Earlier this month, Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez called on state lawmakers to eliminate the physical yellow registration decal that is currently required on almost all Florida license plates.

Doral Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Miami Lakes Rep. Tom Fabricio have since answered that call.

The Republican legislators just filed twin bills (SB 982, HB 841) to require all vehicle registration renewals to be recorded electronically and repeal the state law mandating the yellow validation stickers.

In a phone interview Monday, Fabricio credited Fernandez with presenting the change, which is already policy in states like Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Vermont, and is estimated to save Miami-Dade alone $2.5 million yearly.

Fernandez has argued that the physical stickers are no longer needed and, in some cases, counterproductive, since they can fade, peel and get stolen.

Fabricio said he fully agrees.

“I want to say this proposal cuts red tape, but it literally cuts yellow tape because it’s going to reduce a hurdle that people have to deal with on an annual basis, which is nonsensical,” he said, adding that the current policy is based on “an ancient technology.”

“Every police officer and police agency I’ve spoken to tells me that all license plates are called in one form or another during a traffic stop, so it doesn’t provide safety; it’s just a burden and a cost for motorists.”

Rodriguez said her legislation presents a “common-sense change” that “reduces burdens on taxpayers, prevents fraud, and streamlines government, exactly what Floridians expect from their leaders.”

“In an era of real-time digital verification, clinging to physical decals is outdated,’ she said in a statement.

Notable Florida political figures are supportive. Fabricio announced the legislation in a Sunday post on X that had been viewed more than 197,300 times by noon Monday. Gov. Ron DeSantis shared the post, writing, “Good job Tom — get it done!” Florida GOP Chair Evan Power did similarly, calling the proposal “an interesting idea.”

Fernandez, who has expanded and secured his Office’s operations since taking over in January, said he is grateful Rodriguez and Fabricio turned his proposal into legislation. He added that other states with the policy have seen accountability improve, not worsen, under the change.

“Electronic systems provide exact registration status at the moment of a traffic stop, rather than relying on a small piece of plastic that may be expired or counterfeit. Physical decals are also a known target for fraud and can create a false sense of security,” he said.

“Public safety should never depend on outdated tools. Today’s technology allows real-time, accurate verification. through systems already used every day, supporting lawful enforcement while improving efficiency and public trust.”

If approved in the coming Session, the legislation would go into effect July 1.

As shoppers are finishing their online gift-buying ahead of Christmas, Floridians in particular should keep a sharp eye out for scams.

A new study published by Mailgo, an online artificial intelligence email campaign and marketing company, found that Florida ranked seventh in the nation for suffering the most due to online scams. The analysis looked at data at the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center to rank states based on scam impact and the amount of money victims lost.

The study compiled variable factors to come up with a “scam effect score.” Florida amassed a score of 85.37. That’s the seventh-highest in America.

High complaint frequency and significant financial losses contributed most to that ranking. In Florida, scam victims lost about $45.86 on average, ranking seventh-highest in the U.S. There were about 2.23 scam complaints for every 1,000 people in the state. That was the 11th-highest in the country.

“Florida’s unique demographic profile makes it a prime target for sophisticated fraud schemes. Scammers aggressively target retirees through phishing emails impersonating Social Security offices, Medicare providers, and investment firms, exploiting both financial assets and potential digital literacy gaps,” said Lennon Han, an email communications analyst for Mailgo.

“Technical email authentication and threat-detection systems provide essential protection that awareness alone cannot deliver, helping identify and block fraudulent messages before they reach inboxes.”

Florida was the only Southern state in the U.S. to make the top 10, which was focused mainly on Western states. Nevada topped the list, followed by Arizona, California, Wyoming, Washington and Colorado. Maryland placed eighth, with Massachusetts at No. 9 and Alaska at No. 10.

IdentityTheft.org, which analyzes scams, reported that email remains the primary avenue for AI scammers to use. Extortion is the fastest-rising type of crime, followed by crimes against children, investment, government impersonation, and employment scams.