called the Florida Highway Patrol, state trooper who did the accident and they said, 'No, we transferred it as not at fault.' But it's on my MVR report, and the insurance companies now cannot override it,' Foley said. 'So they want to increase my insurance over $800 more each six months. Apparently, someone must have hit 'at fault' when they transferred some paperwork but no one says they did it, so I'm stuck.' 2-year-old rescued from luggage system, X-ray machine before Tampa vacation Foley said he ran into roadblocks getting this fixed by either his insurance company or Florida Highway Patrol, so he called Better Call Behnken to get to the bottom of this. Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken called both and this is being looked into to find out what went wrong. In the meantime, Tampa Bay drivers should take note. New data shows Florida ranks in the top three states where car insurance costs the most. In addition, data from online insurance agent Insurify predicts Florida rates will jump another 10 percent this year, while the national average is 5%. Part of what determines your risk is your accident history, as listed in your Motor Vehicle Report, maintained by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That's why is important to request a copy of your report and try to correct mistakes — just like Foley is. 'I want it off my record because it's going to be on there for years and increase my premium for years,' he said. If you want to a copy of your own Motor Vehicle Report to check its accuracy, you can request one through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
UPI
29-05-2025
- UPI
Dog tied to fence during hurricane inspires law banning pet abandonment
A bull terrier found tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached Florida last fall has inspired a new state law against pet abandonment. Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles The dog who was left to drown during a hurricane is now the face of a new Florida law. On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed "Trooper's Law," making it a felony to restrain and abandon a dog during a declared natural disaster or when an evacuation order is in effect. The law was named after a bull terrier found tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached Florida last fall. The dog was discovered on Oct. 9 along Interstate 75 near Tampa, as evacuees fled the path of the Category 4 storm. Body camera footage shows Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales crossing a flooded field in the pouring rain to reach the frightened dog, who stood chest-deep in water and barked in fear. "I don't blame you," Morales said gently, trying to calm the animal. "It's OK." The dog's owner, 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, told investigators he had been heading to Georgia to escape the storm but left the dog, originally named Jumbo, behind "because he couldn't find anyone" to care for him. He was later charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. In a statement, Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said, "Quite frankly, I don't think [five years] is enough," and urged lawmakers to consider tougher penalties for abandoning pets during emergencies. The dog was renamed Trooper in honor of Trooper Morales and was adopted by a couple in Parkland, Florida. Trooper recently survived cancer and stomach surgery after ingesting more than 100 pieces of garbage while in his former owner's care. Signed this week, Senate Bill 150 makes it a third-degree felony to leave a dog restrained and unattended during a declared disaster, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It also codifies existing misdemeanor penalties for failing to provide confined animals with adequate food, water, shelter and exercise. DeSantis also signed Dexter's Law on Tuesday, a second bill that strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty. Named after a shelter dog who was killed just days after being adopted, the legislation ensures that those convicted of extreme abuse face criminal consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime. "Florida stands by man's best friend," DeSantis said in a statement. Safe, healthy and loved, Trooper was recently honored as Parkland's "Favorite Dog" and now his name is part of Florida law.
