Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Steve Geller
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO DIRECT Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance amending Sections 20-11 and 20-164 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances to modify the performance bond requirements for private couriers engaged in motor vehicle license, registration, validation, or title work, and to modify which activities and representations by private couriers constitute misleading advertisements and establish the penalties for same. (Vice-Mayor Geller)
body
Why Action is Necessary
Board direction is required for the Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance amending the Broward County Code of Ordinances.
What Action Accomplishes
Directs the Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
There is an ongoing concern regarding potentially deceptive trade practices by private couriers holding themselves out to the public as County or State-authorized motor vehicle tag or title agencies. Private couriers are not governmental nor government-licensed motor vehicle tag or title agencies, but rather private businesses that charge members of the public in excess of the actual costs for the license, registration, validation, or title work on a motor vehicle and then have those applications processed by an authorized tag agency. As a result, members of the public may be misled into paying excess fees for motor vehicle tag and title services that they can obtain at a lower cost directly.
Private couriers are currently required to obtain performance bonds for the services they provide pursuant to Section 20-11 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances (“Code”), and certain activities and misleading representations by private couriers are prohibited pursuant to Section 20-164 of the Code. These existing regulations, however, may not adequately protect the public or appropriately sanction private couriers engaging in improper conduct.
This Motion would direct the Office of the County Attorney to analyze the existing provisions in the Code that currently regulate private couriers and recommend amendments that appropriately regulate potentially deceptive business practices.
Source of Additional Information
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
To be determined by the Office of Management and Budget upon presentation of a draft Ordinance.